Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has defended the implementation of the sachet alcohol prohibition, cautioning that youngsters in Nigeria are becoming addicted due to easy access to the goods.
Adeyeye stated on Friday on ARISE Television that the agency’s decision was motivated by public health concerns and insisted that business interests could not take precedence over children’s safety.
She declared, “We are turning our kids into addicts.”
She claimed that manufacturers were more focused on making money than on the potential health risks of selling high-concentration alcohol products in tiny, easily hidden sachets.
Therefore, it is their fault if they prioritize money over health. Our focus is on investing wisely and maintaining good health. However, Adeyeye said, “We cannot sacrifice our children on the altar of trade.”
She emphasized that NAFDAC was limiting the sale of alcohol in small packages that are easier for minors to get and conceal rather than outright outlawing it.
“Alcohol is not prohibited. We accept alcohol in many forms. We are simply prohibiting it in little packages,” she stated.
The head of NAFDAC traced the policy back to 2018 and stated that the agency voiced concerns after learning that some sachet alcohol products had between 43 and 45 percent alcohol.
“A child in elementary or secondary school can easily fit that into their pocket,” she stated.
Adeyeye clarified that a deal was made with manufacturers, overseen by the Federal Ministry of Health, giving them five years to restructure their companies and stop using sachet packaging.
“We all signed that by, after five years, they will not sell alcohol in sachets,” she said.
She revealed that although though the original ban was set to expire on January 31, 2024, legislative and industry stakeholder actions caused enforcement to be postponed, leading to a further one-year extension.
“The minister called me and said there had been some discussion, we should give one year moratorium, an extra one year above the five years that we have given before. She added, “And that one year ended in December 2025.
Despite fresh pressure from manufacturers for more extensions, Adeyeye claimed that enforcement resumed following a Senate decision.
“We were given the order to resume enforcement by the Senate,” she stated.
She questioned warning labels’ efficacy in Nigeria and rejected assertions that they may prevent underage drinking.
“Don’t utilize anyone younger than 18. Are we serious? Don’t use in Nigeria. Are we truly deluding ourselves? In Nigeria? She questioned, “Who will enforce?”
The strategy is in line with Nigeria’s international commitments, the head of NAFDAC added.
“In 2010, Nigeria signed an agreement… that we will not make alcohol to be easily accessible to vulnerable populations,” she stated.
Additionally, Adeyeye refuted rumors that NAFDAC has received a court order prohibiting enforcement.
“NAFDAC has not received service. I haven’t received it if we have been served,” she remarked.
She clarified that enforcement only targeted impacted production lines, refuting allegations that businesses were shut down.
“Lines have been turned off. “We’re closing lines,” she said.
She added that early alcohol consumption harms children’s health and cautioned about long-term health hazards.
Adeyeye explained, “Because you are slowly frying your liver with alcohol over time.”
