The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has described the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcoholic drinks and alcohol packaged in PET or glass bottles below 200 milliliters as a decisive step to safeguard Nigerian children and vulnerable populations.
The Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the disclosure while flagging off a joint nationwide campaign to enforce the Federal Government’s ban on Tuesday, at the NOA headquarters in Abuja.
The campaign is being jointly carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in collaboration with the NOA, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, with NOA driving nationwide sensitization and behavioural change efforts.
Speaking at the flag-off, Issa-Onilu said the enforcement has been a long-considered public health intervention rather than a sudden policy shift.
He noted that the government had spent eight years engaging manufacturers and stakeholders with understanding, cooperation, and encouragement to adjust practices deemed harmful to national well-being.
According to him, the ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, is aimed at curbing the alarming accessibility of cheap, high-concentration alcohol to minors and underage persons across the country.
Issa-Onilu emphasized that the issue goes beyond regulation and touches on national responsibility.
He called on the media to embrace its role under Development Journalism, stressing that enforcement of the policy is a collective duty.
“When people openly violate lawful regulations and demonstrate against a policy meant to protect public health, they are not demonstrating against the Government of Nigeria; they are demonstrating against the Nigerian people, against you in the media, against your children and our children,” he said. “It is not just NAFDAC, FCCPC, and NOA. It is NAFDAC, FCCPC, NOA, and the Media.”
He said as part of its leadership role, NOA will deploy its 818 offices across the 774 Local Government Areas to intensify grassroots mobilization.
“Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers are expected to engage youth groups, market associations, transport unions, schools, faith-based institutions, and community leaders through town hall meetings, market outreaches, and multilingual advocacy campaigns.
“The Agency will also leverage traditional and digital media platforms, including its CLHEEAN App, to encourage citizen reporting and strengthen enforcement support.
“NOA’s focus remains clear, protecting young Nigerians, reinforcing responsible consumption standards and strengthening the social fabric of communities nationwide,” he said.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, cited findings from a 2021 national survey on underage drinking, which revealed that 54.3 percent of minors and underaged persons purchase alcohol themselves, with nearly half accessing it through sachet packs and small PET bottles.
She said the survey also showed notable levels of daily and weekly consumption among underage individuals, reinforcing concerns about early exposure and long-term dependency.
On its part, the FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to enforce compliance in the interest of consumers, stating that protecting citizens from harmful market practices remains a priority.
The joint initiative aligns with recent legislative resolutions urging strict enforcement of the ban and intensified public sensitization on the dangers of underage alcohol consumption.
NOA, NAFDAC, FCCPC leadership during the campaign launch in Abuja
