National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been urged not to delay further the implementation of the ban imposed on production and sales of alcohol in satchets and small bottles in Nigeria.
A Non-Governmental Organization – The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) made the call today in a Press Statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi and it’s National Secretary Dr. Nasir Balogun.
According to the Group, deliberations on the ban of alcohol in satchets started over two years ago following noticeable health concerns among the youths, several motor accidents being recorded and violent attacks in Nigeria leading to killing of innocent people, destruction property and abduction of people for collection of ransom.
The Group recalled that during the discussion which involved the NAFDAC, Manufacturers of Alcohol and some Members of the National Assembly, it was resolved that a moratorium of two years be given to the Manufacturers based on their request to phase-out alcoholic drinks in satchets and small bottles….adding that was why the National Assembly passed the bill for the ban after the expiration of the two years moratorium
with its effective the ban being 25th of December, 2025.
The Media Group therefore wondered how some people went through the backdoor to meet the Secretary o the Government of the Federation (SGF) for the suspension of implementation of the ban by NAFDAC.
While commending the National Assembly for doing the needful at the appropriate time, the Group noted with serious concern that alcohol in satchets and small bottles continue to feature in Nigerian markets and roads indiscriminately despite the ban – due to claims by some manufacturers sighting economic reasons and possible loss of jobs.
MMWG described the development as a sad one maintaining that we cannot continue to priotise economic gains above the welfare and well-being of the people and there are health risks in the indiscriminate sales of alcohol in satchets and small bottles.
MMWG said that Medical research has revealed the risks being posed healthy lives of our people especially the youths, some of who are already affected by liver and kidney diseases due to accessibility and uncontrolled alcohol consumption, the Group stated.
Also, reports of several automobile accidents on our roads as a result of commercial drivers secretly consuming alcohol in small bottles are well known.
More importantly the Group said several immoral behaviours such as rape, sexual assault, kidnapping and abductions of people are perpetrated by criminals under the influence of alcohol in satchets and small bottles.
Insecurity facing the Country, the Group maintained, cannot be divorced from alcohol and hard drugs consumption by the criminals perpetrating these acts of gruesome killing of innocent people, insurgency and burning of property and collection of ransome to free their captives.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the bill passed by the National Assembly on the ban of alcohol in satchets and small bottles and direct NAFDAC to enforce the ban without further delay…
The Group stated further that Governments’ desire to eliminate insecurity in Nigeria cannot work as long as free sales of alcohol especially in satchets and small bottles continued in Nigeria as the non-state actors involved in various attacks have access to alcohol consumption indiscriminately.
While commending Federal and State Governments in fighting insecurity, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria maintained that they must priotise the well-being of the people rather than economic benefits of few people in our Society for their efforts to succeed.
