By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
In a collaborative effort, the National Orientation Agency, NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, flagged off a nationwide campaign on the ban of Sachet alcoholic drinks to safeguard public health and protect consumers across the country.
The campaign was flagged off on Tuesday at the NOA Headquarters in Abuja in a grassroots enforcement and behavioural change.
Before now, NAFDAC banned the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and in PET or glass bottles below 200 milliliters, with effect from January 1, 2026.
The ban is aimed at curbing underage access to cheap, high-concentration alcohol and addressing the growing pattern of harmful consumption across communities.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa- Onilu said that the initiative was more than a regulatory action but a deliberate public health intervention designed to protect vulnerable populations, particularly young people.
“For too long, sachet alcohol has been dangerously accessible—inexpensive, portable, and easy to conceal.”
“When affordability meets vulnerability, the consequences are profound.”
He noted that early exposure to alcohol significantly increases the risk of addiction and long-term dependency, undermines educational attainment, fuels domestic instability, and contributes to road traffic incidents and declining productivity, he said.
According to Issa- Onilu, prevention is less costly than rehabilitation, adding that government has both a constitutional duty and moral responsibility to act before harm becomes entrenched in society.
The collaboration aligns the regulatory mandate of NAFDAC, the consumer protection oversight of FCCPC, and the nationwide mobilization structure of NOA to ensure effective implementation of the ban.
As part of the rollout strategy, NOA said it will deploy its extensive grassroots network to drive awareness and behavioural change.
“With 818 offices nationwide and operational presence across the 774 Local Government Areas, the Agency will engage communities through town hall meetings, market outreaches, school sensitization programs, transport unions, youth associations, and faith-based platforms, he explained.
Messages will be delivered in local languages to ensure deeper resonance, while media engagements across television, radio, and digital platforms will complement physical outreach efforts.
The NOA also announced that citizens can report violations through its CLHEEAN App, available on Android and Apple platforms, as part of efforts to encourage community participation in enforcement.
Stakeholders at the event emphasized that consumer protection is inseparable from public protection, insisting that market responsibility must align with national interest.
They warned that no nation can thrive when its youth are trapped in cycles of preventable addiction, stressing that protecting children today is an investment in Nigeria’s stability and productivity tomorrow.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians were urged to remain vigilant, while retailers and distributors were called upon to comply fully with the directive.
Citizens are also encouraged to refuse patronage of banned products and support lawful enforcement mechanisms.
Moreover, stakeholders said that the joint campaign underscores the interconnected roles of public health regulation, consumer protection, and national orientation in strengthening responsible governance.
They noted that with a unified message of awareness, compliance, and collective vigilance, the agencies have reaffirmed their commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more responsible Nigeria.
End
