By Lagos, Nigeria– Afriktimes captured images today in Lagos showing that sachet alcohol are still seen being sold by traders, despite the ongoing enforcement of a ban by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The images show that these small volume alcohol products are still openly displayed in some markets across the city.
Afriktimes’ earlier reports on January 29, 2026, stated that NAFDAC had resumed enforcement of the ban, an action supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The ban targets small volume alcohol products, which have been associated with underage drinking, misuse, and social problems including school dropouts, road accidents, and other public safety concerns. NAFDAC emphasized that the restriction applies only to spirit drinks in sachets, while larger volume products remain approved for production and sale.
The agency noted that the enforcement aligns with a previous agreement with industry stakeholders to phase out small volume alcohol packaging. This phase out was originally set to be completed by January 2024 but was extended to December 2025 to allow alcohol producing companies time to exhaust existing stock and adjust their production lines. According to NAFDAC, the ban is part of Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
NAFDAC also stated that the measure is intended to prevent children, adolescents, and young adults from easy access to alcohol, emphasizing the health and social risks associated with small volume spirit drinks.
The observation of sachet alcohol being sold today shows that some traders have not fully complied with the ban, highlighting the ongoing challenges in implementing and enforcing the restriction.
