In a decisive move to safeguard Nigeria’s youth, the Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to phase out the sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets by December 2025, rejecting further extensions despite industry pressure.

The resolution, passed during Wednesday’s plenary, was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of Cross River South and seconded by Senator Anthony Ani of Ebonyi South. Ekpenyong warned that sachet alcohol is widely consumed by children, adolescents, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups, contributing to addiction, impaired cognitive development, road accidents, domestic violence, and broader social problems.

Ekpenyong recalled a 2018 five-year memorandum of understanding signed by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, NAFDAC, and industry associations to gradually phase out sachet alcohol due to its public health risks. While a one-year moratorium was granted in 2024 to allow manufacturers time to adjust, lobbying by some industry players for further delay was firmly rejected.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that children are often unknowingly exposed to high-alcohol beverages. The Senate mandated NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to enforce the ban strictly by December 2025 and called on the Federal Ministry of Health to facilitate implementation and release a national alcohol policy to guide enforcement.

Additionally, lawmakers urged the National Orientation Agency to intensify public awareness campaigns, especially targeting school-aged children, to combat the social and health risks posed by sachet alcohol.

The Senate’s action underscores a renewed commitment to public health and youth protection, signaling an end to a practice that has endangered generations and highlighting the power of legislation to inspire social change.