NAFDAC, NOA, FCCPC vow strict sanctions as survey reveals high underage access and consumption
By Joy Onu, Abuja
The Federal Government on Tuesday officially flagged off a joint nationwide enforcement and public enlightenment campaign on the ban of alcohol sold in sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, a policy that takes full effect from January 1, 2026.
The campaign was launched at the Abuja headquarters of the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, as the agencies aligned enforcement, consumer protection and nationwide sensitisation efforts.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the decision was driven by the need to protect Nigerian children and curb the growing pattern of alcohol abuse among minors.
“Why are we here? We are here for our children. We are here for the children of Nigeria. We are here to ensure that the ban on sachet alcohol and small alcohol packs of about 200ml remains enforced,” she said.
She described alcohol as one of the most widely abused substances among youths, citing research that shows a steady rise in alcohol availability, production, importation and consumption across Nigeria in recent decades. According to a 2021 national survey conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, 54.3 per cent of minors and underaged persons purchase alcohol for themselves, while 49.9 per cent obtain it from friends and relatives. Another 45.9 per cent access alcohol at social gatherings and 21.7 per cent from their parents’ homes.
Among those who bought alcohol independently, 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underaged persons purchased drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underaged opted for PET bottles. The study also found that 24 per cent of respondents consume alcohol daily, 11 per cent drink at least once a week, and a significant proportion engage in binge drinking.
Adeyeye warned that early exposure to alcohol poses serious health and social risks, including damage to brain development, increased likelihood of addiction, depression, risky behaviour and poor academic performance. She added that alcohol abuse contributes to violence and criminality.
“In Nigeria, alcohol abuse is contributory to banditry. You cannot be in your right senses and point a gun at your fellow human being,” she said.
She explained that penalties for violations would target manufacturers and distributors who fail to comply with the ban.
“We are empowered to seize their products and even their facilities. The penalty will not just be in the court of law; it will hit their pockets very hard,” she stated.
The representative of the FCCPC affirmed that the Commission is fully empowered to enforce consumer protection laws across sectors and will apply its sanctions regime to offenders in the alcohol industry.
“Our sanctions are quite severe. When full enforcement begins, violators will be subjected to the penalties provided under our laws,” he said.
In his address, the Director-General of NOA described the campaign as a decisive public health intervention aimed at reducing underage access to cheap, high-concentration alcohol. He said sachet alcohol had become dangerously accessible due to its low cost, portability and ease of concealment, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities.
He announced that the agency would deploy its nationwide structure across all 774 local government areas to drive grassroots sensitisation in markets, motor parks, schools, faith-based institutions and community centres. The campaign will also leverage television, radio, digital platforms and social media to reach diverse audiences, including those in rural communities and non-English-speaking populations.
The NOA boss urged the media to see itself as a critical stakeholder in the enforcement process.
“The media has a responsibility to protect citizens. This is not just about three agencies. It is about NAFDAC, NOA, FCCPC and the media. When people demonstrate against this policy, they are not demonstrating against the government of Nigeria, but against the people of Nigeria — including your own children,” he said.
Responding to concerns about whether banning small pack sizes alone would curb underage drinking, Adeyeye said the enforcement would be accompanied by sustained awareness campaigns in churches, mosques, schools and communities to reinforce behavioural change.
“We must keep repeating the message. Underage drinking closes opportunities for the future of our children,” she said.
“The agencies emphasized that banning small, easily concealable alcohol packs would help curb underage drinking, and they urged parents, community leaders, retailers, and citizens to cooperate with enforcement efforts to protect children and ensure compliance with the law.”
