Media Group Tasks NAFDAC On Implementation Of Sachet Alcohol Ban

Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to expedite the implementation of the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles in the country.

The group made the call in a statement jointly signed by its national coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi and the national secretary, Dr Nasir Balogun.

It noted that the deliberations on the ban of alcohol in sachets started over two years ago, following noticeable health concerns among the youths, several motor accidents being recorded, and violent attacks in the country, leading to the killing of innocent people, destruction of property and abduction of people for ransom.

The group recalled that during the discussion, which involved the NAFDAC, manufacturers of alcohol, and some members of the National Assembly, it was resolved to grant a two-year moratorium to the manufacturers, following their request to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles.

It said that was why the National Assembly passed the bill banning alcohol in sachets after the expiration of the two-year moratorium, Effective from 25 December 2025.

While commending the National Assembly for doing the needful at the appropriate time, the group noted with concern that alcohol in sachets and small bottles continues to feature in Nigerian markets and roads indiscriminately despite the ban, due to claims by some manufacturers citing economic reasons and possible loss of jobs.

The MMWG described the development as a sad one, maintaining that” we cannot continue to prioritise economic gains above the welfare and well-being of the people, and there are health risks in the indiscriminate sales of alcohol in sachets and small bottles.”

It said that medical research has revealed the risks that alcohol poses to the health of people, especially the youths, “some of whom are already affected by liver and kidney diseases due to accessibility and uncontrolled alcohol consumption”.

“Also, reports of several automobile accidents on our roads as a result of commercial drivers secretly consuming alcohol in small bottles are well known,” it added.