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From Idu Jude, Abuja
Civil rights and public health organisations have thrown their weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its decision to ban the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles starting December 2025.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) described the ban as a long-overdue public health intervention critical to protecting children, youths, and other vulnerable populations.
“The packaging, pricing, and aggressive marketing of these products make highly potent alcohol dangerously accessible, especially to minors.
“They contribute significantly to rising addiction, social disorder, road crashes, and non-communicable diseases across Nigeria”, the organisations noted.
They added that while NAFDAC first announced the ban in 2024 with a multi-year phase-out, some alcohol manufacturers continued production beyond the deadline. The groups condemned the claims by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that the ban would trigger massive investment losses and job cuts.
“We reject in its entirety the claims by MAN that the ban will trigger a loss of over N1.9 trillion in investment and lead to the retrenchment of over 500,000 workers.
“These figures are inflated, unverifiable and reflect a familiar scare tactic used by alcohol and tobacco corporations globally whenever governments attempt to regulate harmful products”, NHED and CAPPA stated.
Dr. Jerome Mafeni, NHED’s Technical Director, emphasised that public health must take priority over corporate profit.
“The long-term social and economic costs of alcohol-related harm far outweigh any short-term profits that manufacturers seek to protect.
“Nigeria currently bears the burden of increased alcohol-related violence, reduced productivity, escalating healthcare costs, and rising addiction among young people. These harms disproportionately affect poor and marginalised communities, who sachet alcohol products specifically target”, he said.
He added, “It is unacceptable that children can purchase high-concentration alcoholic products for as little as N100. It is equally unacceptable that manufacturers have prioritised profit over the safety and well-being of Nigerians.”
Akinbode Oluwafemi of CAPPA echoed the sentiment, praising NAFDAC for aligning with global best practices.
“No credible public health agency anywhere would permit the continued marketing of such products in packaging designed to encourage unrestricted, on-the-go, and underage drinking,” he said. “We commend NAFDAC for resisting corporate bullying and standing firmly on the side of science, public health, and national interest.”
The organisations called on the government to implement the ban fully and to adopt additional measures, including stricter marketing regulations, clear labelling, taxation of alcoholic products, and nationwide public sensitisation.
“We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to see through the industry’s theatrics and avoid any attempt to suspend, water down, or delay this life-saving policy,” the statement added. “The well-being of over 200 million citizens must not be sacrificed at the altar of corporate profit.”
Concluding, NHED and CAPPA reiterated their support for NAFDAC, describing the ban as “the right policy at the right time” and reaffirming their commitment to a healthier, safer, and more responsible Nigerian society.
