Nigeria’s federal government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately halt enforcement actions linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and small PET bottle alcoholic beverages.
The directive also instructs the agency to stop sealing factories and warehouses connected to the policy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja, Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said the decision followed a joint intervention by the SGF’s office and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He said both offices had raised concerns about potential security risks arising from enforcement measures being carried out before the full implementation of a National Alcohol Policy.
“All enforcement actions related to the proposed ban are to be paused pending final consultations and the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy,” the statement said.
The government said this pause applies to factory closures, warehouse sealings and public communications emphasising the ban.
Although the Federal Ministry of Health has approved the National Alcohol Policy on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, officials said enforcement must wait until the policy is fully operational and further instructions are issued.
Authorities warned that ongoing enforcement had already caused economic disruption, affecting employment, supply chains and informal distribution networks across Nigeria.
The statement described the current situation as amounting to a “de facto ban” without a unified policy framework, which could worsen economic hardship and create security challenges.
The SGF’s office had earlier suspended enforcement in December 2025, pending consultations and a final decision.
It also said it had received correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, expressing concerns over NAFDAC’s planned enforcement actions and referring to existing resolutions of the National Assembly.
Officials said the government is reviewing public health priorities, legislative input and economic implications before reaching a final decision.
The involvement of the National Security Adviser highlights the wider implications of the issue beyond regulation, the statement said, warning that premature enforcement could destabilise communities and increase unemployment.
The government said a final decision would be announced after consultations with relevant stakeholders, adding that public health, economic stability and national security would guide its approach.
