Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan (2026–2030), establishing a unified national framework to reduce alcohol-related harm while supporting responsible industrial development, job creation and economic growth. This was contained in a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this at the official launch of the policy, stressing that alcohol policy goes beyond regulation and must be treated as a national development issue involving public health, economic development, social wellbeing and good governance.
According to the Minister, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, alcohol contributes to manufacturing, employment, agriculture and domestic value chains, while ethanol has important pharmaceutical, laboratory and industrial applications.
However, he noted that harmful alcohol use contributes to disease, injuries, violence, mental health challenges, financial hardship and loss of productivity.
Prof. Pate disclosed that the latest available World Health Organisation data put total alcohol consumption in Nigeria at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and above in 2024.
He also highlighted the road safety implications of harmful alcohol use, noting that the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024, with driving under the influence recognised as a contributor to road traffic incidents.
“These are not merely numbers. They represent lives lost, families affected, livelihoods disrupted and productive years taken away,” he said.
The Minister explained that the new policy aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Presidential Priorities, particularly the recognition that a healthier population is fundamental to a productive economy and the development of Nigeria’s human capital.
He said the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) provides the strategic direction for strengthening prevention, health services, governance and measurable health outcomes.
Highlighting the four key areas of the Alcohol Policy, Prof. Pate said is anchored on a coordinated national approach, with emphasis on 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.
On industry, the Minister stressed that government was not seeking to undermine legitimate businesses but to promote an industry that operates responsibly within clear standards for safety, quality and traceability.
Prof. Pate also drew attention to the challenge posed by illicit alcohol, citing industry estimates that approximately 40 per cent of spirits and wines are illicit or unrecorded, with an estimated annual government revenue loss of more than ₦428 billion, emphasizing that tackling illicit trade would simultaneously protect public health, government revenue and legitimate businesses that operate within the law.
The Coordinating Minister emphasized that no single institution can address the alcohol-related challenges confronting the country, therefore appealed for a who-of-government approach to face the challenges.
“Alcohol cuts across health, industry, finance, trade, regulation, transport, communities and other areas of national life,” he said, adding that responsibilities for standards, product regulation, taxation, border control and enforcement are distributed across several institutions.
The Minister further stated that the policy is aligned with Nigeria’s wider continental and global commitments, including the African Union Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 3, 8, 9 and 11, and relevant WHO frameworks on reducing the harmful use of alcohol.
Prof. Pate stressed that the success of the policy would not be measured by its launch but by the results achieved through implementation.
“Our objective, therefore, is not simply to have a national alcohol policy on paper by 2030. It is to have a policy that has translated into healthier people, safer communities, more responsible industry practices and stronger institutions,” the Minister said.
He called on governments at all levels, regulators, industry, researchers, civil society and Nigerians to play their respective roles in ensuring successful implementation.
“Let us move from policy to implementation, from implementation to measurable results, and from results to lasting improvements in the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
He commended Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, experts, researchers and other stakeholders who contributed to the development of the policy, describing the collaborative process as an example of the coordination required for effective implementation.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, in her opening remarks, presented by the Director, Food and Drugs Services Dr. Olufowubi-Yusuf Adeola mni, described the event as a significant milestone in the Ministry’s shared commitment to promoting health, strengthening governance and maximizing sustainable national development through evidence based alcohol regulation in Nigeria.
She urged stakeholders to translate the objectives of the policy into action and called on traditional and religious leaders, as well as civil society organizations and media to play their critical role in implementation of the policy.
In her goodwill message, the DG, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the Agengy’s commitment to contribute towards achieving the shared vision of a healthier, safer and more productive Nigeria through science-based regulation, effective monitoring and surveillance, strengthening food control systems and robust regulatory engagements.
She commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and all stakeholders that contributed in working out the policy announcing that recently, the agency has signed agreement with manufacturers that there will be no longer sachets alcohol.
Other stakeholders including Ministries, Agencies, CSOs. etc that presented their goodwill messages are: Federal Ministries of Industry Trade and Investment,Finance, Environment, Education, and Youth Development; Nigeria Police Force,Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, ISSUP, and NDLEA.
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