ABUJA – The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to curb underage drinking countrywide, as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) launch a renewed nationwide campaign against alcohol abuse among minors.
The campaign, flagged off in Abuja yesterday in collaboration with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), is aimed at strengthening enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in bottles smaller than 200 millilitres.
Speaking at the event, Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that the campaign is driven by the need to protect Nigerian children from the growing dangers of alcohol consumption.
She noted that alcohol remains one of the most abused substances among young people in the country, largely due to its easy availability, low cost and small packaging, which makes it easy to conceal.
Adeyeye said several studies over the years have shown a steady rise in alcohol production, importation and consumption across age groups. However, she expressed particular concern about minors, stressing that the agency’s actions are focused on safeguarding their futures.
She recalled that manufacturers were granted a five-year moratorium in 2018 to allow them to transition away from sachet alcohol production. After the expiration of extensions and directives from the Senate, NAFDAC resumed full enforcement of the ban in line with its legal mandate.
The NAFDAC boss also cited findings from a nationwide survey conducted in 2021, which revealed alarming levels of access and consumption among minors.
According to her, 54.3 per cent of minors and underage persons surveyed obtained alcohol on their own, while nearly half purchased sachet or small-bottle products.
She warned that early exposure to alcohol can damage brain development and increase the risk of addiction, poor academic performance, violence, accidents and long-term health problems.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the campaign as a united effort to protect consumers and promote responsible behaviour across communities.
He said the ban on sachet alcohol is a deliberate public health intervention designed to reduce the easy access of children and vulnerable persons to cheap and high-strength alcohol.
“For too long, sachet alcohol has been dangerously accessible. It is inexpensive. It is portable. It is easy to conceal,” he said.
Issa-Onilu stressed that the campaign is not about punishment, but about prevention and protection.
