The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has criticised the renewed enforcement of the ban on producing and selling alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), describing it as a regulatory inconsistency with serious economic and governance implications.
According to its Director General, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA stated that the enforcement goes against the directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation issued on December 15, 2025, which had suspended the ban, as well as the House of Representatives’ resolution of March 14, 2024, urging restraint and broader stakeholder engagement.
NECA’s position aligns with that of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), which noted that the NAFDAC action is counterproductive in the sub-sector and also a violation of the resolution of the House of Representatives and the directive of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The association cautioned that the renewed action is already disrupting legitimate businesses, unsettling current investments, and putting thousands of jobs on the line, while eroding confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment at a time when investor trust is especially vital.
While reaffirming its support for the protection of minors, public health objectives, and the removal of unsafe products from the market, NECA argued that the current approach is misdirected. According to Oyerinde, it disproportionately targets compliant and regulated manufacturers while failing to address the core drivers of underage access to alcohol and the growing spread of illicit substances.
He stressed that regulation should be anchored on evidence, proportionality, and respect for the rule of law, adding that it is counterproductive to penalise companies whose products have passed established regulatory approval processes while gaps persist in retail enforcement and control of unregulated substances.
NECA noted that the alcoholic products affected by the ban were tested, registered, and periodically revalidated under NAFDAC’s scientific and technical standards. It explained that alcohol strength is measured globally using alcohol by volume and that the products fall within internationally recognised limits, with clear labelling that complies with Nigeria’s regulatory framework. The association said abruptly classifying such products as inherently dangerous, without presenting new scientific evidence, raises concerns about regulatory fairness and consistency.
On underage drinking, NECA maintained that access control is primarily an enforcement issue rather than a packaging issue. It argued that existing warnings and age restrictions are sufficient if properly enforced and that the focus should be on stricter licensing, monitoring of retail outlets, and sanctions for erring sellers.
The employers’ body also pointed out that sachet and small-pack formats reflect affordability realities within Nigeria’s economic structure, where many adult consumers make low-value daily purchases. It warned that eliminating these formats would not eliminate demand but could instead push consumers toward informal and unregulated markets, increasing public health risks and shrinking the formal economy.
NECA further expressed concern that enforcement efforts are concentrated on a regulated segment of the beverage industry, while more dangerous illicit drugs and abused pharmaceuticals continue to circulate widely among young people. It described this as a misalignment of policy priorities.
According to the association, the wines and spirits value chain supports significant direct and indirect employment across manufacturing, packaging, distribution, transportation, retail, and agriculture. It cautioned that sudden regulatory shocks, at a time of high operating costs, currency pressures, and weak consumer purchasing power, threaten livelihoods, reduce government revenue, and undermine policy predictability.
The association called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing enforcement in line with the Federal Government’s earlier directive and urged a return to structured, evidence-based engagement among regulators, industry players, public health experts, and consumer groups. It said policy efforts should prioritise retail-level enforcement, public education on responsible consumption, stronger action against illicit substances, and collaborative environmental solutions.
NECA concluded that effective regulation must protect public health while preserving jobs, investment, and respect for due process, warning that policies disconnected from science, economic realities, and regulatory coherence risk doing more harm than good.
