THE Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has directed that all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcoholic beverages be suspended until further notice.
This decision follows a formal communication from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control regarding plans by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce the ban.
In a statement released yesterday by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, the OSGF disclosed that the letter—dated November 13, 2025, and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Uchenna Okonkwo—is currently under review.
The statement noted that the office is examining the matter in line with its statutory responsibility as Chairman of the Cabinet Secretariat.
Consequently, the OSGF directed that all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures connected to the proposed sachet alcohol ban be put on hold pending the completion of consultations and the issuance of a final directive.
The office further clarified that any enforcement carried out by NAFDAC or any other agency without the appropriate clearance and resolution from the OSGF is invalid and should be disregarded by the public until an official decision is announced.
According to the statement, the OSGF is carefully assessing all relevant legislative resolutions, economic implications, public health concerns, and broader national interest considerations to ensure a balanced, lawful, and well-coordinated outcome. Nigerians, it assured, will be informed once a final decision is reached.
The directive comes after NAFDAC announced plans to prohibit the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres by December 2025.
The agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, had explained that the move was aimed at curbing the abuse of low-cost alcohol, particularly among youths and commercial drivers.
The SGF’s intervention also follows renewed pressure from the National Assembly, which has repeatedly called on NAFDAC to suspend enforcement of the ban in line with resolutions passed since 2024.
In a December 1 letter, the Permanent Secretary (General Services), Mohammed Danjuma, requested comments from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, and the NAFDAC Director-General to enable the SGF to make an informed decision, referencing concerns raised by the House Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.
Earlier, the Senate had approved a phased withdrawal of sachet alcohol products by December 31, 2025, following a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who said the timeline aligned with global standards and was intended to reduce alcohol-related harm.