The directive, issued on Thursday, follows a motion presented by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Cross River South, in plenary on Tuesday.

The Senate’s resolution orders the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to stick to the existing timeline, rejecting any further extensions beyond 2025.

Senator Ekpenyong, who introduced the motion, emphasized that the December 2025 deadline aligns with global regulatory standards and best practices intended to reduce alcohol-related harm, especially among young Nigerians.

He pointed out that in 2018, key government agencies including the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission partnered with industry stakeholders to phase out sachet and mini-bottle alcohol due to growing concerns over its abuse.

Ekpenyong highlighted the five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the time, which aimed to curb the harmful impact of cheap, high-strength alcohol on youth culture.

He also reminded lawmakers that the Federal Government had already granted a one-year transition period in 2024, allowing manufacturers to deplete existing stock and switch to safer, compliant packaging formats.

However, with the deadline fast approaching, some producers have reportedly begun lobbying for an additional extension, a move Ekpenyong strongly opposed.

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Further, Ekpenyong pointed out that manufacturers who had already complied with the regulations were now at a competitive disadvantage compared to those still producing the banned alcohol formats.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also backed the resolution, stressing that this was an “urgent matter” that required NAFDAC to fully implement the ban. “The agency must act decisively to protect Nigerians, especially our young people, from the dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption,” Akpabio said.

Despite opposition from certain industry players, NAFDAC has remained resolute in its stance, insisting that the ban is essential to combating underage drinking, substance abuse, and addiction among youth.

Source: The Cable