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Nigerian authorities have launched a new five-year national alcohol policy to reduce alcohol-related harm, tighten regulation and curb the growing illicit alcohol market.
The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030, launched on Thursday in Abuja, provides a unified framework for government agencies and other stakeholders to address the health, social and economic consequences of alcohol consumption.
Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, said alcohol-related harm could no longer be treated as the responsibility of the health sector alone.
“Nigerians cannot address alcohol-related harm through fragmented interventions. We need coordination across sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability for results,” Pate said.
The minister raised concern over the scale of illicit alcohol trading, citing industry estimates that illicit spirits and wines account for about 40 per cent of the market, representing an estimated annual revenue loss of more than N428 billion.
He said tackling illicit trade would simultaneously protect public health, revenue and legitimate businesses that operate within the law.
Pate cited the latest available World Health Organisation data showing that Nigeria’s total alcohol consumption stood at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above in 2024.
He also linked alcohol-related risks to road safety, citing Federal Road Safety Corps figures which recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024.
“These are not merely numbers. They represent lives lost, families affected, livelihoods disrupted and productive years taken away,” he said.
The policy is built around four pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation and accountability.
Pate noted that the authorities were not seeking to undermine legitimate businesses but to promote an industry that operates responsibly within clear standards for safety, quality and traceability.
