FG Allocates N46.48M for Alcohol Control Policy

The Federal Government has proposed a budget of ₦46,475,353 for the development and implementation of a comprehensive alcohol control policy and regulation in 2025. Additionally, ₦331,966,804 has been set aside for a national action plan to address and manage Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

These allocations were disclosed in the 2025 budget details for the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that alcohol contains ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that induces dependency. The organization has consistently warned that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely safe for health.

Reflecting these concerns, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) began enforcing a ban on February 1, 2024, prohibiting the importation, production, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles of 200ml or smaller.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that the decision followed recommendations from a high-level committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and industry groups such as the Association of Food, Beverages, and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria.

However, the ban faced backlash from distillers and labor unions, who argued it could jeopardize 500,000 jobs and threaten investments worth ₦800 billion. Despite the ban’s enforcement, these small-sized alcoholic products remain prevalent in the market.

Non-Communicable Diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and chronic respiratory conditions are long-term health issues not caused by infections but require sustained treatment and care.

According to WHO, NCDs account for 41 million deaths annually, making up 71% of global fatalities.

In Nigeria, the 2023 National Health Facility Survey by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed significant gaps in care for NCDs. For instance, only 13.9% of health facilities provide diabetes services, and just 3.8% adhere to the National Diabetes Guidelines. Furthermore, only 12.1% of public health facilities offer hypertension services, despite an estimated 31.2% of Nigerians living with the condition. Hypertension alone accounts for 11% of all deaths in the country.

The report underscored the need to expand facilities offering preventive and curative services for hypertension. It concluded, “Investing in improved hypertensive care will significantly boost Nigeria’s overall health index.”