One in every five Nigerian households has experienced alcohol-related violence or loss, the Association of Advocates Against Alcohol Harm in Nigeria (ASAAHN) disclosed, raising fresh concerns about the depth of the country’s alcohol crisis.
The warning came as policymakers, public health experts, civil society groups and community leaders gathered at ASAAHN maiden National Conference in Lagos to confront what they described as a fast-escalating public health emergency.
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Nwokocha Chijioke, ASAAHN national chairman, delivered the most unsettling figures of the day, noting that more than 40 percent of Nigerian adults now engage in harmful drinking, with consequences rippling through families and communities nationwide. He recounted the message of a distressed young man who reached out online to describe the toll of alcohol misuse, saying, “I want to tell my story before it goes down six feet,” a remark he said reflects the desperation behind rising statistics.
The conference opened with a strong call to action from David Folaranmi, ASAAHN board chairman, who described the ease with which children buy alcohol sachets on Lagos streets as nothing short of a national emergency, lamenting the widespread sale of cheap, portable alcohol to minors and urged strict enforcement of the Federal Government’s plan to ban sachet alcohol by 2026.
Folaranmi added that ASAAHN itself must maintain high standards of accountability, saying the organisation cannot champion public health while its internal house is in disarray.
Keynote speaker Professor Oluranti Samuel of Lagos State University examined the historical and cultural forces that have normalised alcohol consumption in Nigerian society, from family traditions to aggressive marketing. He pointed out serious weaknesses in existing laws like the Federal Road Safety Act of 2007 and the National Policy and Strategy Plan on Alcohol.
According to Samuel, poor enforcement, chronic underfunding and weak coordination among government agencies have undermined the effectiveness of these policies, warning that without decisive national action, Nigeria risks losing an entire generation to alcohol-related harm.
The human cost of early exposure also dominated discussions. Developmental psychologist Itunuoluwa Onitade highlighted the drivers of underage drinking, including parental negligence, social media glamorisation and peer pressure.
She shared the story of a 12-year-old boy who secretly consumed alcohol stored at home, masking his behaviour by refilling bottles with water, stressing that children and adolescents need strong family guidance, early education and emotional support systems to resist harmful habits.
International perspectives were brought by Aduloju Atinuke, who represented the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP). Delivering a message from Dr. Olajumoke Kowejo, ISSUP president stressed that the fight against alcohol harm requires a trained workforce, consistent public awareness campaigns, strong law enforcement and community-led interventions.
Atinuke highlighted youth-focused programmes such as the Youth O’Clock Agenda, which aims to empower young people to take an active role in prevention efforts. She emphasised that policies will fail without committed implementation and continuous evaluation.
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Jonathan Agbo, local organising committee chairman commended the collective effort that made the event possible and underscored the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration. He said the conference creates a platform to challenge assumptions, share knowledge and jointly build sustainable solutions that protect children, families and communities.
Throughout the conference, speakers reinforced the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen enforcement of existing regulations, curb aggressive alcohol marketing, invest in educational and community programmes, expand access to treatment and rehabilitation services and support research that can guide effective interventions.
The event closed with a unified call to action, reflecting a shared understanding that the alcohol crisis cannot be solved by government alone but requires collaboration across society. Stakeholders pledged to intensify advocacy, raise awareness, and push for stronger policies that protect the nation’s most vulnerable groups.
ASAAHN’s first National Conference marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s fight against alcohol harm, signalling a renewed national resolve to safeguard homes, protect the youth and confront an epidemic that is leaving deep scars across the country.
“Every life saved is a future preserved. We must speak, educate, and act with compassion and courage,” Chijioke said.
