The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to suspend all enforcement actions related to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

The government also instructed the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the matter.

The directive was contained in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

According to the statement, the decision followed a joint intervention by the Office of the SGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which raised concerns about the security implications of enforcing the ban without a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement said.

Although the Federal Ministry of Health has signed the National Alcohol Policy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, the government insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from enforcement measures until the policy is fully operational and further guidance is issued.

The government noted that continued factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing and what it described as a “de facto ban” were already disrupting economic activities and posing security risks, particularly affecting jobs, supply chains and informal distribution networks.

Kuanum said the position reinforces an earlier directive issued in December 2025, which suspended actions on the proposed ban pending consultations. He also disclosed that the SGF’s office received a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control raising concerns about NAFDAC’s planned enforcement and referencing existing National Assembly resolutions.

The Federal Government said it is reviewing legislative resolutions, public health concerns, economic implications and broader national interest considerations before taking a final decision. It assured stakeholders that the outcome of ongoing consultations and inter-agency coordination would be communicated in due course.