FRI AUG 28 2026-theGBJournal| The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan (2026–2030), establishing a unified national framework to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Nigerians while supporting responsible industry and sustaining the legitimate economic value of the alcohol sector.
The Coordinating Minister Muhammad Pate , represented at the launch by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., described alcohol policy as a challenge extending beyond the health sector to public health, economic development and good governance, stressing that Nigeria cannot address alcohol-related harm through fragmented interventions but requires coordination across sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability for results.
The Policy rests on 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 access to screening, treatment and rehabilitation, while promoting safety, quality and traceability across the alcohol value chain.
Prof. Pate cited the WHO’s latest available data putting Nigeria’s total alcohol consumption at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above in 2024, and Federal Road Safety Corps figures recording 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide the same year, with driving under the influence a recognised contributor.
He also cited industry estimates from the Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria, based on a 2024 Euromonitor survey, that illicit spirits and wines account for about 40 per cent of the market, representing an estimated annual government revenue loss of more than ₦428 billion.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, delivered by the Director, Food and Drugs Services, Dr. Olufowubi-Yusuf Adeola, 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 urged stakeholders to translate the Policy’s objectives into action and called on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to play their critical roles in implementation.
Delivering a goodwill message, the DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Federal Government, through the Ministry under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister, for providing an unambiguous policy direction on alcohol control.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment, under the supervision of the Ministry, to science-based regulation, effective monitoring and surveillance, and robust stakeholder engagement. She also reaffirmed the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and in containers of less than 200 millilitres.
The launch brought together key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministries of Finance, and Industry, Trade and Investment; the Nigerian Correctional Service; the Nigeria Customs Service; the Federal Road Safety Corps; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), among others, and affirmed their commitment to working in synergy to ensure effective implementation of the Plan.
The Policy is aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), and situates Nigeria’s response within the African Union Agenda 2063, the SDGs and relevant WHO frameworks.
The Health Ministry reaffirms its commitment to working with government institutions, industry and civil society to translate the Policy from framework to measurable results.
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