The Nigerian Senate has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a nationwide ban on high-strength alcoholic beverages in sachet packaging starting December 2025.
During plenary on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Asuquo Ekpeyong, calling for strict implementation of the ban and rejecting any further extensions.
Ekpeyong warned that continued lobbying by manufacturers to delay the ban “undermines regulatory authority, threatens public health and distorts fair competition in the industry.”
The directive follows a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 between NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Association of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out alcohol sachets.
Manufacturers are expected to exhaust existing stock and transition to compliant packaging by the December deadline.
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The Senate also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to remove regulatory obstacles and expedite the release of a national alcohol policy to support enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
NAFDAC had earlier clarified that a temporary lifting of the ban would expire on December 31, 2025, after which full enforcement will begin.
The measure aims to curb underage consumption and limit access to high-strength sachet alcohol, particularly among vulnerable groups.