From John Silas
A civil society group, Stand Up Nigeria, has described as “arbitrary, illegal and economically disastrous” the decision of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) banning the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume bottles.
Addressing the media in Abuja on Wednesday, the group’s convener, Sunday Attah, said the directive announced by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and allegedly endorsed by some members of the Nigerian Senate, contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive, people-centered economic development.
Attah accused Prof. Adeyeye of high-handedness, alleging that the decision was made without proper consultation with critical industry stakeholders, in spite of previous agreements among the Federal Ministry of Health, the House of Representatives and industry operators.
According to Attah, “this draconic pronouncement by the NAFDAC DG is not only undemocratic but a betrayal of due process. It disregards the resolutions of a joint parley with the Ministry of Health and the House of Representatives, where stakeholders reached a common ground on a national alcohol policy framework.”
He stated that the recent directive, which will take effect by December 2025, was issued in “collusion” with a section of the Senate and without due regard to the House of Representatives’ ongoing deliberations on the same matter.
He further claimed that a one-year extension for policy harmonisation had already been approved by the Ministry of Health to allow for the validation of a draft National Alcohol Policy.
The group insisted that a stakeholder validation meeting in October 2025 had produced key recommendations to regulate the alcohol industry responsibly, including stronger enforcement, licensed retail outlets, monitoring mechanisms and public enlightenment campaigns, rather than a total ban.
What we agreed on was responsible regulation, not prohibition,” Attah stated. “Stakeholders, including NAFDAC, FCCPC and law enforcement agencies, adopted a multi-sectoral approach to curb underage drinking and ensure product safety, not to destroy a whole industry.”
Stand Up Nigeria further dismissed as “unfounded and untested” NAFDAC’s argument that sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks encourage underage consumption. Attah cited several independent studies and industry-led awareness campaigns reportedly costing over ₦1 billion, aimed at discouraging alcohol abuse among minors.
According to him, “the claim that minors are the major consumers of sachet alcohol has been refuted by independent research. Even at that, manufacturers have invested massively in campaigns for responsible drinking.”
The group warned that the economic fallout of enforcing the ban would be catastrophic, estimating potential losses of ₦1.9 trillion in investments, retrenchment of over 500,000 direct workers, and the displacement of about 5 million indirect jobs in logistics, distribution and marketing.
It stated that “this policy, if implemented, will cripple local manufacturing, destroy indigenous entrepreneurship, and contradict the federal government’s drive for industrial growth and job creation.”
Stand Up Nigeria called on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, to endorse the validated Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its implementation framework, which was developed through a multi-sectoral process.
The group also urged the Senate to “act with dignity, fairness and respect for the constitution” by revisiting the issue through a public hearing or broader stakeholder engagement.
Meanwhile, Attah demanded that Adeyeye “desists from running NAFDAC like a private enterprise or resign,” insisting that her actions “pose a serious threat” to the implementation of President Tinubu’s economic agenda.
“No agency head should act above the law or in isolation of due process. We cannot afford to let one person’s overreach undermine national economic progress.”
The group reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for fairness, transparency and stakeholder participation in policy formulation, especially in sectors critical to Nigeria’s manufacturing and employment landscape.
