The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), Nigeria, has commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for enforcing the ban on sachet alcohol and sub-200ml polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of SRADeV, Dr Leslie Adogame, and made available to journalists on Friday in Lagos.
Adogame described the enforcement as “bold and professional,” noting that it prioritizes public health and environmental protection over narrow economic interests.
He recalled that earlier efforts to restrict sachet alcohol had stalled due to industry resistance, adding that the renewed enforcement demonstrated strong regulatory resolve.
According to him, the decision reflects evidence-based governance under the leadership of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Adogame cited findings from SRADeV’s Plastics Brand Audit conducted between 2019 and 2024, which identified PET bottles as Nigeria’s leading plastic pollutant.
He said sachet-packaged products followed closely, noting that both were largely single-use, difficult to recycle, and major contributors to flooding and environmental degradation.
He further observed that sachet alcohol is widely consumed in informal markets, worsening improper disposal and increasing leakage of plastic waste into waterways.
Adogame warned that industry lobbying must not override public health and environmental concerns, stressing that NAFDAC’s action sent a clear message that Nigerians’ health and environmental integrity must come first.
He referenced the National Plastic Waste Management Policy (2020), which identified sachets and small plastic bottles for phased elimination, and called for stronger collaboration between NAFDAC and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
According to him, the policy aligns with global efforts to eliminate single-use plastics due to their adverse impacts on biodiversity, climate and human health.
Adogame urged sustained enforcement, increased public awareness and complementary policies to promote waste reduction and sustainable packaging alternatives.
He reaffirmed SRADeV’s support for NAFDAC and called for collective action to protect public health and the environment.
The statement also quoted SRADeV’s Communications and Outreach Officer, Miss Manu Ahmadu, as saying that Nigeria must transition away from a throwaway culture.
Ahmadu described reuse and refill systems as “practical and climate-smart alternatives.”
