₦airaland Forum

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to rescind the recent directive banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025.

This directive, which followed a resolution reportedly passed by the Senate on Thursday, November 6, was described by MAN as counterproductive and inconsistent with earlier stakeholder agreements.

According to a statement by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of MAN, the decision runs contrary to the consensus reached among all stakeholders, including NAFDAC itself, during the validation of the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025. He said the Senate’s resolution was made without proper consultation or public hearings with key industry players, unlike the process adopted by the House of Representatives.

Ajayi-Kadir explained that the validated policy had recommended multi-sectoral action plans, tighter enforcement, the establishment of licensed liquor outlets, stronger monitoring by regulatory agencies, and national enlightenment campaigns on responsible alcohol consumption, not an outright ban.

He also debunked claims that sachet alcohol promotes underage drinking, noting that independent studies commissioned by the government found no empirical evidence to support such claims. He added that the industry had invested over ₦1 billion in public awareness campaigns to discourage alcohol abuse among minors.

The MAN chief warned that enforcing the ban could lead to massive economic disruption, including the loss of ₦1.9 trillion in investments, over 500,000 direct jobs, and approximately five million indirect jobs in marketing, logistics, and supply chains.

Ajayi-Kadir further argued that sachet packaging allows low-income adult consumers to afford regulated alcoholic beverages in smaller, safer quantities, a measure that could actually reduce excessive consumption. He cautioned that the ban could fuel the spread of illicit, unregulated alcohol, as demand would shift to underground markets, increasing health and safety risks.

He added that the measure might also open Nigeria’s market to smuggled foreign brands, hurting local manufacturers and depriving the government of valuable tax revenue.

MAN therefore urged the Senate to withdraw its directive and allow the implementation of the validated National Alcohol Policy, emphasizing that effective regulation and public education — not prohibition — remain the most sustainable solutions.

“MAN supports measures that remove unsafe products from the market,” Ajayi-Kadir said. “However, such decisions must be driven by evidence, not emotion. Abrupt regulatory shifts can jeopardize jobs, livelihoods, and national economic stability.”

He reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to ensuring compliance with all safety standards and promoting responsible alcohol consumption across the country.

gregyboy:
Ban that shit its poison

themanderon:
On this one I support the government. We cannot be like South Africans. A nation of drunkards.

sparko1:
They should ban it, those things cause serious issues

aisha111:
...warns of economic fallout

themanderon:
On this one I support the government. We cannot be like South Africans. A nation of drunkards.

AZControversial:


So me and government can finally agree on something....

BAN THAT THING!!!!!

Judemarco31:
NAFDAC should ignore "MAN" the abuse of those sachet alcoholic beverages are rendering many useless now especially in some cities like Lagos where the fake ones are much, kidney and liver diseases everywhere.

symbianDON:
So na shekpe be these ones problem now?? Dis life no balance true true

FreeStuffsNG:
NAFDAC should ignore the hypocritical demand.

If you are in business and you are being told that the social cost of your business is killing, your response should not be that others should keep dying so that you can keep being in business. These satchet alcohol was not even allowed in the past and soon as NAFDAC slept to allow it, they took over everywhere.

There should a class suit on the manufacturers and MAN to pay for the lives lost. It was done for tobacco, same should be done for small afenuja that is killing the consumers and passengers of killed or maimed by drunken drivers.

Kalulu44:
What about banning Hennessy, Beers, Whiskey and the likes. Or are those ones improving health

Judemarco31:
They are not but you should know that these sachets are cheap, easily to be abused, little money can buy as many as possible.

FreeStuffsNG:
If you don't know the difference between the two, ask nicely and I will explain to you.

There's a huge difference between satchet alcohol and ones in bottles or large volume. From pricing to accessibility to the physiological effect and social costs.

Most of the Keke Marwa drivers have their dashboard box full of afenuja. Can he put a bottle of Hennessey there or even afford it? No. Even to buy beer can make a hole in his pocket.That's a huge difference.


Then there's another problem with regulatory monitoring. They're now so much that regulatory monitoring has been so difficult that adulterated ones can't even be easily tracked and withdrawn.

Kalulu44:
I understand perfectly what him and you are saying. But banning the sachet ones will not stop them getting even the expensive ones.
Shebi when they ban the sachet ones of #100 #200, they'll still be doing the bottle own that will cost like #500 or 1k and above.
I can bet with anything that okada men, Keke drivers and even the students you mentioned will still afford it and in no time it will be like when it was sold for #200.
The total solution is to ban alcohol outright including the likes of beer, Hennessy, whiskey and co. Cus you can't ban the ones affordable to common man and leave the ones for rich dudes and elites.
But you and I knows it's not possible. My own is, all man for himself. Nobody is a kid to not know what's good or bad for him.
I take those sachet alcohol once in awhile, and also agbo Jedi. But if you see me and you were told I do alcohol you won't believe it.
It's what it is

Kalulu44:
Can you tell us those killed by it. But they should leave Hennessy, Whiskey, Beers and co cus those ones improves health abi

Kalulu44:
They should ban beers, Hennessy, Red/Black label, Johnnie Walker, Whiskey and the likes too