Civil society organisation Stand Up Nigeria has criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its planned enforcement of a ban on sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks, describing the move as undemocratic and economically dangerous. The group warned that the decision could cost the Nigerian economy trillions of naira and lead to the loss of millions of jobs.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, had earlier stated that the move followed a Senate directive ordering the agency to enforce the ban without granting further extensions.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Garki, Abuja, the group’s convener, Sunday Attah, expressed deep concern over the development, calling it high-handed and illegal. He argued that the directive contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic empowerment and the protection of local industries.
“We read with shock that NAFDAC has decided to ban the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles below 200ml by December 2025,” Attah said.
The group accused both the Senate and NAFDAC of acting hastily without consulting relevant stakeholders, despite earlier agreements reached during meetings with the Federal Ministry of Health and members of the House of Representatives.
“It is wrong for a government arm that should represent the people’s interests to direct NAFDAC to enforce such a ban without hearing from affected parties,” Attah said. “We strongly suspect that the Senate’s resolutions were influenced by NAFDAC without considering ongoing deliberations in the House of Representatives.”
They warned that if the directive were implemented, it could trigger severe economic consequences, including the loss of over ₦1.9 trillion in investments by indigenous companies, the mass retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct employees, and an estimated five million indirect jobs linked to contractual work, marketing, and logistics. The decision could also lead to reduced capacity utilisation and a slowdown in manufacturing, undermining the gradual recovery seen in recent quarterly economic indices, which had been supported in part by revenues from the alcoholic beverage sector. Stand Up Nigeria cautioned that indigenous businesses risk being gradually wiped out, which could stifle local entrepreneurship and broader economic development.
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The group, however, called on Prof. Ali Pate, the Minister and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to endorse the draft of the validated Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral implementation framework. They further urged the Senate to act with dignity, fairness, and respect for all, in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by revisiting the matter through stakeholder consultations either via public hearings or focused meetings with relevant industry players, as had been robustly done by the House of Representatives.
