The President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, has warned that National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s renewed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles could put about N800 billion investments at risk.
He said the move further threatens over five million direct and indirect jobs.
In a statement issued by ACCI Media and Strategy Officer, Olayemi John-Mensah, over the weekend, Obegolu, described the enforcement as economically disruptive and potentially damaging to investor confidence, particularly at a time when “Nigeria requires regulatory stability to sustain growth, protect livelihoods, and attract investment”.
He expressed the chamber’s full support for public health objectives, including protection of minors and the promotion of responsible consumption, adding however that the “current approach to enforcement is abrupt and raises concerns of regulatory inconsistency”.
Obegolu said, “The renewed enforcement contradicts existing government directives and legislative resolutions, including the directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on December 15, 2025, which suspended the ban, as well as the resolution of the House of Representatives of March 14, 2024, calling for restraint and broader stakeholder consultation.”
He recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with manufacturers to gradually phase out sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages by January 31, 2024.
According to him, this moratorium was later extended to December 2025 following sustained engagement with industry stakeholders.
He said, “Despite these agreed transition timelines, the sudden enforcement has begun to disrupt legitimate businesses across the manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retail value chains, unsettling existing investments and exposing millions of workers to potential job losses.”
The ACCI president cautioned that an outright ban, without adequate transition measures, may inadvertently encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products, thereby undermining both public health goals and government revenue.
Obegolu, who currently speaks for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), called for effective regulation on control, compliance, and enforcement, rather than outright prohibition.
He said, “ACCI is calling for a further extension of the implementation deadline to December 2026 to allow manufacturers complete ongoing transition processes, restructure operations, and exhaust existing inventories without unnecessary economic shocks.”
He also advocated for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder implementation committee comprising relevant regulatory agencies, policymakers, organised private sector groups, and industry representatives to ensure coordinated, transparent, and practical execution of the policy.
According to him, such an inclusive framework would help balance public health protection with economic sustainability, safeguard investments, preserve jobs, and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment.
He also reaffirmed the chamber’s readiness to collaborate with NAFDAC, relevant ministries, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders to achieve responsible regulation that protects consumers while sustaining enterprise growth and employment.
James Emejo
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