The appeal was made in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by RDI Executive Director, Mr. Philip Jakpor.
Jakpor said the call became necessary following growing resistance from parts of the alcohol and beverage industry after NAFDAC began enforcement on January 22.
He stressed that the enforcement followed more than two years of discussions between NAFDAC and industry stakeholders aimed at implementing the policy.
Jakpor recalled that the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria had signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 to phase out alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml by January 31, 2024.
He added that the deadline was later extended to allow manufacturers adequate time to comply.
However, Jakpor noted that the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have criticized the policy, citing fears of job losses and operational disruption.
According to him, NAFDAC has maintained that the policy is irreversible, explaining that it is driven by public health concerns, particularly the risks of early exposure of children to alcohol.
He commended the agency for what he described as a “bold and life-saving intervention,” urging that the enforcement should not be undermined by “imaginary job losses” advanced by the alcohol industry in defense of profit.
Jakpor highlighted that alcohol-related harm remains a major but under-addressed driver of non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions, affecting adults and children alike.
He dismissed the industry’s opposition as a deliberate attempt to weaken regulation, citing the Movendi International 2025 Big Alcohol Exposed Report, which documents how the alcohol industry interferes with evidence-based policies globally.
Jakpor warned that the sustained lobbying against the sachet alcohol ban reflects a global strategy of interference adapted to local contexts.
He urged NAFDAC to remain resolute, describing the policy as “epochal” and capable of setting a precedent for other African countries facing similar industry pressure.
Jakpor also praised NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, for prioritizing the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, asserting that public support for the ban is strong and that industry narratives will ultimately fail.