MANUFACTURERS URGE FG TO REVERSE BAN ON SACHET ALCOHOL PRODUCTION, WARN OF N1.9TRN INVESTMENT LOSS
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Agency Report
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to reverse its directive banning the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025, warning that the move could cripple local industries and cost the economy trillions of naira.
MAN’s Director-General, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the appeal in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, describing the directive as counterproductive and inconsistent with earlier agreements reached between industry stakeholders and regulators.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) plans to begin enforcing the ban as part of efforts to curb the misuse of cheap alcoholic beverages among youths and commercial drivers.
However, Ajayi-Kadir argued that the claim linking sachet alcohol to underage drinking had been disproved by several independent studies commissioned by the government itself.
He said despite those findings, manufacturers had continued to support responsible consumption campaigns and initiatives discouraging access to alcohol by minors.
“The latest directive contradicts the position of the House of Representatives and undermines the progressive framework earlier agreed upon by all stakeholders,” Ajayi-Kadir stated.
The MAN boss warned that enforcing the ban would result in massive economic disruptions, including the loss of over ₦1.9 trillion in investments, retrenchment of about 500,000 direct workers and five million indirect workers, and a sharp decline in manufacturing capacity utilisation.
He added that such a policy could wipe out local businesses, weaken indigenous entrepreneurship, and promote the influx of illicit or smuggled alcoholic products beyond government control.
Ajayi-Kadir noted that locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic and certified conditions, stressing that eliminating these regulated products would only fuel the rise of unregulated and unsafe alternatives.
“We therefore make a strong appeal for the swift approval and implementation of the validated Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral framework,” he said.
MAN also called on the Senate to reverse the ban and restrain NAFDAC from enforcing it, urging the government to adopt a more balanced approach that safeguards public health without destroying local industries.
“MAN remains committed to ensuring that its members producing sachet alcohol comply with all regulatory standards and continue to promote responsible consumption,” Ajayi-Kadir added.
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