The Senate has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to begin strict enforcement of the ban on high-strength alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small bottles from December 2025.
The lawmakers said there should be no further extension after the current grace period expires.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong on Thursday, calling on the government to end all delays in phasing out sachet-packaged alcoholic drinks.
In his lead debate, Senator Ekpeyong said the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had earlier announced a phased ban after consulting with relevant industry stakeholders.
He explained that in 2018, agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, NAFDAC, and industry groups like the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria signed a five-year agreement to phase out such products.
According to him, the agreement was meant to address growing health and social problems linked to the easy access of cheap alcohol, especially among minors, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups.
The senator recalled that the government had already extended the initial deadline by one year in 2024 to allow manufacturers to finish existing stock and switch to safer packaging before December 2025.
He, however, raised concern that some producers were lobbying for another extension, warning that such moves weaken NAFDAC’s authority and put public health at risk.
Ekpeyong said, “The continued sale of high-strength alcohol in sachets encourages underage drinking, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social problems.”
After a short debate, the Senate also directed the Federal Ministry of Health to support NAFDAC by removing any barriers stopping it from enforcing the ban.
The lawmakers further urged the ministry to speed up the release of the National Alcohol Policy, which should clearly outlaw sachet alcohol packaging and strengthen public awareness on its dangers.
