NAFDAC Raise Alarm—Sachet Alcohol Ban for Nigeria: 50% of Pikin Dem Age 9 Don Dey Drink

Nigeria don enter serious gbege as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) begin strong enforcement of sachet and small-pack alcohol ban across the country. According to the agency, plenty Nigerian children — some as young as nine years old — don already enter alcohol matter like say na soft drink.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, yarn the matter for press conference for Abuja. She talk say the crackdown na the “best solution” to fight underage drinking wey don dey spread like harmattan fire.

She add say dem no dey do am alone. Dem join hand with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to make sure say the sachet alcohol ban no be by mouth, but by action.

Half of Nigerian Pikin Dem Dey Drink — Study Drop Heavy Statistic

According to studies wey NAFDAC quote, about 50% of Nigerian children don taste alcohol, and some of dem dey even drink pass adults. The small sachet size make am easy to hide inside pocket or school bag — sharp sharp, nobody go suspect.

One 2021 survey wey cut across the six geopolitical zones show say 54.3% of minors na dem buy the alcohol by themselves. Almost 49.9% buy from retailers without wahala. E shock many people say children as young as nine don dey consume alcoholic drinks like gala and soft drink.

For binge drinking matter, about 11.7% of underage children admit say dem dey overdrink. Gombe carry first for that side, while Lagos and Rivers show highest overall alcohol consumption. As e be, the statistics no funny at all — na serious public health wahala.

Brain Damage, Addiction & Social Wahala — Why NAFDAC Say Enough Is Enough

Mojisola Adeyeye warn say early exposure to alcohol fit permanently affect pikin brain, especially memory and learning centers. She talk say children wey start drinking early get 41% higher risk of alcohol dependence later for life.
She also explain say early drinking fit open door to hard drug use, poor academic performance, and even social crimes like banditry and kidnapping. As dem talk am, small sachet today fit turn big societal problem tomorrow.

Meanwhile, some trade groups bin dey ask for more time before enforcement. But for November 2025, the Nigerian Senate order immediate action and tell the Federal Ministry of Health to release national alcohol policy wey go ban alcohol in sachets and bottles under 200ml.

Spokesperson of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Ondaje Ijagwu, talk say anybody wey break the rule go face penalties according to law. DG of National Orientation Agency, Lanre Onilu, describe the ban as serious public health intervention to protect Nigerian youth and communities from harmful alcohol consumption.

As e stand now, government don draw line. Sachet alcohol matter no be small gbas gbos again — na fight to save the next generation.