The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has said it has not been formally served with any court injunction stopping the enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this on Friday while speaking on ARISE News, amid claims that a court order had halted the crackdown.
“NAFDAC has not been served. If we have been served, I have not been given that,” she said.
Adeyeye added that the agency resumed enforcement based on legislative backing.
“The Senate gave us the order to resume enforcement.”
Defending the action, the NAFDAC boss said the ban prioritises the health and safety of children over commercial interests, stressing that the agency was not out to cripple businesses.
She said enforcement followed years of engagement with manufacturers, regulatory extensions and concerns about underage access to high-concentration alcohol.
“So it is on their side that they are all about money, not about health. We are about health and good investments… But we cannot sacrifice our children on the altar of trade.”
Adeyeye explained that alcohol falls under NAFDAC’s regulatory mandate as a food product, noting that the agency was not banning alcohol entirely.
“We are not banning alcohol. We approve alcohol in different packages. It is only in small packages that we are banning.”
Tracing the policy to 2018, she said NAFDAC raised the alarm over sachet alcohol with concentrations of between 43 and 45 per cent.
“That can be easily squeezed into the pocket of a primary school, secondary school child.”
According to her, an agreement was reached with manufacturers under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, giving them five years to reorganise.
“We all signed that by, after five years, they will not sell alcohol in sachets.”
She said the initial moratorium expired on January 31, 2024, but was extended following interventions by lawmakers and industry groups.
“The Minister called me and said there had been some discussion, we should give one year moratorium, an extra one year above the five years that we have given before. And that one year expired December 2025.”
Adeyeye said despite opposition from manufacturers seeking further extensions, enforcement resumed after Senate intervention.
She dismissed claims that warning labels could curb underage drinking.
“Do not use under 18. Do not use in Nigeria, are we kidding ourselves? Are we really kidding ourselves? In Nigeria? Who is going to enforce?”
She also said the policy aligns with Nigeria’s international obligations.
“In 2010, Nigeria signed an agreement, World Health Assembly, 2010, 193 countries signed it that we will not make alcohol to be easily accessible to vulnerable populations.”
On criticisms that NAFDAC continued to register sachet alcohol products during the moratorium, Adeyeye said the agency was acting based on legislative directives.
“We were honouring the moratorium, the extended moratorium that was given by registering within a period.”
She added, “I think we are learning our lessons now that we shouldn’t have even listened or register products, a product at that particular period.”
Addressing suggestions that alcohol concentration should be reduced instead of banning sachets, she said the issue was accessibility and concealment.
“Actually, it is scientifically possible. It is not just the volume. It is the pack size.”
She cited reports from school administrators to underline the impact on children.
“The principal said that in his school, a student said that he cannot study for exam without a sachet alcohol.”
Warning of long-term consequences, she said, “We are making our children addicts. Addicts.”
“Because you are frying your liver slowly with alcohol over time.”
Adeyeye clarified that enforcement actions targeted production lines, not entire companies.
“Lines have been shut down… We are shutting down lines.”
She rejected claims of poor engagement with manufacturers, saying consultations were held regularly.
“We were having regular meetings, quarterly meetings with MAN.”
Reiterating her stance, she accused industry groups of putting profit before public health.
“So it is on their side that they are all about money, not about health.”
No court order stopping sachet alcohol ban — NAFDAC DG
