The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed serious concern over NAFDAC’s renewed enforcement of the ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small PET bottles, warning that the move could have wide economic and regulatory consequences if not properly reviewed.
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In a statement issued by its Director-General, Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA described the action as a regulatory error that contradicts existing government directives and legislative resolutions.
According to the association, the enforcement goes against a directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation dated December 15, 2025, which suspended the ban, as well as a House of Representatives resolution of March 14, 2024, which called for caution and broader stakeholder consultations before implementation.
NECA said the renewed crackdown is already affecting legitimate businesses, disrupting ongoing investments, threatening thousands of jobs, and raising concerns about regulatory predictability at a time when investor confidence is crucial for the economy.
While reaffirming its support for protecting minors, removing unsafe products from circulation, and promoting public health, NECA argued that the current enforcement approach is misplaced. The association said it unfairly targets compliant manufacturers while failing to tackle the real sources of underage drinking and the growing problem of illicit substance abuse.
Oyerinde stressed that regulation should be guided by evidence, fairness, and the rule of law. He said it is wrong to penalise companies that followed established approval processes, while gaps in retail monitoring and enforcement remain largely the real issue. According to him, what Nigeria needs is smarter, data-driven regulation — not blanket bans that cost jobs and discourage investment without solving the root problem.
He noted that the affected alcoholic products were duly tested, registered, and regularly reviewed under NAFDAC’s scientific guidelines. Their alcohol content, measured by global Alcohol by Volume (ABV) standards, falls within internationally accepted limits and is clearly stated on product labels. Reclassifying them as dangerous without presenting new scientific evidence, he said, raises questions about consistency and regulatory fairness.
On underage drinking, NECA maintained that the real challenge is enforcement at the retail level, not packaging size. Alcohol products already carry age restrictions and responsibility warnings. Where minors gain access, the failure lies with weak retail controls and enforcement. The solution, the group said, is tighter licensing, compliance checks, and penalties for violators — not eliminating packaging formats legally purchased by adults.
The association also pointed out that sachet and small-pack formats reflect consumer purchasing realities in Nigeria, where many adults buy in small quantities due to income constraints. Removing those options, NECA warned, could push consumers toward unregulated and potentially unsafe alternatives, creating greater public health risks while shrinking the formal market.
NECA further argued that enforcement focus appears misdirected, as more dangerous illicit drugs and unregistered substances continue to circulate widely. Concentrating enforcement resources on regulated beverage producers, it said, represents a poor policy priority choice.
On the economic side, NECA highlighted that the wines and spirits industry supports thousands of jobs across manufacturing, packaging, logistics, retail, and agriculture. Sudden regulatory shifts, especially in a tough business climate marked by high costs and currency pressures, could lead to job losses, reduced government revenue, and weaker investor trust.
Addressing environmental concerns linked to plastic packaging, the association said such issues should be handled through stronger recycling systems, waste management reforms, and extended producer responsibility programmes — not selective product bans that mix environmental policy with product regulation.
NECA reiterated that the organised private sector is not against regulation but supports strong, science-based rules that protect consumers and ensure product quality. However, it rejected what it described as selective enforcement driven by sentiment rather than data and due process.
The association called for an immediate halt to the ongoing enforcement in line with the earlier federal directive and urged regulators to return to structured, evidence-based dialogue involving industry players, health experts, and consumer groups.
According to NECA, priority actions should include stronger retail enforcement to prevent underage access, wider public education on responsible drinking, tougher action against illicit drugs and unregistered alcohol, and practical environmental solutions built on collaboration rather than outright prohibition.
NECA concluded that Nigeria needs balanced regulation that protects public health while also safeguarding jobs, investments, and the rule of law — warning that policies that ignore science and economic realities may ultimately do more harm than good.
