Nigeria: Federal Govt Launches Alcohol Policy, Targets Harmful Use, Illicit Trade
[Premium Times] The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the policy was designed to address alcohol as both a public health and national development issue.
Nigeria's federal government has introduced a five-year alcohol policy to tackle the harmful effects of alcohol consumption while supporting responsible industry practices and government revenue. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate emphasized that alcohol plays a significant role in various sectors, including manufacturing, employment, agriculture, and domestic value chains.
However, excessive alcohol use contributes to diseases, injuries, violence, mental health issues, financial hardships, and loss of productivity.
According to the latest World Health Organisation data, Nigeria's total alcohol consumption per person aged 15 and above in 2024 was 3.2 litres of pure alcohol. The policy aims to address the health, societal, and economic impacts of harmful alcohol use, particularly road safety concerns, where 9,570 road crashes and 5,421 deaths were recorded in 2024 due to alcohol-impaired driving.
The Nigeria Alcohol Policy, which will run from 2026 to 2030, focuses on four key areas: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research, and learning. The government aims to strengthen prevention, health services, governance, and measurable health outcomes through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The policy also seeks to combat illicit alcohol trade, which the government estimates costs about N428 billion in annual revenue. Approximately 40% of spirits and wines are believed to be illicit or unrecorded. The policy calls for a whole-of-government approach to address alcohol-related issues, as they affect various areas of national life, including health, industry, finance, trade, regulation, transport, and communities.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the media, will play crucial roles in implementing the policy. The success of the policy will be measured by its impact on healthier people, safer communities, responsible industry practices, and stronger institutions.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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