The Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) not to extend the December 31, 2025 deadline for ending the production of alcohol in sachets and small bottles.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who warned that granting further extensions would endanger public health and undermine regulatory standards. He noted that a one-year grace period had already been granted in 2024 to help manufacturers transition to safer packaging.
Ekpenyong said sachet alcohol encourages addiction, school dropouts, domestic violence, and road accidents, particularly among youths and commercial drivers. He also pointed out that compliant manufacturers were being disadvantaged by those ignoring the ban.
Senators supported the motion, calling for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the move as vital for protecting public health and urged NAFDAC to enforce the ban fully, warning that any further delay would weaken Nigeria’s anti-substance abuse efforts.
