By Becky Momodu
The Federal Government has disclosed that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recorded 9,570 road traffic crashes and 5,421 deaths nationwide in 2024, with driving under the influence of alcohol recognised as a contributing factor to road traffic incidents.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the official launch of the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan (2026–2030).
Pate, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the new policy provides a unified national framework for reducing alcohol-related harm while promoting responsible industry development, job creation and economic growth.
He said harmful alcohol use contributes to diseases, injuries, violence, mental health challenges, financial hardship and loss of productivity, stressing that the issue must be treated as a national development concern rather than merely a regulatory matter.
The Minister disclosed that the latest available World Health Organisation data put total alcohol consumption in Nigeria at 3.2 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and above in 2024.
According to him, the new policy is anchored on four key areas: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research and learning.
Pate also raised concerns over illicit alcohol, citing industry estimates that about 40 per cent of spirits and wines are illicit or unrecorded, with an estimated annual government revenue loss of more than ₦428 billion. He said tackling illicit trade would protect public health, government revenue and legitimate businesses.
The Minister called for a whole-of-government approach to alcohol-related challenges, urging governments, regulators, industry players, researchers, civil society organisations and Nigerians to support implementation of the policy, stressing that its success would ultimately be measured by healthier people, safer communities, responsible industry practices and stronger institutions.
In her goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to contributing to a healthier, safer and more productive Nigeria through science-based regulation, monitoring and surveillance, stronger food control systems and robust regulatory engagement.
Abuja Times reports that other stakeholders who delivered goodwill messages at the event included representatives of the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment; Finance; Environment; Education; and Youth Development, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).