A Nigerian media group, the Muslim Media Watch Group, has called on the government to ban the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles, citing health concerns and links to violent crime.
In a statement, the group’s leaders, Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi and Dr. Nasir Balogun, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign a bill passed by the National Assembly to implement the ban.
The group said the ban, initially proposed two years ago, was necessary to address growing health issues among Nigerian youths, including liver and kidney diseases, and to reduce road accidents and violent attacks linked to alcohol consumption.
“The welfare and well-being of the people should take precedence over economic interests,” the group said.
The group also linked the country’s insecurity to alcohol and substance abuse, and urged the government to enforce the ban to address the problem.
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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had given manufacturers a two-year moratorium to phase out alcohol in sachets and small bottles, with the ban set to take effect on December 25, 2025.
“We commend the National Assembly for passing the bill and urge the President to sign it into law,” the group said.