The Director-General of the APC Digital Force and a registered pharmacist, Pharm. Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has cautioned the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) against any move to undermine the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres.

Speaking from Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday, Klinsmann warned that reversing or suspending the ban could trigger “grave and far-reaching public health consequences” across the country.

His intervention followed reports that the Office of the SGF had directed that enforcement of the ban be suspended on economic grounds.

Klinsmann said the reported directive was troubling and risked placing economic considerations above public health and safety.

“The SGF’s recent directive to suspend enforcement, citing economic concerns, risks prioritizing short-term profits over the long-term well-being of our nation,” he said.

He stressed that NAFDAC’s decision was grounded in science and public health evidence, and should not be subjected to political pressure.

“NAFDAC, led by trained professionals with expertise in food and drug safety, has implemented this ban based on robust evidence of its public health benefits. I advise the SGF to allow these experts to fulfil their regulatory role without interference,” Klinsmann stated.

He warned that weakening the independence of the regulatory agency could expose Nigerians, particularly young people, to increased alcohol-related harm.

“Stampeding NAFDAC into reversal could unleash grave consequences, including a surge in underage drinking, alcohol-related deaths — already exceeding 42,000 annually in Nigeria — and escalating burdens on our healthcare system,” he said.

Klinsmann noted that sachet and small-volume alcoholic drinks are often sold at very low prices and typically contain alcohol concentrations of between 30 per cent and 43 per cent alcohol by volume.

According to him, such products are deliberately packaged to make them easily affordable and accessible to teenagers, low-income earners and other vulnerable groups.

Drawing on global public health research and World Health Organization (WHO) frameworks, he said small and cheap alcohol packaging formats are strongly associated with impulsive consumption, binge drinking and early initiation into alcohol use.

He observed that Nigeria already ranks high in alcohol-related road traffic fatalities on the African continent, while treatment costs for substance use disorders continue to rise in public and private health facilities.

“The economic burden of alcohol misuse — including hospital admissions, liver cirrhosis cases, domestic violence, mental health disorders, workplace absenteeism, school dropout rates and criminality — far outweighs any short-term tax revenue or manufacturing jobs linked to sachet alcohol production,” he said.

Klinsmann further argued that the ban is consistent with Nigeria’s international obligations.

He said NAFDAC’s action aligns with the country’s commitments under the WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 3 on good health and well-being.

“Reversing the ban would signal regulatory inconsistency and weaken Nigeria’s standing in global health governance conversations,” he added.

The APC Digital Force DG also reacted to opposition to the ban reportedly expressed by Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services.

“While I respect Hon. Okonkwo’s position in the legislature, he lacks the professional qualifications in pharmacology, toxicology, or public health to challenge NAFDAC’s scientific decisions,” Klinsmann said.

He maintained that public health regulation must remain evidence-driven and insulated from political and economic lobbying.

“Such interference undermines the independence of regulatory bodies and could set a dangerous precedent,” he added.

Klinsmann cited examples from other African countries to support his position.

He said restrictions on sachet alcohol in Uganda reduced retail availability to less than two per cent of outlets and led to measurable declines in youth consumption and alcohol-related harm.

According to him, similar restrictions in Malawi have also been associated with reduced underage access and improved community safety.

He, however, said public health protection should be balanced with legitimate economic concerns affecting manufacturers and distributors.

He proposed what he described as a “hybrid approach”.

“A stronger approach might be a hybrid: enforce the ban but with economic safeguards like tax incentives for larger-pack production, job transition funds, or stricter sales enforcement such as age verification. This could balance both sides,” he suggested.

Klinsmann warned that if NAFDAC’s authority is weakened, it could embolden pressure on regulators in other critical sectors, including medicines and food safety.

“If NAFDAC’s authority is seen to be easily overridden, it may embolden other sectors to challenge regulatory enforcement on medicines, food safety standards and pharmaceutical controls, where compromise could be catastrophic,” he said.

He urged the SGF and other government officials to respect institutional boundaries and uphold regulatory integrity.

“The ban must remain in place to safeguard our youth and build a healthier Nigeria. We cannot afford to regress; public health must prevail over undue pressures,” Klinsmann said.