By Maryanne Awuya
As part of its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered manufacturers to recall the prohibited products still in circulation across the country.
The latest action follows an irrevocable enforcement undertaking signed by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and their member companies to stop the production and distribution of the banned alcoholic products.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, gave the order at a media briefing in Lagos on Monday.
She said affected manufacturers are required to immediately commence a nationwide recall of sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses and other points within the supply chain.
The recalled products will be inventoried and destroyed under its supervision, with manufacturers bearing the full cost of the destruction, Adeyeye said.
She also warned that sealed factories involved in producing the prohibited pack sizes will not be allowed to reopen until NAFDAC verifies that the relevant production lines have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured to prevent further production.
“Facilities seeking reopening must also demonstrate full compliance with the recall directive, settle applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees, and pass NAFDAC’s inspection and certification.
“Companies that fail to comply risk continued closure, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations and possible criminal prosecution.”
According to the DG, the prohibition was not introduced suddenly but followed years of consultations between government, regulators and the alcoholic beverage industry.
NAFDAC said concerns were first formally raised in 2018 over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles, which regulators said were inexpensive, easy to conceal and readily accessible to minors.
PerSecondNews had reported that a five-year moratorium was subsequently agreed with manufacturers in December 2018, giving the industry until January 31, 2024, to phase out the products and transition to larger packaging.
When that deadline expired, NAFDAC began enforcement in February 2024. However, resistance from industry stakeholders and interventions by the National Assembly led to another extension, moving the deadline to December 31, 2025.
The ban consequently took full effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml and glass bottles below 200ml.
NAFDAC said research supporting the enforcement found significant levels of underage access to alcohol in small packaging, with 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage respondents reported to procure drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage respondents procured drinks in PET bottles.
The agency subsequently adopted a tiered enforcement approach. The first phase, which began in January, focused on manufacturers, with prohibited products found at production facilities evacuated and destroyed.
Persecondnews recalls that in July 2026 NAFDAC had expanded enforcement nationwide, conducting mop-up operations at markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres.
The agency said some banned products were still being found at distribution points, prompting further action against manufacturers and distributors.
NAFDAC stressed that its policy is not a ban on alcohol consumption, but is targeted at small and inexpensive packaging formats that it says make high-alcohol products easier for children and young people to access.
The agency said it would continue working with industry stakeholders while maintaining strict enforcement of the ban to protect public health and reduce harmful alcohol consumption.
Members of the public have also been urged to report the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml to NAFDAC.
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