The Federal Government has put on hold all actions linked to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products, signalling a pause in enforcement as consultations widen across key stakeholders.
In a statement issued on Monday, Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the directive followed an official intervention by the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.
According to the statement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) received a letter dated November 13, 2025, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77, and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, drawing attention to unresolved legislative resolutions on the proposed ban and concerns over its planned enforcement by NAFDAC.
The OSGF, which serves as the coordinating hub of the federal cabinet, said the matter is now under active review to ensure alignment with existing laws, legislative directives and national priorities.
“Consequently, all actions, decisions and enforcement measures relating to the proposed sachet alcohol ban are to be suspended pending the conclusion of consultations and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement said.
The office made it clear that any enforcement carried out by NAFDAC or other agencies without formal clearance from the OSGF would lack validity and should be disregarded by the public until an official position is communicated.
Officials stressed that the pause is intended to allow a broader assessment of the policy’s implications, including its impact on public health, jobs and small-scale businesses, as well as its consistency with National Assembly resolutions.
The OSGF assured Nigerians that a final decision would be guided by the national interest and reached through a coordinated, lawful process, adding that the public would be promptly informed once consultations are concluded and a definitive position is adopted.