The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its renewed enforcement of a ban on sachet and small PET-bottled alcoholic beverages, warning that the action is disrupting legitimate businesses and threatening jobs. MAN said the move contradicts existing federal directives and legislative resolutions, and could open Nigeria’s alcohol market to illicit products, revenue losses and wider economic damage.
In a statement issued Tuesday, MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir described NAFDAC’s action as “inimical to profitable operations” within the wines and spirits sub-sector. He said the ban directly affects indigenous manufacturers, workers and distributors across the value chain.
Ajayi-Kadir warned that enforcing the ban would encourage smuggling, expand the market for substandard and unregulated alcohol, reduce government revenue and deny low-income adult consumers access to legally produced products.
NAFDAC recently resumed enforcement of a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles, despite a December 15, 2025 directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) suspending implementation.
The move also conflicts with a March 2024 House of Representatives resolution, reached after public hearings with stakeholders, which restrained NAFDAC from imposing a blanket ban. MAN said the regulatory agency instead relied on a Senate resolution that lacked broad stakeholder engagement, creating regulatory uncertainty for operators.
MAN urged the Federal Government to intervene and compel NAFDAC to comply with existing directives. According to Ajayi-Kadir, continued enforcement risks destroying jobs, confusing operators and triggering unintended economic consequences.
He stressed that sachet alcohol was introduced as an innovation to serve adult consumers with limited purchasing power and argued that smaller portions could actually discourage excessive consumption associated with larger bottles.
Unions Challenge Child Consumption Claims
Meanwhile, the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees challenged NAFDAC to provide empirical evidence linking sachet alcohol to underage drinking.
As protests against the ban entered a third day at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, the unions insisted that no credible data supports claims that sachet alcoholic beverages are being consumed by children.
National President of the senior staff association, Oyibo Jimoh, said the industry has invested heavily in responsible drinking campaigns and age-restriction messaging.
Industry Pushback and Counter-Protests
While workers and manufacturers protested against the ban, a separate group staged a counter-demonstration in support of NAFDAC, claiming sachet gin consumption contributes to health problems and juvenile delinquency.
However, union leaders dismissed those claims, arguing that sachet alcohol products are easier to regulate because manufacturers are known, licensed and regularly inspected—unlike counterfeit bottled spirits, which they say pose greater public health risks.
Impact / What It Means
Industry stakeholders warn that enforcing the ban could weaken Nigeria’s manufacturing base, worsen unemployment and fuel the circulation of dangerous illicit alcohol. MAN and labour unions insist that policy decisions affecting the sector must be evidence-based, consistent with government directives and aligned with broader economic stability goals.
