FG launches new alcohol policy to curb abuse and illegal trade

The federal government has launched a five-year national alcohol policy to reduce harm caused by alcohol. The aim is to promote responsible practices in the industry and protect government revenue.

The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan will run from 2026 to 2030. It was launched on Thursday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said the policy aims to address alcohol as both a public health issue and a matter of national development.

Mr Pate was represented at the launch by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom. He mentioned that alcohol contributes to manufacturing, job creation, agriculture, and domestic value chains. He added that ethanol has uses in pharmaceuticals, laboratories, and other industries.

But he pointed out that harmful alcohol use leads to diseases, injuries, violence, mental health issues, financial problems, and loss of productivity.

According to Mr Pate, the latest World Health Organisation data shows Nigeria’s alcohol consumption at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and older in 2024.

He linked harmful alcohol use to road safety problems. He cited data from the Federal Road Safety Corps that showed 9,570 road crashes and 5,421 deaths across the country in 2024.

Mr Pate said driving under the influence of alcohol is a major cause of road traffic accidents.

“These are not merely numbers. They represent lives lost, families affected, livelihoods disrupted, and productive years taken away,” he said.

Mr Pate stated that the policy supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This agenda focuses on improving human capital and building a healthier, more productive population.

He mentioned that the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative also guides efforts to improve prevention, health services, governance, and measurable health outcomes.

The alcohol policy focuses on four main areas: harm reduction and health promotion, industrial and economic development, multisectoral coordination and governance, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research, and learning.

“At the heart of the policy is harm reduction and health promotion. We have a responsibility to prevent avoidable harm,” he said.

Regarding the industry, he noted that the government does not want to harm legitimate businesses. Instead, it seeks an alcohol industry that operates responsibly and meets safety, quality, and traceability standards.

Mr Pate acknowledged that illicit alcohol is a major challenge. Industry estimates suggest that about 40 percent of spirits and wines sold are illegal or unrecorded.

He stated that this illegal trade costs the government over N428 billion in lost revenue each year.

He said addressing illicit alcohol would protect public health, government revenue, and legitimate businesses that follow regulations.

Mr Pate explained that the policy needs a “whole of government” approach since alcohol-related issues touch on health, industry, finance, trade, regulation, transport, and communities.

“Alcohol cuts across health, industry, finance, trade, regulation, transport, communities, and other areas of national life,” he said.

He added that responsibilities for standards, product regulation, taxation, border control, and enforcement are shared among several government agencies.

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to enforcing the policy through science-based regulation, monitoring, and surveillance.

Mrs Adeyeye praised the health ministry and others who helped develop the policy. She also announced that NAFDAC recently agreed with manufacturers to stop producing alcohol in sachets.

The Permanent Secretary of the health ministry, Daju Kachollom, described the launch as a key step in strengthening governance and promoting evidence-based alcohol regulation.

She urged everyone involved, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, and the media, to support the policy's implementation.

Other partners at the launch included the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment, Finance, Environment, Education, and Youth Development. Representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, International Society of Substance Use Professionals, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were also present.

Mr Pate said the success of the policy will depend on its implementation and impact, not just the launch.

“Our objective is not simply to have a national alcohol policy on paper by 2030. It is to have a policy that leads to healthier people, safer communities, more responsible industry practices, and stronger institutions,” he said.

He called on all levels of government, regulators, industry players, researchers, civil society organizations, and Nigerians to do their part in implementing the policy.

“Let us move from policy to implementation, from implementation to measurable results, and from results to lasting improvements in the lives of Nigerians,” he added.