The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to halt every enforcement activity connected to the planned prohibition of sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic beverages.
Authorities also cautioned the agency against continuing the closure of factories and warehouses in relation to the matter.
This directive was conveyed in a statement released on Wednesday, the 11th of February, 2026, in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Terrence Kuanum.
According to Kuanum, the decision followed coordinated intervention from the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Both offices reportedly expressed worries about potential security consequences tied to enforcing the ban before the National Alcohol Policy is fully operational.
The statement noted: “Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement read.
Although the Federal Ministry of Health had signed the National Alcohol Policy in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the SGF and NSA offices maintained that NAFDAC must suspend enforcement until the policy is completely implemented and further guidance is issued.
The suspension covers actions such as shutting down production facilities, sealing storage warehouses, and publicly reinforcing the sachet alcohol ban.
The government explained that the ongoing closure of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol products without a unified regulatory framework has already led to economic strain and heightened security concerns. These challenges, it said, stem from the disruption of employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country.
Kuanum further clarified that the directive strengthens an earlier order issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which had already paused enforcement efforts pending broader consultations and a final resolution.
He disclosed that the SGF’s office also received correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated the 13th of November, 2025. The letter expressed reservations regarding NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement strategy and referenced prior resolutions of the National Assembly.
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The correspondence, identified as NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, highlighted legislative concerns about the enforcement plans and pointed to existing parliamentary decisions on the issue.
The Federal Government stated that it is currently weighing legislative positions, public health priorities, economic considerations, and broader national interests before reaching a final determination.
It emphasized that the participation of the National Security Adviser indicates the matter now extends beyond regulatory oversight. Officials warned that enforcing the ban prematurely, without coordinated policy execution, could unsettle communities, increase unemployment, and create wider security complications.
The government assured citizens and industry operators that a conclusive decision will be announced after thorough consultations and inter-agency collaboration, balancing public health objectives with economic stability and national security.