The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step to curb alcohol abuse by directing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a total ban on sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks by December 2025.
Lawmakers warned that the cheap, high-alcohol beverages — widely sold in sachets and mini bottles — are endangering young Nigerians, fuelling addiction, domestic violence, and road accidents.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who accused NAFDAC of repeatedly bowing to pressure from manufacturers by delaying enforcement. He stressed that any further extension would “betray public trust” and jeopardise Nigeria’s duty to safeguard public health.
“Packaging alcohol in sachets makes it as easy to consume as sweets, even for children,” Ekpenyong said. “It destroys futures, fuels domestic violence, and endangers lives daily on our roads.”
The motion drew cross-party support, with senators condemning the spread of cheap, potent liquor as a “slow poison” corrupting youth across schools, markets, and motor parks. They noted that many of these drinks have dangerously high alcohol content and are affordable enough for minors to purchase.
Nigeria first signed a five-year agreement in 2018 between NAFDAC, the Health Ministry, and industry groups to phase out sachet alcohol by 2023, later extending the deadline to 2025. Senators, however, expressed outrage that some companies continue to lobby for more time, calling it a direct challenge to public interest.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the chamber’s united front, calling it “a moral and patriotic stand to protect Nigeria’s future.”
