Manufacturers face recalls, destruction costs and possible sanctions as regulator moves to clear prohibited alcohol packages from Nigerian market
By Bunmi Yekini
Nigeria’s food and drug regulator has begun full enforcement of a federal government-approved ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200 millilitres, stepping up a years-long effort to curb underage drinking and harmful alcohol consumption.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said the enforcement followed an undertaking signed by industry groups and their member companies to stop producing alcoholic drinks in the prohibited package sizes.
The action targets alcoholic products sold in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or plastic bottles below 200ml, which regulators say are inexpensive, easily concealed and readily accessible to children and young people.
NAFDAC said the affected manufacturers must immediately begin a nationwide recall of the prohibited products from distributors, warehouses and other points in the supply chain.
All recalled products will be verified and destroyed under the agency’s supervision, with manufacturers bearing the cost, it said.
The regulator said companies found to have violated its directives would also face investigative charges and could be subjected to further sanctions, including continued closure of facilities, placement on its Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or withdrawal of product registrations and possible criminal prosecution.
The ban followed years of discussions between NAFDAC, government agencies and manufacturers.
Concerns about the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles first prompted consultations in 2018 involving the health ministry, consumer protection authorities and industry associations.
A memorandum of understanding signed in December 2018 gave manufacturers a five-year moratorium to phase out the products, allowing companies to reconfigure production lines and move to larger packaging formats.
The deadline expired in January 2024, when NAFDAC began enforcement, but industry resistance and intervention by the National Assembly led to a further extension until Dec. 31, 2025.
The full prohibition took effect on Jan. 1, 2026, covering alcohol sold in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml and glass bottles below 200ml.
NAFDAC said its concerns were reinforced by research indicating widespread access to alcoholic drinks among minors, particularly through sachets and small plastic bottles.
The agency began a first phase of enforcement at manufacturing facilities early this year, evacuating and destroying prohibited products found on company premises.
By July, it had expanded operations nationwide, targeting markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres to seize remaining sachet alcohol and sub-200ml plastic-packaged alcoholic drinks.
The crackdown led to the closure of some facilities and the arrest of staff at companies allegedly found to be continuing production, NAFDAC said.
Before sealed factories can reopen, manufacturers must demonstrate that production lines used for the prohibited packaging have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured under NAFDAC supervision.
Facilities will also be required to complete the nationwide recall, pay applicable regulatory charges, destroy recalled products under supervision and pass inspections before receiving clearance to resume operations.
NAFDAC said the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) had signed an irrevocable enforcement undertaking on behalf of their members as part of efforts to ensure compliance.
The regulator said it was not seeking to prohibit alcohol consumption but to limit the availability of highly concentrated alcoholic drinks in small and cheap packages that could make them more accessible to vulnerable groups.
NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the agency would continue to work with industry stakeholders while maintaining strict enforcement of regulations aimed at protecting public health.
The agency urged Nigerians to report the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcoholic drinks in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml through its official channels or the nearest NAFDAC office.