The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Senate to rescind a directive banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles.
The ban is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2025, following a resolution reportedly passed by the Senate on November 6, 2025.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director General of MAN, described the move as “unexpected” and “contrary to the efforts of all stakeholders” in the alcohol industry.
He noted that the House of Representatives had previously adopted a different approach, emphasizing consultation and phased implementation rather than an outright ban.
Ajayi-Kadir stressed that a one-year extension previously granted by the Ministry of Health had allowed stakeholders to review and validate the draft National Alcohol Policy in October 2025.
The MAN chief said that the Senate should have conducted stakeholder consultations, either through public hearings or focused meetings, before issuing a ban.
He highlighted that an enlarged committee, including NAFDAC representatives, had resolved key issues regarding alcohol in sachets and small PET bottles with specific recommendations.
These included multi-sectoral action plans, tighter enforcement by law enforcement agencies, and the establishment of licensed liquor stores to regulate distribution.
Other measures included increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and other regulatory agencies to ensure product quality and safety.
The committee also recommended nationwide enlightenment campaigns, including programs in secondary schools, to educate the public and discourage underage alcohol consumption.
Ajayi-Kadir dismissed claims that minors widely abuse sachet alcohol, citing government-backed empirical research and ongoing industry campaigns promoting responsible drinking.
He warned that the Senate’s directive, which bypassed the Ministry of Health and stakeholder processes, could disrupt the economy, causing the loss of N1.9 trillion in investment and over 500,000 direct jobs.
MAN also projected that approximately five million indirect jobs in contracts, marketing, and logistics could be affected, along with a decline in manufacturing capacity utilization.
The association argued that banning sachet alcohol could push consumers toward illicit or foreign brands, which are largely smuggled and unregulated, increasing risks to public health.
Ajayi-Kadir called on the Senate to endorse and implement the validated National Alcohol Policy, emphasizing that effective regulation, rather than prohibition, is the sustainable solution.
