The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a nationwide enforcement operation to remove banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles smaller than 200ml from circulation, marking the full implementation of the Federal Government’s long-standing ban on the products.
The operation is being carried out simultaneously across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with enforcement teams raiding markets, motor parks, supermarkets, bars, roadside vendors and other distribution channels.
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, transporters and hawkers have been directed to immediately surrender any remaining stock or risk product seizure, regulatory sanctions and possible prosecution.
NAFDAC said the nationwide exercise follows the closure of manufacturing facilities found to have continued producing the banned products despite repeated warnings. The agency stressed that the ban is aimed at reducing underage drinking, curbing impulse alcohol purchases and addressing alcohol-related health risks, including addiction and liver disease. It also clarified that the restriction applies only to sachet alcohol and PET bottles below 200ml, meaning compliant products in larger pack sizes remain unaffected.
A key development is that NAFDAC has described the exercise as a sustained enforcement campaign rather than a one-off raid. Beyond confiscating products, the agency is encouraging members of the public to report anyone producing, transporting or selling the prohibited drinks through its complaint channels, signaling a shift toward community-backed enforcement. Officials say the strategy is intended to make the ban more effective after previous compliance deadlines were repeatedly extended to allow manufacturers and distributors to phase out the products.
The crackdown is expected to have a significant impact on Nigeria’s retail alcohol market, particularly among roadside vendors and small businesses where sachet alcohol has remained widely available despite the ban.
Public health advocates have welcomed the move, arguing that restricting access to cheap, single-serving alcoholic drinks could help reduce harmful alcohol consumption among young people. However, some traders have raised concerns about the financial impact of the enforcement on their businesses.
