FG Unveils Five Year Plan to Tackle Alcohol Abuse and Illegal Trade

(Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate. Photo by Premuim Times)

Nigeria’s Federal Government has introduced a new five-year plan to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, strengthen regulation and tackle the illegal alcohol trade.

The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and Multisectoral Implementation Plan was launched in Abuja and sets out how government agencies and other groups will work together to address the health, social and economic problems caused by alcohol consumption.

Under the policy, government will increase public education about alcohol dangers, control how alcohol is marketed, enforce age restrictions, improve treatment services and make sure alcohol products are safe and properly tracked through the supply chain.

The Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate said alcohol-related harm cannot be dealt with by the health sector alone.

The issue affects public health, economic development and good governance, requiring action across all government departments.

He stressed that Nigeria needs coordination between sectors, clear responsibilities and accountability.

The policy is based on four main areas: reducing harm and promoting health, supporting industrial and economic development, coordinating action across government, and monitoring and evaluation.

According to latest World Health Organisation data, Nigerians aged 15 and over consumed an average of 3.2 litres of pure alcohol each in 2024.

The government also linked alcohol to road safety problems.

Federal Road Safety Corps figures showed that 9,570 road crashes and 5,421 deaths happened nationwide in 2024, with driving under the influence a major cause.

The illegal alcohol market poses another major problem.

Industry estimates from a 2024 survey show that illegal spirits and wines make up about 40 percent of the market.

This costs the government more than 428 billion naira in lost revenue each year.

The policy aligns with President Tinubu’s development agenda and Nigeria’s international commitments to the African Union, sustainable development goals and health frameworks.

Government agencies including Finance, Trade, Customs, Road Safety and others were represented at the launch and pledged to work together to implement the plan.