Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and labour unions have protested the conduct of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), describing recent regulatory actions as inimical to business operations, jobs and the economy. Their objections centre on what they describe as the abrupt enforcement of a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles — a policy they say is being implemented without adequate stakeholder engagement and contrary to earlier directives.
In a statement issued this week, MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir faulted NAFDAC’s enforcement as disruptive to the operations of indigenous manufacturers in the wines and spirits sub-sector. He said the agency’s actions run “inimical to the profitable operation of the companies concerned and will certainly hurt the Nigerian economy.” The association also warned that the move could lead to an influx of illicit and sub-standard products and diminish government revenue, compounding negative effects on consumers and workers alike.
Ajayi-Kadir’s statement — titled “MAN Calls for Restraint on NAFDAC’s Renewed Ban on Sachet Alcoholic Beverages Against Directives to the Federal Government of Nigeria” — noted that NAFDAC’s enforcement actions appear inconsistent with instructions from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a resolution from the House of Representatives that previously restrained punitive measures on sachet and PET beverages. MAN called on the federal government to intervene and direct NAFDAC to suspend the ban pending broader consultation.
The dispute has drawn support from trade unions, including the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, which have staged protests at NAFDAC’s Lagos office. Union leaders challenged claims that sachet alcoholic drinks are a primary contributor to underage drinking, saying there is no empirical evidence supporting such assertions and urging NAFDAC to present data if the regulatory agency insists on the ban. The unions reiterated that job losses and economic fallout outweigh purported public health claims.
Protesters argue that NAFDAC’s enforcement could adversely affect the value chain of production and distribution, potentially displacing millions of workers across manufacturing, supply and retail segments. They also warned that strict prohibition instead of targeted regulation may drive consumers toward unregulated and potentially dangerous products.
The controversy has prompted a counter-narrative from critics who support stronger alcohol regulation for public health reasons, though industry and labour spokespersons maintain that responsible regulation and enforcement, rather than outright bans, should guide policy. The dispute highlights tensions between regulatory objectives and economic interests at a time when Nigeria’s economy is under pressure from inflation, unemployment and business uncertainties.
Many stakeholders are now calling on both NAFDAC and the federal government to engage more robustly with industry players, labour unions and consumer groups to fashion a consensual approach that balances public health concerns with the protection of legitimate business and employment.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments