The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has called on Nigeria’s National Assembly to speed up the passage of the National Alcohol Control Policy Bill, arguing that the proposed law would strengthen the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s ongoing nationwide enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The appeal comes as NAFDAC enforcement teams begin operations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, targeting markets, motor parks, bars, retail outlets and other distribution channels to identify, seize and remove the banned products from circulation.

Why it matters

The enforcement exercise is one of Nigeria’s most significant recent efforts to reduce access to inexpensive alcoholic drinks, particularly among young people.

Public health experts have long warned that alcohol abuse contributes to road crashes, violence, non-communicable diseases, poor mental health and lost economic productivity. Advocates also argue that low-cost alcohol packaged in sachets and small bottles makes alcohol more accessible to underage consumers and vulnerable groups.

The National Alcohol Control Policy Bill seeks to regulate the production, marketing and consumption of alcohol while reducing alcohol-related harm. It also aims to strengthen measures protecting children and adolescents.

The House of Representatives passed the Bill for second reading on 7 May 2026. Sponsored by Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, it is currently progressing through the legislative process.

RDI backs NAFDAC enforcement

In a statement issued in Lagos, RDI said lawmakers have a responsibility to complement NAFDAC’s enforcement efforts by ensuring the Bill becomes law before the end of the 10th National Assembly.

RDI Executive Director Philip Jakpor praised NAFDAC’s decision to begin enforcement.

“By matching words with action, NAFDAC has demonstrated its commitment to ridding the public space of harmful alcohol products and this would in turn improve public health outcomes especially among young people that the alcohol industry targets with their products. The National Assembly must no longer delay in playing it’s role.”

Jakpor argued that legislation would provide a stronger legal framework for sustaining alcohol control measures beyond the current enforcement campaign.

Calls for broader alcohol control measures

Beyond the ongoing ban, RDI urged the Federal Government to fully implement the World Health Organization’s SAFER technical package.

The WHO initiative recommends five key measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, including tighter restrictions on alcohol availability, stronger drink-driving enforcement, improved treatment services, restrictions on alcohol advertising and sponsorship, and higher alcohol prices through taxation.

According to RDI, these measures could significantly reduce the health, social and economic costs associated with harmful alcohol consumption.

Jakpor also suggested that sustained enforcement could improve household welfare.

“The ball is now in the court of the NASS. It must escalate work on the Bill so that the health and economic benefits of reducing underage drinking, youth addiction, and rising health burdens associated with alcohol would be met in a short time.”

He added that families could increasingly prioritise spending on essentials such as food and children’s education instead of alcohol if harmful products become less accessible.

Expert perspective

Public health specialists have consistently argued that reducing the availability, affordability and promotion of alcohol is among the most effective ways to lower alcohol-related disease and premature deaths.

They also note that legislation, combined with consistent enforcement and public education, is generally more effective than enforcement alone in changing long-term consumer behaviour.

Public and industry perspective

While health advocates have welcomed stricter alcohol controls, manufacturers, distributors and retailers may face increased compliance costs and potential losses as enforcement continues.

Some industry stakeholders have previously argued that regulation should be balanced with consumer education and adequate transition periods for affected businesses.

What happens next?

Attention now shifts to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will decide whether to accelerate consideration of the Alcohol Control Bill.

If eventually passed and signed into law, the legislation would provide Nigeria with a broader legal framework for regulating alcohol production, marketing and consumption while supporting agencies such as NAFDAC in enforcing alcohol control measures.

Nigeria’s anti-drug agency chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has appealed to traditional rulers to take a leading role in protecting girls from poverty, abuse and early marriage, warning that these vulnerabilities often expose young people to drug abuse and exploitation.

Speaking at the public presentation of In The Shadow of the Neem Tree, a book written by his daughter, Barrister Mariam Marwa-Abdu, in Kaduna on Saturday, Marwa said safeguarding girls was essential to strengthening families and securing Nigeria’s future.

“By protecting the girl-child, we protect the family, and by protecting the family, we secure the nation,” he said.

Why it matters

Nigeria continues to grapple with rising concerns over drug abuse among young people, while child rights advocates have repeatedly linked poverty, gender inequality and limited access to education with increased risks of substance abuse and exploitation.

Experts say addressing these root causes could reduce both drug dependency and other forms of social vulnerability, particularly among women and girls.

Marwa said the responsibility should not rest solely on government institutions and civil society groups.

“As the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, I see firsthand every day how systemic vulnerabilities like poverty, abuse, and lack of education drive women and youth toward drug abuse and exploitation,” he said.

“Advocacy like Mariam’s is the first line of defence. We cannot leave this battle to the government or non-governmental organisations alone. We need the partnership of our revered traditional institutions, led by custodians of culture like His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, to shift the cultural paradigm.”

He added:

“We must protect our daughters, educate them, and give them the wings to fly.”

A father’s tribute

Marwa also praised his daughter for using literature to advocate for social justice, describing the publication as a proud milestone for his family.

“As a father, today holds a very special, symbolic meaning for me,” he said.

He noted that writing had become a family tradition, revealing that all four of his eldest children had now published books.

“To see all four of my eldest children, who are all coincidentally lawyers, pick up the pen to fight societal ills and document human experiences is the greatest legacy a father could ask for. We have become practically a family of authors!”

Book highlights early marriage

Marwa said the novel confronts the realities faced by many girls forced into early marriage across northern Nigeria.

He described the neem tree, a familiar feature across many northern communities, as a powerful symbol in the story.

