The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has taken the lead in 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, declaring the move a decisive step to safeguard Nigerian children and vulnerable populations.
Flagging off the joint campaign at the NOA Headquarters in Abuja recently, the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the enforcement as a long-considered public health intervention rather than a sudden policy shift.
He noted that government had spent eight years engaging manufacturers and stakeholders with understanding, cooperation and encouragement to adjust practices deemed harmful to national wellbeing.
According to him, the ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, is aimed at curbing the alarming accessibility of cheap, high-concentration alcohol to minors and underaged persons across the country.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that the issue goes beyond regulation and touches on national responsibility.
He called on the media to embrace its role under Development Journalism, stressing that enforcement of the policy is a collective 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 said. “It is not just NAFDAC, FCCPC and NOA. It is NAFDAC, FCCPC, NOA — and the Media.”
As part of its leadership role, NOA will deploy its 818 offices across the 774 Local Government Areas to intensify grassroots mobilisation. Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers are expected to engage youth groups, market associations, transport unions, schools, faith-based institutions and community leaders through town hall meetings, market outreaches and multilingual advocacy campaigns.
The Agency will also leverage traditional and digital media platforms, including its CLHEEAN App, to encourage citizen reporting and strengthen enforcement support.
With the campaign now underway, NOA says the focus remains clear: protecting young Nigerians, reinforcing responsible consumption standards and strengthening the social fabric of communities nationwide.
Speaking at the briefing, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, cited findings from a 2021 national survey on underage drinking which 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.
The survey also showed notable levels of daily and weekly consumption among underaged individuals, reinforcing concerns about early exposure and long-term dependency.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to enforce compliance in the interest of consumers, stating that protecting citizens from harmful market practices remains a priority.
The 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, with NOA driving nationwide sensitisation and behavioural change efforts.
The joint initiative aligns with recent legislative resolutions urging strict enforcement of the ban and intensified public sensitisation on the dangers of underage alcohol consumption.
