A civil society group, Stand Up Nigeria, has criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for planning to ban sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks.
The group said the move is unfair, undemocratic, and could cause the loss of millions of jobs and trillions of naira in investments.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the ban followed a Senate directive ordering the agency to enforce it without further delay.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, November 12, the group’s convener, Sunday Attah, said the decision was harsh and illegal. According to him, it goes against President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to support local businesses and create jobs.
“We were shocked to hear that NAFDAC wants to stop the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles (below 200ml) by December 2025,” Attah said.
The group said the decision was rushed and taken without proper consultation. They accused NAFDAC and the Senate of ignoring agreements made earlier with the Federal Ministry of Health and the House of Representatives, where stakeholders had called for more dialogue before any ban.
They also claimed that the Senate may have acted under pressure from NAFDAC during its session on November 6, 2025, without considering that the House of Representatives was still discussing the issue.
According to the group, if the ban goes ahead, it could cause serious economic damage.
They estimated that:
Over ₦1.9 trillion in local investments would be lost.
More than 500,000 workers would lose their jobs directly.
Around five million indirect jobs in marketing, logistics, and distribution would disappear.
Many local manufacturers could shut down, affecting small businesses and entrepreneurship.
The group urged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, to approve the draft of the Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and ensure a fair and inclusive implementation plan.
They also appealed to the Senate to reconsider its position and organise a public hearing or stakeholder meeting with industry players before making any final decision.
