The Ban on sachet and small PET-bottled alcoholic beverages has drawn fresh criticism from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which has urged the Federal Government to restrain the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its renewed enforcement.
The Director-General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, January 27, 2026.
Ajayi-Kadir said NAFDAC’s action contradicts a directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) dated December 15, 2025, which suspended the implementation of the ban.
He also noted that the enforcement runs counter to a resolution of the House of Representatives on March 14, 2024, following a public hearing with stakeholders, which restrained NAFDAC from banning alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles.
According to him, conflicting directives from government institutions have created uncertainty for operators in the wines and spirits sector and disrupted legitimate businesses.
Ajayi-Kadir explained that sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages were introduced to cater to adult consumers with low purchasing power, adding that smaller portions could help curb excessive consumption rather than encourage abuse.
He maintained that locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC.
The MAN director-general warned that an outright ban could encourage the spread of illicit and unregulated products, posing greater health risks to consumers.
He dismissed claims that the products promote underage drinking, stating that such assertions had been contradicted by empirical research.
“We would like to place on record that the untested assertion of abuse by minors as the basis for the ban has been debated by credible and empirical research independently conducted,” he said.
Ajayi-Kadir added that manufacturers had invested over ₦1 billion in nationwide media campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage drinking.
According to him, the ban also threatens jobs, livelihoods and government revenue, while encouraging smuggling and the importation of unregulated alternatives.
He reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to working with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with standards and appealed to the Federal Government to direct NAFDAC to halt actions that disrupt manufacturers’ operations.
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