FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) has affirmed before the Federal High Court in Lagos that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has full legal authority to enforce the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol and other small‑pack alcoholic beverages. This declaration came in a counter‑affidavit filed on February 23, 2026, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging the enforcement of the ban.

Through its lawyer, Jumoke Motilayo Falaye, the ministry maintained that it has never interfered in NAFDAC’s operations and is not an enforcement agency. The affidavit emphasised that NAFDAC is a statutory body established under the NAFDAC Act, with broad regulatory powers over foods, drugs, and related products, including alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles below 200 ml. According to the ministry, enforcement decisions are solely within NAFDAC’s mandate, and allegations of ministerial interference are speculative and unsupported by evidence.

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The ministry also clarified that the Minister of Health has not granted any further extension of the moratorium on the ban, noting that the agency retains the authority to regulate, restrict, and enforce prohibitions as provided under Sections 5 and 30 of the NAFDAC Act, the Spirits Drink Regulation 2021, and the Memorandum of Resolution executed in December 2018.

SERAP’s Legal Challenge

SERAP filed the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2568/25, against the Minister of Health and the Attorney-General of the Federation, seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs to:

• Declare the sachet alcohol ban valid under the NAFDAC Act.

• Prevent the Minister of Health from granting or extending any moratorium on enforcement.

• Restrict federal authorities from interfering with NAFDAC’s enforcement responsibilities.

• Ensure full nationwide implementation of the ban, particularly given concerns over public health and alcohol abuse among youth and low-income communities.

SERAP argued that delays in enforcing the ban violate national health laws and expose communities to risks associated with cheap, potent, and highly accessible alcoholic beverages.

The sachet alcohol ban has been a contentious public policy issue in Nigeria. NAFDAC began a renewed crackdown on sachet alcohol in late 2025 following directives from the National Assembly and Senate, which ordered that the deadline for compliance be strictly enforced. However, conflicting communications from federal authorities, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, created confusion over the enforcement timeline.

Industry groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), have challenged the ban, citing economic impacts, job losses, and potential growth of unregulated markets. Despite this, NAFDAC has maintained that enforcement is legally justified and in the interest of public health and safety.

The Federal High Court is yet to fix a hearing date for the case, which could set a landmark precedent for regulatory authority and public health enforcement in Nigeria.

FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

Senior ISWAP Commander Killed by Own IED in Borno, Sources Say

Confusion and internal tensions have reportedly erupted within a factional camp of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following the alleged death of a senior insurgent commander in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by members of his own group.

According to local security sources cited by regional media, the incident took place in a remote area of Borno, long regarded as a hotbed of insurgency linked to ISWAP and Boko Haram offshoots. The explosive device was reportedly laid down as part of the group’s defensive strategy, but detonated unexpectedly, killing the commander and triggering confusion among fighters in the camp.

Sources say the explosion has stoked suspicions and recriminations within the faction, with some militants questioning whether the detonation was accidental or intentional. Unnamed fighters told reporters that the blast has amplified existing divisions within the group, though details surrounding the exact sequence of events remain sketchy and unverified.

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As of this report, there has been no official confirmation from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, or any other security agency on the commander’s death. Major international news organisations have also not confirmed the claims independently, underscoring the challenges in obtaining reliable information from insurgent‑held or remote conflict areas.

ISWAP, which operates across the Lake Chad Basin region, has a history of leadership changes, internal disputes and factional splits, making it difficult for analysts to assess the long‑term impact of the reported incident. Insurgent movements often grapple with power struggles, defections and operational mishaps, but verifying such events is complicated by limited access and the secretive nature of these groups.

Security analysts caution that further confirmation from credible sources will be needed to establish the full circumstances of the explosion and its implications for the group’s cohesion and operations. Local residents and defence watch groups are reportedly monitoring developments, but no formal statement has yet been issued by relevant authorities.

Senior ISWAP Commander Killed by Own IED in Borno, Sources Say

Police Corporal, Bus Conductor Get Death Sentence for Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom

A Police Corporal and a bus conductor have been sentenced to death by hanging by an Akwa Ibom State High Court for their roles in the kidnapping of a school vice principal, delivering a strong message against violent crimes in the region. The court also imposed long prison terms on related charges after finding the evidence against the accused overwhelming.

The accused — Police Corporal Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday and bus conductor Isaac Eddy Ndeesor — were convicted on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms over the abduction of Elder Akara Johnson Mendie, the Vice Principal of Community Secondary School, Nkek, in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The court heard that on July 5, 2015, at around 3:30 p.m., four armed men driving a Toyota Camry blocked Mendie’s vehicle along Urua Akpan Udosen/Ikot Unah Road as he was returning from church with his wife and family. The gunmen abducted Mendie and fled the scene, taking his wife’s handbag containing personal items and important documents. Mendie told the court that he was blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed location, where the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N50 million and threatened to kill him. After five days in captivity, his family paid N200,000 through his younger sister on July 10, 2015, which led to his release in Bori, Rivers State. He later reported the abduction at Bori Police Station and returned to his community with police assistance.

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In a confessional statement, Corporal Friday, 41, attached to Mopol 57 in Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, admitted his involvement. He told investigators he was contacted by a man identified as Felix, who introduced another accomplice known as “Different Man.” Friday claimed they were led to believe an unnamed “honourable” wanted the victim kidnapped over allegations that he had killed a friend — a claim the court later rejected. Friday admitted using his Toyota Camry to block Mendie’s vehicle, enabling the gunmen to force the victim into the car. When the vehicle developed a fault, he switched to another car and continued the operation, transporting the victim to bushland in Ogoni, Rivers State. He also stated that the firearm used was not an official police weapon. A search of his residence recovered a locally made revolver, live ammunition, an empty AK‑47 magazine, Indian hemp, CCTV equipment, multiple mobile phones, ATM cards, SIM packs, and car accessories.

Isaac Eddy Ndeesor, the bus conductor, also confessed, admitting he and others trailed the victim from his residence and that he stole and used the victim’s phone, which was later tracked and directly led to his arrest.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nsemeke Daniel criticised the lengthy trial, noting that although the case was filed in 2016, it was only concluded in 2026. He dismissed claims by Corporal Friday that he was framed, describing those assertions as inconsistent with the evidence presented.

The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing both defendants to death by hanging for kidnapping, five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, and seven years for unlawful possession of firearms. The judge pronounced: “You shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on you.”

The death sentences highlight the judiciary’s firm stance against kidnapping, a crime that has terrorized communities across Nigeria. The involvement of a serving police officer intensifies calls for internal reform and stronger oversight within security agencies. Authorities have welcomed the judgment, describing it as a critical step toward deterring similar crimes and reinforcing public confidence in the justice system, while also drawing attention to systemic delays in Nigeria’s criminal justice process.

Police Corporal, Bus Conductor Get Death Sentence for Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom