A civic group, Concerned Citizens for Change, has condemned the purported enforcement of a ban on the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET/glass bottles (below 200ml) by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), describing the move as hasty, undemocratic and economically damaging.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the group expressed concern over reports attributed to NAFDAC indicating the commencement of enforcement of the ban, allegedly following resolutions of the Senate. The group said the action contradicted the inclusive and consultative process earlier initiated by the Federal Ministry of Health, which culminated in the drafting and validation of a National Alcohol Policy.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Comrade Oluoha Godwin Chukwudi said the purported enforcement announcement, credited to the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, failed to reflect prior stakeholder engagements involving industry operators, regulators and lawmakers.
According to him, the matter had previously been deliberated upon at a stakeholders’ parley convened by the Ministry of Health, with participation from members of the House of Representatives, where far-reaching resolutions were reached, including a one-year extension period and the development of a multi-sectoral National Alcohol Policy.
“The alleged outright ban is at variance with the resolutions already agreed upon by stakeholders and supervised by the Ministry of Health, which constitutionally oversees NAFDAC,” Chukwudi said. “We are surprised that NAFDAC would bypass this inclusive framework and seek enforcement without broad consultation.
The group also questioned claims that sachet alcohol consumption significantly drives underage abuse, noting that several independent studies had reportedly dismissed such assertions.
It added that industry operators had invested heavily in responsible drinking campaigns, spending over N1 billion on nationwide media sensitisation to curb underage consumption.
Concerned Citizens for Change warned that enforcing the ban could have severe economic consequences, including the loss of over N1.9 trillion in investments, retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct employees, and the disruption of about five million indirect jobs across the value chain.
The group added that such outcomes would undermine manufacturing growth and local entrepreneurship at a time when the economy is showing signs of gradual recovery.
The group called on the Minister and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to endorse and implement the validated National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral framework. It also urged the Senate to revisit the matter through a comprehensive stakeholders’ consultation, similar to the process earlier undertaken by the House of Representatives.
Additionally, the group appealed to the Senate to rescind any directive authorising enforcement of the ban and to restrain NAFDAC from implementing it pending full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy framework.
In a strongly worded statement, the group further accused the NAFDAC leadership of acting unilaterally and called on the Director-General to step aside, alleging that her actions were inconsistent with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The press conference ended with an appeal for dialogue, transparency and adherence to due process in resolving the issue.