The Nigerian Government has launched a new national alcohol policy that introduces stronger measures to reduce alcohol-related health and social harms and tighten regulation of alcohol products.
The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030 was launched in Abuja, with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom.
Pate said “harmful alcohol use and the circulation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products contribute to non-communicable diseases, road traffic injuries, interpersonal and gender-based violence, mental health challenges, loss of household income and reduced productivity.”
He said the policy was anchored on four strategic pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research and learning.
Stronger Pubic Education
The Minister called for stronger public education and community engagement, responsible marketing, enforcement of age and access restrictions, as well as improved access to alcohol screening, treatment and rehabilitation.
He stressed that successful implementation would require the involvement of government agencies, state and local governments, industry, civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions, academia, communities and development partners.
The Minister also urged stakeholders to strengthen compliance with licensing, safety and quality standards, reduce the circulation of illicit alcohol products and improve regulation of pharmaceutical and industrial ethanol.
He said the success of the 2026–2030 implementation period would be measured by tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, including safer communities, healthier families, fewer alcohol-related injuries and deaths, stronger protection for young people and better access to treatment and rehabilitation.
The policy, he said, aligns Nigeria’s alcohol control response with Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals and relevant World Health Organisation frameworks.
He subsequently declared the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030 formally launched, urging stakeholders to make its implementation a shared national responsibility.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders for their contributions to the development of the policy, describing it as an important step towards strengthening alcohol control in Nigeria.
She said; “the agency had already begun implementing measures to restrict certain forms of alcohol products.”
Professor Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC had reached an agreement with manufacturers to stop the production of sachet alcohol and alcohol products packaged in bottles containing less than 200 millilitres.
“We signed an undertaking with manufacturers two weeks ago that there will no longer be sachet alcohol or alcohol in less than 200ml bottles,” she said.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC would continue to strengthen regulation, monitoring and surveillance to support the implementation of the policy and protect consumers, particularly underage and vulnerable groups.
The policy provides a unified national framework for guiding the production, distribution, marketing and consumption of alcohol, while balancing economic opportunities with public health and social wellbeing.
The launch brought together senior government officials, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, industry leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, professional bodies and the media
