The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, (NECA), has describedthe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles, as a serious regulatory misstep with far-reaching economic and governance implication.
Reacting to the development on Thursday, the Director- General of NECA, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated: “NECA unequivocally supports the protection of minors, the removal of unsafe products from the market, and the pursuit of strong public health outcomes.
However, the current approach is misdirected. “Oyerinde added : The continued enforcement is already disrupting legitimate businesses, unsettling ongoing investments, placing thousands of jobs at risk, and weakening confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory stability at a time when investors trust is critical.”
It disproportionately targets compliant and regulated manufacturers while failing to address the real drivers of underage access and the growing challenge of illicit substance abuse across the country.”
Corroborating with the earlier position of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Oyerinde added that the NAFDAC ‘S action directly contradicts the directive of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation dated 15 December 2025, suspending the ban, as well as the resolution of the House of Representatives of 14 March 2024, which called for restraint and broader stakeholder engagement. ”
Regulation must be rooted in evidence, proportionality, and the rule of law., it is unacceptable to punish compliance or criminalise products that passed established regulatory approval processes while ignoring clear gaps in retail enforcement and the spread of far more dangerous unregulated substances,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria needs smarter, data-driven enforcement, not blanket bans that destroy jobs, discourage investment, and fail to solve the underlying problem.
He explained that the alcoholic products now being targeted were tested, registered, and periodically revalidated in accordance with NAFDAC’s scientific and technical procedures.
Alcohol strength is measured globally using Alcohol by Volume, ABV, and the products in question fall within internationally recognised ranges for spirits.
Their alcohol content is clearly printed on the labels and complies with Nigeria’s regulatory framework. He stated that abruptly labeling such products as inherently dangerous, without presenting new, transparent scientific evidence, raises serious questions about regulatory consistency and fairness.
