FG unveils fresh plan to regulate alcohol production, consumption

Federal Government has launched a five-year national alcohol policy designed to reduce alcohol-related harm, strengthen regulation and confront Nigeria’s rapidly expanding illicit drinks market.

The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030, unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, establishes a unified framework for regulating the production, distribution, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Under the plan, government agencies will intensify public education, enforce age and access restrictions, promote responsible marketing and expand screening, treatment and rehabilitation services for people affected by alcohol-related disorders. The policy also seeks to improve product safety, quality and traceability across the alcohol value chain.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said alcohol-related harm could no longer be left to the health sector alone.

“Nigeria cannot address alcohol-related harm through fragmented interventions. We need coordination across sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability for results,” Pate said.

The policy rests on four pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation and accountability.

Citing the latest available World Health Organisation figures, Pate said Nigeria’s total alcohol consumption stood at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above in 2024.

He also connected harmful alcohol consumption with road safety concerns, noting that the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 9,570 crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024. Although alcohol was not responsible for all the incidents, driving under the influence remains a recognised contributor to road crashes.

Beyond public health, the government raised concern over the economic consequences of illicit alcohol. Industry estimates based on a 2024 Euromonitor survey indicate that counterfeit, smuggled and illegally produced spirits and wines account for about 40 per cent of the Nigerian market, costing the government more than ₦428 billion annually in lost revenue.

Authorities said tackling the illicit market would protect consumers from potentially dangerous products while preventing illegal operators from undercutting legitimate manufacturers that comply with safety standards and pay taxes.

NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, welcomed the new policy, describing it as an unambiguous national direction for alcohol regulation. She pledged that the agency would continue science-based regulation, market surveillance and engagement with industry stakeholders.

Adeyeye also reaffirmed NAFDAC’s ban on alcohol packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200 millilitres, products regulators say are cheap, concealable and easily accessible to minors and other vulnerable groups.

Representatives of several government institutions, including the ministries of Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Nigerian Correctional Service, pledged to support implementation.

The Health Ministry said the major test would be whether the document produces measurable reductions in alcohol-related illnesses, injuries and deaths by 2030, rather than becoming another national policy that exists only on paper.