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Launches 2026–2030 policy to protect health, revenue
The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the growing illicit alcohol trade in Nigeria, saying the country loses more than N428 billion in annual government revenue to unrecorded and illegal spirits and wines.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan (2026–2030).
Pate, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, said industry estimates indicate that about 40 per cent of spirits and wines consumed in the country are illicit or unrecorded.
He said that tackling illicit alcohol trade would not only protect government revenue but also safeguard public health and legitimate businesses operating within the law.
The Minister said the newly launched policy provides a unified national framework for reducing alcohol-related harm while supporting responsible industrial development, job creation and economic growth.
He stressed that alcohol policy should not be viewed solely as a regulatory or public health issue, but as a national development matter requiring the involvement of multiple sectors of the economy.
“Alcohol cuts across health, industry, finance, trade, regulation, transport, communities and other areas of national life,” he said.
Pate further explained that alcohol contributes to manufacturing, employment, agriculture and domestic value chains, while ethanol has important pharmaceutical, laboratory and industrial applications.
He, however, warned that harmful alcohol consumption contributes to diseases, injuries, violence, mental health challenges, financial hardship and loss of productivity.
The Minister disclosed that the latest available World Health Organisation (WHO) data put total alcohol consumption in Nigeria at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and above in 2024.
He also drew attention to the road safety implications of harmful alcohol use, noting that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024, with driving under the influence recognised as a contributor to road traffic incidents.
“These are not merely numbers. They represent lives lost, families affected, livelihoods disrupted and productive years taken away,” he said.
Pate said the policy was aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the presidential priorities, particularly the recognition that a healthy population was fundamental to a productive economy and the development of human capital.
He said the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) also provides strategic direction for strengthening prevention, health services, governance and measurable health outcomes.
The Minister identified four major pillars of the new Alcohol Policy as harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research and learning.
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“At the heart of the Policy is harm reduction and health promotion. We have a responsibility to prevent avoidable harm,” he said.
On regulation of the industry, Pate said the government was not seeking to undermine legitimate businesses but would promote an industry that operates responsibly within clear standards for safety, quality and traceability.
He advocated a whole-of-government approach to address alcohol-related challenges, stressing that no single institution could effectively tackle the problems associated with alcohol consumption and illicit trade.
Pate said the policy was also consistent with Nigeria’s continental and global commitments, including the African Union Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3, 8, 9 and 11, and relevant World Health Organisation (WHO) frameworks on reducing the harmful use of alcohol.
He stressed that the success of the policy would be determined by its implementation and measurable impact rather than its launch.
“Our objective, therefore, is not simply to have a national alcohol policy on paper by 2030. It is to have a policy that has translated into healthier people, safer communities, more responsible industry practices and stronger institutions,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, described the policy launch as a significant milestone in the Ministry’s commitment to promoting health, strengthening governance and achieving sustainable national development through evidence-based alcohol regulation.
Kachollom, whose remarks were presented by the Director, Food and Drugs Services, Dr. Olufowubi-Yusuf Adeola, urged stakeholders to translate the policy objectives into action.
She specifically called on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to play their critical roles in the implementation of the policy.
In her goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to science-based regulation, effective monitoring and surveillance, strengthened food control systems and robust regulatory engagement.
Adeyeye also announced that NAFDAC had recently signed an agreement with alcohol manufacturers to end the production of alcohol in sachets.
She commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and other stakeholders who contributed to the development of the national policy, expressing confidence that its implementation would contribute to a healthier, safer and more productive Nigeria.
Other stakeholders who delivered goodwill messages included representatives of the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Finance; Environment; Education; and Youth Development, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, International Society of Substance Use Professionals and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
