The Senate has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other regulatory bodies to enforce, without compromise, the ban on high-strength alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets beginning December 2025.
The lawmakers insisted that no further extension beyond the current moratorium would be permitted, saying the industry must comply with the agreed deadline.
Themomentng reports that the resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who urged the upper chamber to halt fresh attempts by some manufacturers to seek another extension.
Leading the debate, Senator Ekpeyong reminded the Senate that NAFDAC had introduced the phased ban after extensive consultations and in line with global best practices.
He noted that in 2018, key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry associations, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding committing to the gradual phase-out of sachet alcohol.
He explained that the agreement was driven by rising public health concerns.
The affordability and portability of sachet alcohol had made it easily accessible to children, teenagers, commercial drivers and other vulnerable groups, fuelling addiction, risky behaviour and long-term health complications.
Ekpeyong recalled that even after the initial deadline had elapsed, the Federal Government granted a one-year moratorium in 2024 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and transition to safer packaging options. That extension shifted the deadline to December 2025.
The lawmaker expressed strong concern that as the deadline approaches, some manufacturers are lobbying for yet another extension. He described the move as an attempt to undermine regulatory authority and a direct threat to public health.
According to him, the continued circulation of high-strength alcoholic beverages in sachets is worsening youth addiction, contributing to reckless road accidents, enabling school dropouts and fuelling domestic violence and other social problems.
He warned that Nigeria cannot continue to normalise the widespread abuse of cheap alcohol simply because it is readily available in sachets.
After deliberations, the Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Health to clear any obstacles preventing NAFDAC from carrying out full enforcement of the ban.
The lawmakers stressed that the regulatory agency must not be hindered by bureaucratic delays or political interference.
They also urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the release of the National Alcohol Policy, which is expected to formally outlaw the sachet packaging of high-strength alcoholic beverages.
According to the Senate, the policy will provide a clear framework for nationwide sensitisation and help guide communities on the dangers of sachet alcohol.
The Senate stressed that the health and safety of Nigerians must take priority over commercial interests.
