The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has renewed calls on the Federal Government to urgently halt the enforcement of the controversial ban on sachet and small PET-bottled alcoholic beverages by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warning that the action could trigger widespread job losses, fuel illicit trade, and deepen uncertainty in the manufacturing sector.
The call follows reports that NAFDAC has, in recent weeks, resumed enforcement actions against producers and distributors of sachet alcohol, despite earlier directives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) suspending all measures related to the ban pending further consultations.
In a strongly worded statement, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the renewed enforcement as disruptive, economically damaging, and contrary to existing government instructions and legislative resolutions.
NAFDAC Sachet Alcohol Ban Raises Alarm Over Jobs, Revenue
Ajayi-Kadir said the renewed implementation of the NAFDAC sachet alcohol ban has unsettled manufacturers and operators across the value chain, creating confusion over which government directive should be obeyed.
“We have noted with deep concern that NAFDAC has, in the last two weeks, gone ahead to implement the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles,” he said.
According to him, the enforcement action runs counter to a December 15, 2025 directive issued by the OSGF, which explicitly suspended all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban until consultations were concluded and a final policy direction issued.
Industry players say no new directive has been released since that suspension, making the renewed clampdown both unexpected and destabilising.
Ajayi-Kadir warned that the policy inconsistency threatens the survival of indigenous manufacturers, many of whom have invested heavily in compliant production facilities and regulatory approvals.
“This unnecessary action is inimical to the profitable operation of the companies concerned and will certainly hurt the Nigerian economy,” he said.
Fears of Job Losses and Revenue Decline
MAN argued that enforcing the NAFDAC sachet alcohol ban at this time could lead to significant job losses across manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and retail segments, particularly affecting small and medium-scale operators.
The association also warned of a decline in government revenue, noting that legally produced sachet and PET-bottled alcohol products contribute taxes, levies, and regulatory fees to government coffers.
“If these regulated products are forced out of the market, government will lose legitimate revenue, while smugglers and unlicensed producers fill the gap,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He added that low-income adult consumers, who rely on smaller, affordable packaging, would be disproportionately affected, effectively shutting them out of the market.
Legislative Resolutions Ignored?
The controversy has also revived tensions between regulatory agencies and the National Assembly. MAN noted that the House of Representatives, following a public hearing and extensive stakeholder consultations, had earlier resolved that NAFDAC should refrain from banning sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages.
According to Ajayi-Kadir, that resolution was based on submissions from manufacturers, health experts, labour groups, and consumer representatives.
“The recent action of NAFDAC is in direct contradiction to the resolution of the House of Representatives, which restrained the agency from taking this needless punitive action,” he said.
MAN criticised NAFDAC for allegedly relying on a Senate resolution that, it argued, did not follow the same level of stakeholder engagement.
“Rather than abide by the generally agreed resolution, NAFDAC chose to rely on a Senate resolution that was devoid of the usual stakeholders’ consultation,” Ajayi-Kadir stated.
One of MAN’s strongest warnings centres on the potential expansion of the illicit alcohol market if the ban is fully enforced.
Industry operators argue that banning regulated sachet alcohol will not eliminate demand but instead drive consumers toward unregulated, unsafe alternatives.
“To ban such products would open the floodgates of illicit and unwholesome substances that are not subject to regulation and are dangerous to public health,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He stressed that locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC itself.
Public health experts have previously warned that poorly regulated bans can push consumers toward counterfeit or adulterated products, increasing health risks rather than reducing them.
Underage Drinking Claims Disputed
MAN also rejected claims that sachet alcohol is a major driver of underage drinking, describing such assertions as untested and contradicted by empirical research.
“The untested assertion of abuse by minors as the basis for the ban has been controverted by credible and empirical research that was independently conducted,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He disclosed that industry players have invested over ₦1 billion in nationwide campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption, including strict messaging against underage drinking.
According to him, these campaigns have strengthened retailer compliance and reduced access by minors, making a blanket ban unnecessary and counterproductive.
Calls for Evidence-Based Regulation
Other organised private sector groups have echoed MAN’s position. In 2025, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) urged the Federal Government to adopt evidence-based regulatory solutions rather than outright bans.
NECA’s Director-General, Adewale Oyerinde, warned at the time that poorly designed regulations could push economic activity into the informal sector and undermine public health objectives.
Policy analysts say the sachet alcohol controversy highlights broader challenges in Nigeria’s regulatory environment, particularly the need for coherence among ministries, agencies, and the legislature.
Appeal for Federal Government Intervention
MAN has now formally appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and restore clarity by directing NAFDAC to comply with existing suspension orders.
“We appeal to the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to stop the disruption of our members’ activities and abide by the directive to suspend the implementation of the ban,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
He added that the association has approached the Senate for further consultations, expressing hope that dialogue, rather than enforcement, will lead to a balanced policy outcome.
As uncertainty persists, manufacturers warn that continued enforcement of the NAFDAC sachet alcohol ban could erode investor confidence, weaken local production, and worsen unemployment at a time when the economy is still grappling with inflationary pressures and currency volatility.
About The Author
