The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has clarified that no new directive has been issued to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regarding enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottles.
The clarification follows widespread circulation of a report suggesting a fresh intervention by the OSGF and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to halt NAFDAC’s enforcement actions.
Speaking on Thursday, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanam, explained that the statement currently in the public domain was an old document originally issued in December 2025.
He attributed the confusion to a communication error and a recent news analysis that created the impression a new order had been signed this week.
Kuanam disclosed that the OSGF is still awaiting critical feedback from NAFDAC before determining the next course of action.
While the Federal Ministry of Health has submitted its position on the ban, the regulatory agency has yet to respond to correspondence sent by the OSGF in November.
“We wrote NAFDAC and the Health Ministry in November to give us an informed position on the matter. The minister has responded but NAFDAC has not responded. Until they respond, the OSGF cannot determine the next line of action,” he said.
He added that the circulating directive asking NAFDAC to halt enforcement was issued in December and only resurfaced due to a communication lapse.
The OSGF had earlier warned that enforcement measures, including sealing factories and warehouses, could trigger economic disruptions and security concerns in the absence of a fully operational National Alcohol Policy.
It maintained that a harmonised framework remains essential to balance public health objectives with economic stability, employment considerations, and informal distribution networks before full implementation of the policy.
