Quick Summary:
MANOpposesAlcoholBan as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria calls on NAFDAC to withdraw its directive banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025, warning of massive job losses and economic disruption.
Lagos, Nigeria – The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to rescind its directive banning the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025.
The directive, which followed a Senate resolution reportedly passed on November 6, was described by MAN as counterproductive and inconsistent with earlier stakeholder agreements.
MAN Rejects Senate-Backed Ban
In a statement issued by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of MAN, the association said the decision contradicts the consensus reached among all stakeholders — including NAFDAC — during the validation of the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025.
Ajayi-Kadir criticised the Senate’s resolution for being made without proper consultation or public hearings with key industry players, unlike the House of Representatives, which had previously engaged stakeholders before making recommendations.
Economic and Social Implications
MAN warned that enforcing the ban could trigger massive economic disruption, including the potential 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 argued that sachet packaging enables low-income adult consumers to purchase regulated alcoholic beverages in smaller, safer quantities — a measure that could actually reduce excessive consumption rather than encourage it.
He also debunked claims that sachet alcohol promotes underage drinking, citing independent government-commissioned studies that found no empirical evidence to support such assertions.
Risks of Illicit Trade and Smuggling
The MAN chief cautioned that the ban could fuel the spread of illicit, unregulated alcohol, as demand would likely shift to underground markets, increasing health and safety risks for consumers.
He further warned that the measure could open Nigeria’s market to smuggled foreign brands, undermining local manufacturers and depriving the government of valuable tax revenue.
Call for Policy Reversal
MAN urged the Senate to withdraw its directive and allow the validated National Alcohol Policy to be implemented as agreed by all stakeholders. The association emphasised that effective regulation and public education, not prohibition, remain the most sustainable solutions to addressing alcohol misuse.
Broader Context
The controversy follows NAFDAC’s earlier announcement that it would begin full enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban in January 2026, citing public health concerns and the need to curb underage drinking.
Industry stakeholders, however, argue that the ban could destabilise the beverage sector, discourage investment, and worsen unemployment at a time when Nigeria’s manufacturing industry is already under pressure from inflation, high energy costs, and foreign exchange challenges.