Caution as sachet alcohol ban puts over 5m jobs, ₦800bn investments at risk — ACCI President

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The President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, has warned that the renewed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) threatens over five million direct and indirect jobs and places approximately ₦800 billion in investments at serious risk.

Chief Obegolu, while reacting to the development, described the enforcement as economically disruptive and potentially damaging to investor confidence, particularly at a time when Nigeria requires regulatory stability to sustain growth, protect livelihoods, and attract investment.

According to him, while ACCI fully supports public health objectives, including the protection of minors and the promotion of responsible consumption, the current approach to enforcement is abrupt and raises concerns of regulatory inconsistency.

“The renewed enforcement contradicts existing government directives and legislative resolutions, including the directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on December 15, 2025, which suspended the ban, as well as the resolution of the House of Representatives of March 14, 2024, calling for restraint and broader stakeholder consultation,” Chief Obegolu stated.

He recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturers to gradually phase out sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages by January 31, 2024. This moratorium was later extended to December 2025 following sustained engagement with industry stakeholders.

“Despite these agreed transition timelines, the sudden enforcement has begun to disrupt legitimate businesses across the manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and retail value chains, unsettling existing investments and exposing millions of workers to potential job losses,” the ACCI President said.

Chief Obegolu cautioned that an outright ban, without adequate transition measures, may inadvertently encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products, thereby undermining both public health goals and government revenue.

As the voice of the organised private sector in the Federal Capital Territory, he stressed that effective regulation should focus on control, compliance, and enforcement, rather than outright prohibition.

“ACCI is calling for a further extension of the implementation deadline to December 2026 to allow manufacturers complete ongoing transition processes, restructure operations, and exhaust existing inventories without unnecessary economic shocks,” he added.

He also advocated for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder implementation committee comprising relevant regulatory agencies, policymakers, organised private sector groups, and industry representatives to ensure coordinated, transparent, and practical execution of the policy.

According to him, such an inclusive framework would help balance public health protection with economic sustainability, safeguard investments, preserve jobs, and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment.

Chief Obegolu reaffirmed ACCI’s readiness to collaborate with NAFDAC, relevant ministries, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders to achieve responsible regulation that protects consumers while sustaining enterprise growth and employment.