…It runs against Progressive Alternatives jointly agreed by all stakeholders
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed concerns over the recent directive issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to outrightly ban the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles by 31st December 2025. This directive followed a resolution reported to have been passed by the Senate at its sitting on Thursday, 6th November, 2025.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Association, stressed that it is concerning to note that this unexpected development is at odds with all stakeholders’ efforts on the matter and completely contrary to the existing position of the House of Representatives on the same matter.
He added that the earlier directive for a one-year extension by the Ministry of Health, which culminated into the consideration and validation of the draft National Alcohol Policy by stakeholders, should have been considered before any major official pronouncement by another arm of the government. We also believe that a stakeholders’ consultation, either through a public hearing or focused meetings with relevant stakeholders in the alcohol beverages industry, should have been called by the relevant Senate Committee before a ban is ordered. This was the route painstakingly followed by the House of Representatives in recent years.
Ajayi-Kadir emphasized that the issues concerning the ban on alcohol in sachets and small PET bottles were resolved by an enlarged Committee comprising all the stakeholders and NAFDAC representatives, who validated the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025 with the following key recommendations:
• Multi-sectoral action plans.
• Tightening of enforcement by law enforcement agencies.
• Establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in Local Government Areas across the country.
• Increase in monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.
• Ensuring regulatory bodies place more emphasis on regulation, monitoring, and enlightenment campaigns to educate stakeholders and the general public on the dangers of underage consumption of alcohol and its sales in motor parks.
• Enlightenment campaigns to be carried out in secondary schools across the country to educate students on the dangers and vices associated with the abuse of alcohol.
Additionally, we would like to place on record that the unfounded and untested statement of abuse by minors has been dismissed by several empirical research that the government independently conducted. The industry has even gone further, notwithstanding the report of the surveys, to initiate a series of campaigns in respect of responsible alcohol consumption to discourage underage abuse. These campaigns have necessitated an industry spend of over a billion Naira in advertisements at all levels of media outreach across the federation and have been very impactful in discouraging abuse by underage persons.
Ajayi-Kadir further stressed that it is therefore necessary to state that the reported directive by the Senate for an outright ban is unfair and against the run of play in the industry, given the fact that the upper chamber appears only to have considered the opinion of NAFDAC, who necessarily, were part of the validation that was organised by the agency’s supervisory Ministry, the Ministry of Health. It is our position that NAFDAC should have presented its opinion to the Committee and the Ministry during the validation, rather than by-passing these processes and opting to approach the National Assembly without giving other stakeholders the opportunity to be consulted or to respond.
This pronouncement, which we believe is counterproductive and forebodes economic dislocation of significant proportions for the nation at this period, will have serious consequences for the now stabilising economy for the following reasons:
• loss of over N1.9 trillion investment, largely by the indigenous Nigerian companies;
• consequential mass retrenchment of over 500,000direct employees and approximately 5 million indirect through contracts, marketing, and other logistics;
• reduction in capacity utilization in manufacturing, which in recent quarters began to gradually improve on account of the industry’s contribution as a component of the food and beverages sector; and
• loss of indigenous businesses that may gradually obliterate local entrepreneurship development in the economy.
Notably, the logic of the ban should be further examined. The advent of the sale of alcohol in sachets is an innovation to serve adults with a low budget who desire the product and should have the right choice. The ban would therefore deny them the opportunity to exercise that right. Additionally, and on a positive note, availability in small portions could also discourage abuse of larger portions.
Moreso, a ban would also literally yield the market to the influx of foreign brands, which are mostly smuggled. Apart from possible unwholesomeness, this will be at the expense of the excluded domestic producer and loss of revenue for the Government.
We, therefore, make a strident appeal for an expedited endorsement and implementation of the validated Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral implementation framework. We believe that this will render the unwarranted ban unnecessary. We appeal to the Senate to rescind the order banning the sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and to restrain NAFDAC from implementing the ban as of December 31, 2025. We should be mindful of the economic implications of unnecessary, sudden regulatory shifts that could have significant implications for legitimate manufacturers, thousands of employees, and informal value‑chain operators across the country.
Ajayi‑Kadir stressed that “MAN has always supported measures that remove unsafe products from the market. We have only maintained that such decisions should be supported by empirical facts, rather than emotional persuasions or appeals to guided public emotions. To succumb to these scenarios is a costly mistake, as it compromises jobs, livelihoods, and activates other unintended consequences. MAN reiterates its commitment to working closely with members engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets to ensure adherence to all relevant regulations and standards. We are actively involved in monitoring their public campaigns and efforts to ensure restricted access, prevent sales to underage individuals, and promote responsible consumption.
