Sachet Alcohol Ban Threatens N400bn Investments, Says MAN

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) have warned that enforcing a ban on sachet alcohol could wipe out over N400bn investments in the industry.

Adewale Oyerinde, NECA’s Director-General, and Segun Ajayi-Kadir, MAN’s Director-General, stated that the ban would lead to job losses, loss of investment, and disruption of the value chain.

“The ban on alcoholic beverages in sachet, produced by duly registered and regulated companies in Nigeria, will not address the problem of alcohol abuse and consumption by minors,” they said.

The associations emphasized that sachet packaging allows adult consumers with low incomes to access regulated products, and eliminating this option could drive consumers to unsafe alternatives.

“All alcoholic products now affected by the ban were previously tested, registered, and approved by NAFDAC following established technical protocols,” they added.

NECA and MAN are calling for the suspension of the ban, citing regulatory inconsistency and urging regulators to focus on access control and public enlightenment.

They also demand stronger enforcement of age verification at points of sale.