The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a sweeping nationwide campaign to enforce the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcoholic drinks and alcohol packaged in PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, describing the action as a decisive intervention to safeguard Nigerian children and vulnerable populations.
Flagging off the joint enforcement campaign at NOA Headquarters in Abuja on March 3, 2026, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasized that the measure is the culmination of years of sustained engagement rather than a sudden policy shift. He noted that the Federal Government had spent eight years consulting with manufacturers and stakeholders, encouraging responsible adjustments to practices considered harmful to public health and national wellbeing.
The ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, is aimed at curbing the widespread accessibility of cheap, high-concentration alcohol to minors and underaged persons across the country.
A National Responsibility
Issa-Onilu stressed that the issue transcends regulation and speaks directly to national responsibility and the protection of future generations. He called on the media to embrace its role under Development Journalism, underscoring that enforcement of the policy is a collective civic duty.
“When people openly violate lawful regulations and demonstrate against a policy meant to protect public health, they are not demonstrating against the Government of Nigeria; they are demonstrating against the Nigerian people, against you in the media, against your children and our children,” he stated. “It is not just NAFDAC, FCCPC and NOA. It is NAFDAC, FCCPC, NOA, and the Media.”
Grassroots Mobilisation Nationwide
As part of its leadership mandate, NOA will activate its 818 offices across the 774 Local Government Areas to intensify grassroots sensitization and behavioural change initiatives. Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers will engage youth groups, market associations, transport unions, schools, faith-based institutions and traditional rulers through town hall meetings, market outreaches and multilingual advocacy campaigns.
The Agency will also leverage traditional and digital platforms, including its CLHEEAN App, to encourage citizen reporting, enhance public awareness and strengthen enforcement support mechanisms.
Data-Driven Enforcement
The enforcement campaign is being implemented in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Speaking at the briefing, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, referenced findings from a 2021 national survey on underage drinking. The survey revealed that 54.3 percent of minors and underaged persons purchase alcohol themselves, with nearly half accessing it through sachet packs and small PET bottles. It also showed concerning levels of daily and weekly alcohol consumption among underaged individuals, reinforcing fears about early exposure and long-term dependency.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring compliance in the interest of consumers, emphasizing that protecting citizens from harmful market practices remains a top priority.
Strengthening Communities, Protecting the Future
The joint initiative aligns with recent legislative resolutions urging strict enforcement of the ban and intensified public sensitization on the dangers of underage alcohol consumption.
With the campaign now underway, the focus remains clear: protecting young Nigerians, reinforcing responsible consumption standards, and strengthening the social fabric of communities nationwide through sustained public education, enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration.