Abuja — The Coalition for Unemployed People in Nigeria (CUPN) has demanded the immediate removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, accusing her of gross incompetence, abuse of office, and implementing policies capable of destabilizing the nation’s fragile economy.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the coalition’s leader, Comrade Korede Omoniyi, strongly condemned what he described as the “authoritarian and high-handed enforcement” of the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products. He argued that the action was executed without due consideration for its economic and social consequences.
The group alleged that the enforcement flagrantly contradicts the existing National Alcohol Policy duly endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health and currently in force.
According to the coalition, the NAFDAC directive also disregards a presidential instruction restraining the agency from disrupting the operations of affected businesses pending the outcome of a joint committee review.
Describing the ban as “ill-timed, economically insensitive, and socially explosive,” CUPN warned that the decision undermines the Federal Government’s economic recovery agenda and could provoke widespread civil unrest. The coalition stressed that thousands of small and medium-scale enterprises across the value chain stand at risk of collapse, with devastating implications for employment and national revenue.
The group further cited a resolution of the House of Representatives dated March 14, 2024 (NAS/10/HR/CT.33/77c), which reportedly restrained NAFDAC from proceeding with the ban after comprehensive public hearings and stakeholder engagements. Lawmakers, the coalition noted, had described the policy as “anti-people” and economically punitive.
Omoniyi disclosed that the coalition has formally petitioned the Senate, expressing confidence that the Red Chamber will revisit the issue through broader and more inclusive consultations.
He maintained that sachet and small PET alcohol products were introduced to cater to low-income adult consumers, offering affordability and preserving consumer choice. Contrary to claims that smaller packaging fuels abuse, the coalition argued that limited quantities may, in fact, discourage excessive consumption often associated with larger bottles.
The coalition further emphasized that locally manufactured sachet alcohol products are produced under regulated, hygienic conditions and certified by NAFDAC and other relevant authorities. It dismissed allegations linking such packaging to underage drinking, insisting that available empirical studies do not substantiate those claims.
According to CUPN, industry stakeholders have invested over one billion naira in nationwide advocacy campaigns promoting responsible drinking and discouraging underage access. These initiatives, the group said, have strengthened compliance mechanisms and reduced abuse.
While reaffirming support for regulatory actions aimed at eliminating unsafe and illicit products, the coalition insisted that public policy must be evidence-based, transparent, and economically responsible. It warned that a blanket ban could fuel the proliferation of unregulated and smuggled alcohol products, endanger public health, and significantly reduce government revenue.
The coalition concluded by calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act decisively by relieving Prof. Adeyeye of her duties, stating that her continued leadership at NAFDAC is “no longer in the national interest.”
“We urge Mr. President to intervene without delay to safeguard jobs, protect livelihoods, and preserve economic stability,” Omoniyi declared.