The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has appealed to the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the National Alcohol Control Bill, saying the legislation is crucial to reinforcing ongoing efforts to curb the sale of alcohol packaged in sachets.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
According to Mr Jakpor, the proposed law would strengthen the enforcement activities of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), particularly its crackdown on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
He noted that NAFDAC’s operations cover markets, motor parks, bars, retail shops and other distribution outlets, where officials identify, confiscate and remove prohibited alcoholic products from circulation.
Mr Jakpor urged lawmakers to back the agency’s efforts by ensuring the bill is passed before the expiration of the 10th National Assembly.
He recalled that the House of Representatives advanced the bill to a second reading on May 7, 2026.
The bill, sponsored by Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, seeks to regulate the production, promotion and consumption of alcohol with the aim of reducing alcohol-related harm, especially among young people.
He said the legislation would provide stronger safeguards for public health while limiting minors’ exposure to alcohol marketing and consumption.
Mr Jakpor also called on the Federal Government to fully implement the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) SAFER alcohol control package, stressing that consistent enforcement would help reduce alcohol consumption and allow families to devote more resources to essential needs such as nutrition and children’s education.
(NAN)