MAN Warns Sachet Alcohol Ban Could Put Over Five Million Jobs at Risk

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised concerns that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) plan to ban the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles by December 31, 2025, could jeopardize over N1.9 trillion in investments and put around 5.5 million jobs at risk.

MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, warned that the NAFDAC-driven directive would significantly impact indigenous manufacturers and destabilize the economy at a time when the manufacturing sector is beginning to recover.

“This policy could lead to the loss of over N1.9 trillion in investments, mainly from Nigerian companies, resulting in the retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct employees and approximately five million indirect jobs across contracts, marketing, and logistics,” Ajayi-Kadir said in a statement on Wednesday.

He described the ban as “unfair and contrary to industry consensus,” noting that it contradicts resolutions reached during the validation of the draft National Alcohol Policy in October 2025. He emphasized that the Senate’s decision followed NAFDAC’s position without proper stakeholder consultation, despite the agency’s involvement in the multi-sectoral validation process led by the Ministry of Health.

Ajayi-Kadir recalled that the enlarged committee, which included NAFDAC, law enforcement, and industry representatives, had agreed on “progressive alternatives” to a total ban. These measures included stricter enforcement, licensing of liquor outlets, enhanced product monitoring, and nationwide campaigns to discourage underage alcohol consumption.

He criticized the Senate for imposing an outright ban without holding public hearings or engaging relevant stakeholders, contrasting it with the House of Representatives’ more consultative approach, which recommended a one-year extension and stakeholder validation.

MAN also disputed claims that sachet alcoholic beverages are widely abused by minors, citing government-backed studies showing no such evidence. Ajayi-Kadir noted that manufacturers have invested over N1 billion in responsible-drinking campaigns across the media.

He warned that a total ban could drive the market underground, creating opportunities for illicit and unsafe alcohol products. “Prohibiting the product would open the floodgates to unregulated substances that fall outside the control of relevant agencies,” he said. He added that sachet alcohol provides an affordable option for adults with low purchasing power, and banning it would reduce consumer choice while benefiting foreign and smuggled brands over local producers.

Ajayi-Kadir called for regulatory measures based on control and monitoring rather than prohibition, stating: “Once a product has established demand and is legal, effective regulation is the most sustainable way to manage access, not outright banning.”

He urged the Senate to rescind its order and NAFDAC to suspend implementation of the ban, recommending the swift adoption of the validated National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral framework.

“We appeal to the Senate to withdraw the order on sachet alcohol and for NAFDAC to halt enforcement from December 31, 2025. Sudden regulatory shifts threaten legitimate manufacturers and millions of value-chain operators,” he said.

Ajayi-Kadir reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to public safety and regulatory compliance, emphasizing that unsafe products should be removed based on empirical evidence, not emotion.

NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, has argued that cheap alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles are being misused among youths and drivers, citing their link to domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices. She warned that the products’ affordability and concealability have made them widely accessible, contributing to public health and safety concerns.