The Federal Government has launched a five-year national alcohol policy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm, strengthening regulation and tackling the growing illicit alcohol market in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030, launched on Thursday in Abuja, provides a unified framework for government agencies and other stakeholders to address the health, social and economic consequences of alcohol consumption.
Under the policy, the government plans to strengthen public education, responsible alcohol marketing, age and access controls, screening, treatment and rehabilitation, while improving safety, quality and traceability across the alcohol value chain.
Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said alcohol-related harm could no longer be regarded as the sole responsibility of the health sector.
Pate said the issue had implications for public health, economic development and good governance, requiring coordinated action across government.
“Nigeria cannot address alcohol-related harm through fragmented interventions. We need coordination across sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability for results,” he said.
The policy is structured around four key pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
Pate cited the latest available World Health Organisation data, which put Nigeria’s total alcohol consumption at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above in 2024.
He also linked alcohol consumption to road safety concerns, citing Federal Road Safety Corps figures which recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024.
According to the minister, driving under the influence of alcohol remains a recognised contributor to road crashes, highlighting the need for stronger prevention and enforcement.
The government also expressed concern over the scale of illicit alcohol trading.
Pate cited industry estimates from the Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria, based on a 2024 Euromonitor survey, indicating that illicit spirits and wines accounted for about 40 per cent of the market.
He said the illicit trade was estimated to result in annual government revenue losses of more than N428 billion.
The figures add an economic dimension to the government’s renewed push for tighter alcohol regulation, as authorities seek to protect public health while supporting legitimate businesses and safeguarding public revenue.
In a welcome address delivered by the Director of Food and Drugs Services, Dr Olufowubi-Yusuf Adeola, the Permanent Secretary described the policy launch as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen alcohol governance.
She urged stakeholders to move beyond policy commitments and translate the objectives of the plan into measurable action.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare also called on traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and the media to support implementation through public education, advocacy and community engagement.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Federal Government for providing what she described as clear policy direction on alcohol control.
Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to science-based regulation, monitoring, surveillance and engagement with stakeholders.
She also reiterated the agency’s position on restricting small-volume alcohol products, saying NAFDAC remained committed to the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres.
The launch was attended by representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment, as well as the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and other stakeholders.
The stakeholders pledged to collaborate on implementing the 2026–2030 plan.
The Federal Government said the policy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and Nigeria’s international commitments under the African Union Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals and relevant WHO frameworks.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said it would work with government agencies, industry players and civil society organisations to ensure the policy moves beyond a national framework to produce concrete and measurable results.
