The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

The government also warned the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the matter.

This directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Terrence Kuanum.

According to the statement, the order followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement read.

Kuanum explained that although the National Alcohol Policy had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, both offices insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement until the policy is fully implemented and further directives are issued.

The government said prohibited actions include factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing, and public campaigns emphasizing the sachet alcohol ban.

It noted that the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” without a harmonised policy framework was already causing economic disruptions and posing security risks, especially through job losses, supply chain disruptions, and the impact on informal distribution networks nationwide.

The statement added that the directive reinforces an earlier order issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which suspended all enforcement actions pending consultations and a final decision.

Kuanum further disclosed that the SGF’s office had received a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, expressing concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed actions and citing existing National Assembly resolutions on the matter.

The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, highlighted the need for caution in implementing the ban.

The Federal Government said it is currently reviewing legislative resolutions, public health concerns, economic implications, and national interest considerations surrounding the issue.

It also noted that the involvement of the National Security Adviser underscored that the matter had gone beyond regulatory concerns, warning that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger security challenges.

The government assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after extensive consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the interest of public health, economic stability, and national security.