“The ‘Neem Tree’ is a common sight in our northern communities, providing shade from the scorching sun,” he said.

“Yet, ironically, under some of these very shades, silent traditional arrangements occur that eclipse the bright futures of our young daughters.”

He added that early marriage deprives girls of education, good health and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society.

Author says fiction reflects reality

Author Mariam Marwa-Abdu, founder of the Women and Children’s Rights and Empowerment Foundation (WCREF), said the novel was inspired by years of advocacy work.

According to her, the book is “not just a piece of fiction but a literary manifesto” of the work her organisation has pursued since 2011 to protect women and children.

She said the experiences portrayed in the story mirror realities she has encountered through more than a decade of community engagement.

Traditional institution backs campaign

Representing the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Barden Kerarriyan Zazzau and District Head of Basawa, Architect Haruna Abubakar Bamalli, described the event as an opportunity to inspire positive social change.

He expressed hope that the book launch would serve as “a springboard for individual and collective development.”

Expert perspective

Child protection advocates have consistently argued that ending early marriage, expanding girls’ education and improving economic opportunities remain among the most effective ways to reduce exploitation, gender-based violence and substance abuse.

Public health specialists also note that prevention campaigns involving traditional and religious leaders often have greater community acceptance because of their influence at the grassroots level.

Public perspective

Parents and community leaders increasingly view education, mentoring and community awareness as critical tools for protecting young people from drug abuse and other social risks.

Many believe stronger collaboration between government agencies, traditional institutions and civil society could improve prevention efforts.

What’s next?

NDLEA is expected to continue expanding its advocacy campaigns beyond law enforcement by promoting community partnerships, public education and prevention initiatives aimed at reducing drug abuse across Nigeria.

The launch of In The Shadow of the Neem Tree also adds a literary voice to ongoing conversations about protecting girls from early marriage, abuse and exploitation.

The Federal Government has pledged to intensify efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, prevent substance abuse and improve access to treatment and rehabilitation as it opened the 2026 National Drug Use Summit in Abuja.

The commitment was announced on Wednesday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit jointly organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Adamu Ibrahim Kana, Akume said the government remained fully committed to tackling both the supply and demand sides of illicit drugs.

“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and on behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to every initiative aimed at preventing illicit drug use, dismantling trafficking networks, expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation, and promoting the wellbeing of all Nigerians.”

He warned that drug abuse threatens national development, arguing that no country can achieve lasting prosperity while its young people battle addiction or criminal groups profit from illicit drug trafficking.

“No nation can achieve sustainable development when its young population is threatened by drug abuse and addiction… This summit presents a timely opportunity for us to renew our collective commitment, deepen our partnerships and chart a clear, coordinated pathway towards a healthier, safer and more resilient Nigeria.”

Akume added that the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda includes investments in stronger institutions, improved mental health services and programmes aimed at protecting young people from drug abuse.

Why it matters

Nigeria has witnessed growing concerns over drug abuse, especially among young people, while criminal syndicates continue to exploit vulnerable communities through drug trafficking.

Health experts say substance abuse contributes to mental illness, crime, unemployment, poor educational outcomes and family breakdown, making prevention and rehabilitation increasingly important for national development.

The summit aims to develop a coordinated National Action Plan involving government agencies, healthcare professionals, communities, religious leaders, civil society organisations and development partners.

NDLEA says drug problem requires national response

Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the summit as a platform for collective action rather than another government meeting.

He said growing drug use and substance use disorders require collaboration across every sector because no single agency can solve the problem alone.

“The scale of this challenge demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.”

Marwa said the summit would help build consensus around a coordinated National Action Plan focusing on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, data collection, policy implementation and stronger community resilience.

NDLEA highlights major enforcement results

Marwa said the agency had intensified both enforcement and prevention efforts over the past 18 months.

According to him, NDLEA officers made 29,262 arrests, seized more than 5.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs valued at over ₦1.5 trillion, and secured 5,225 convictions.

He added that the agency conducted 6,645 awareness campaigns reaching nearly five million Nigerians, while 13,508 people received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation through 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide.

The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s Alternative Development Initiative, designed to help cannabis farmers transition from illegal cultivation to legitimate agricultural businesses.

Health ministry calls for measurable action

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said the success of the summit should be measured by improvements in people’s lives rather than conference resolutions.

“The measure of this summit will not be the communique. It will be the number of young people who choose not to start drugs. It will be the number of patients who sleep without pain. It will be the number of families restored.”

He pledged that the ministry would continue coordinating prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes with relevant stakeholders.

UN urges practical implementation

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime welcomed Nigeria’s collaborative approach but stressed that commitments must produce measurable outcomes.

Representing the UNODC Country Representative, Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga said Nigeria faces evolving drug trends that require evidence-based responses.

“This summit is therefore more than a convening. It is a moment of alignment… to translate that commitment into practical, measurable action.”

Expert perspective

Public health specialists say countries that combine strong law enforcement with accessible treatment, rehabilitation, public education and community support generally achieve better long-term results than those relying solely on arrests.

They note that reducing demand for illicit drugs is often as important as disrupting criminal supply chains, particularly among young people who are most vulnerable to addiction.

What happens next?

Participants from government ministries, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and non-governmental organisations are expected to develop recommendations that could strengthen Nigeria’s National Drug Control Master Plan.

Authorities hope the summit will produce coordinated actions capable of reducing drug abuse, improving rehabilitation services and weakening organised drug trafficking networks across the country.