Alcohol abuse has plagued the country for many years, and it affects not just the old but even the younger population, especially children and teenagers. You can find almost anyone at any age taking sachets of fenuja, bajinatu, or eagle dry gin in the mornings across several Nigerian streets. This is how bad abuse has eaten deep into the system. 

However, on January 1, 2026, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, will enforce the ban that will see popular sachet alcohol out of the market in the country. The move is aimed at reinforcing the mandate of the NDLEA, shielding public health, and protecting vulnerable groups such as children and young adults from the overly disastrous effects of alcohol use and abuse.

While speaking at a briefing in Abuja yesterday, Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced that the Federal Government had also approved the recruitment of 1,000 additional personnel for the agency, starting in December. This is aimed at increasing the regulatory and enforcement capacity of the agency in curbing unregulated alcohol use. It is rampant in the country, and it poses a challenge to public health.

She also added, “This decisive action underscores our duty to protect Nigerians from the health and social hazards of unregulated alcohol consumption. Alcohol in sachets and small bottles is cheap, accessible, and easily concealable, making it a major driver of misuse and addiction, especially among minors and commercial drivers.”

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The easy accessibility makes it a cause for concern in the country. More teenagers are becoming vulnerable to drug addiction daily, and more adults are becoming drug addicts. Apart from addiction, it also poses a security concern, as early alcohol exposure among youths is a leading cause of criminalistic tendencies and abnormal behaviour.

“This public health menace is associated with increased domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices,” the Director-General mentioned.

Addiction has been linked to gangsterism, crime, and even cases of insanity in many parts of the country. It is worse because we see these people on the street every day, and the numbers keep increasing daily. This is why it is a call to action, and the country has to step up.

How effective will the ban be

Adeyeye stressed that the ban is protective, not punitive, and is guided by scientific evidence and global best practices.

The ban specifically targets the spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, and does not apply to all alcoholic beverages. These are the most accessible to the vulnerable population and victims of addiction in the country. Blocking that path should put a leash on the widespread of the products, stop them from getting into the wrong hands.

Also, it is in alignment with the Senate’s latest resolution, aligned with both the earlier agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).

Meiza Nigeria