The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has cautioned that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) planned ban on sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks could wipe out over N1.9 trillion in investments and endanger more than five million direct and indirect jobs nationwide.
The warning follows NAFDAC’s directive mandating a total phase-out of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres by December 31, 2025, as endorsed by the Senate.
MAN’s Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the move as “economically dangerous” and “procedurally flawed,” noting that it disregarded a stakeholder consensus reached in October 2025 during the validation of the National Alcohol Policy.
He said the Senate’s resolution was passed without broad consultation and contradicted the House of Representatives’ earlier position, which favoured gradual enforcement rather than an outright ban.
Ajayi-Kadir explained that stakeholders, including NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Health, had agreed on a multi-sectoral approach to curb alcohol misuse through regulation, licensing, and education — not prohibition. He listed key measures such as stricter law enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and the licensing of retail liquor outlets across local governments.
According to MAN, the proposed ban would reverse manufacturing gains and worsen unemployment, particularly among low-income earners dependent on the sachet beverage market.
“The pronouncement will lead to massive job losses, shut down indigenous businesses, and erase over N1.9 trillion in investments,” the association said.
MAN also warned that the policy could fuel black-market production and increase circulation of unsafe, unregulated alcohol.
Ajayi-Kadir urged NAFDAC to suspend the ban and adopt the validated National Alcohol Policy, emphasizing education, responsible drinking, and stronger regulation.
