The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200ml to recall and destroy the affected products nationwide.
The agency also warned manufacturers that violate the Federal Government’s ban on the production and sale of alcohol in the prohibited pack sizes risk heavy fines, closure of their facilities and other regulatory sanctions.
NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the directive followed the expiration of the transition period granted manufacturers to comply with the ban.
The ban took effect on January 1, 2026, following concerns over the accessibility of high-alcohol-content beverages in small, inexpensive and easily concealed packages.
NAFDAC said manufacturers found with prohibited alcoholic products in the market must immediately commence nationwide recalls and submit periodic compliance reports to the agency.
The recalled products will be inventoried and destroyed under NAFDAC’s supervision, with manufacturers required to bear the cost of the exercise.
The agency said it has commenced phased enforcement of the ban, beginning with manufacturers and extending to markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars and distribution centres across the country.
Affected manufacturers will also be required to sign irrevocable enforcement undertakings through the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers.
NAFDAC said facilities found producing the prohibited products would remain closed until the agency verifies that the affected production lines have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured.
Manufacturers that fail to comply could also be placed on NAFDAC’s regulatory watchlist, while their product registrations could be suspended or revoked.
The agency warned that other regulatory and legal sanctions could also be imposed on defaulting companies.
Adeyeye said manufacturers found selling prohibited products would face heavy fines and possible permanent closure of their production facilities.
She also said NAFDAC would deploy proceeds-of-crime legislation against manufacturers where applicable.
The enforcement follows the expiration of a transition period that gave manufacturers several years to adjust their production lines.
Manufacturers were initially granted a five-year moratorium under a December 2018 memorandum of understanding to enable them to reconfigure their production lines and transition to larger packaging sizes.
The agency urged members of the public to report the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets or PET/plastic bottles below 200ml to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official communication channels.
Following further consultations with stakeholders, the deadline was extended to December 31, 2025.
