The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030, with a focus on reducing alcohol-related harm, tackling the illicit alcohol market and addressing road crashes linked to driving under the influence.
The policy, launched in Abuja on Thursday, provides a unified framework for coordinated action by government agencies, industry stakeholders and civil society to promote responsible alcohol consumption and strengthen regulation of the sector.
Representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, said alcohol-related challenges required coordinated action beyond the health sector.
“Alcohol policy is a challenge extending beyond the health sector to public health, economic development and good governance,” she said.
She added, “Nigeria cannot address alcohol-related harm through fragmented interventions but requires coordination across sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability for results.”
Kachollom said the government’s approach was designed to bring relevant institutions together to ensure that alcohol regulation produced measurable public health and economic outcomes.
The policy is built around four pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
It provides for public education, responsible marketing, age and access controls, and improved access to screening, treatment and rehabilitation, while promoting safety, quality and traceability across the alcohol value chain.
Pate, in his remarks, cited the latest available World Health Organisation data showing that Nigeria’s total alcohol consumption stood at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above in 2024.
He also cited Federal Road Safety Corps figures, which recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024, noting that driving under the influence of alcohol was a recognised contributor.
The Coordinating Minister said the figures underscored the need for stronger preventive measures and greater collaboration among government agencies.
He further referenced industry estimates from the Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria, based on a 2024 Euromonitor survey, indicating that illicit spirits and wines account for about 40 per cent of the market.
Pate said the development represented not only a public health concern but also a significant economic challenge.
According to him, the illicit alcohol market represents an estimated annual government revenue loss of more than N428 billion.
He said the new framework would help strengthen oversight of the alcohol value chain while supporting legitimate businesses that comply with established standards.
In her welcome address, delivered by the Director, Food and Drugs Services, Dr Olufowubi-Yusuf Adeola, the Permanent Secretary described the launch as “a significant milestone in the Ministry’s shared commitment to promoting health, strengthening governance and maximising sustainable national development through evidence-based alcohol regulation.”
She said the success of the policy would depend on effective implementation and collaboration among stakeholders.
“We must now translate the Policy’s objectives into action,” she said.
She urged traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support public awareness and ensure that the policy reached communities across the country.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Federal Government for providing “an unambiguous policy direction on alcohol control.”
Adeyeye said the agency would continue to support the policy through effective regulation and enforcement.
“NAFDAC remains committed, under the supervision of the Ministry, to science-based regulation, effective monitoring and surveillance, and robust stakeholder engagement,” she said.
She also reaffirmed the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and containers of less than 200 millilitres.
“The ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and in containers of less than 200 millilitres remains in force,” Adeyeye said.
The launch brought together representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, among others.
The stakeholders pledged to work in synergy to ensure effective implementation of the 2026–2030 plan.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the policy aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
It also situates Nigeria’s alcohol-control response within the African Union Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals and relevant World Health Organisation frameworks.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with government institutions, industry players and civil society organisations to translate the policy from a national framework into measurable results.