Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Scores of sachet alcohol sellers in Ibadan, Oyo State, took to the streets of the ancient city on Monday, August 10, 2026, in a peaceful but desperate protest, urging President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to reverse the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control's ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET bottles below 200ml. The traders, many of whom have relied on the trade for years as their primary source of income, gathered in the Beere area of Ibadan to voice their anguish over a policy they say is pushing thousands of families into poverty, even as the government and health advocates insist the ban is a crucial public health measure to protect Nigerian children from early exposure to alcohol.
The protest in Ibadan is the latest chapter in a protracted battle between regulators and the alcohol industry that has intensified since NAFDAC began enforcing the ban on February 1, 2024, following a five-year moratorium granted to manufacturers to phase out the packaging. The ban applies to alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, a move NAFDAC has justified on the grounds of protecting minors from the dangers of early alcohol consumption. NAFDAC Zonal Director, South East, Dr Festus Ukadike, reaffirmed in late July 2026 that there is "no going back" on the ban, stating that enforcement operations targeting manufacturers and distributors have already begun across multiple states, with arrests and seizures recorded. "If our children are no longer exposed to sachet alcohol, they will live healthier lives, curb antisocial behaviours and promote the country's fight against cancer and other terminal diseases," Ukadike declared.
The agency's stance has done little to appease the traders who gathered in Ibadan. The protesters lamented that the ban had left many of them struggling to survive, unable to support their families or meet their daily financial obligations. The sale of sachet alcohol, they argued, had been their primary means of livelihood for years. They appealed to the government to consider the economic consequences of the policy on small-scale businesses and called for dialogue between stakeholders to find a solution that balances public health concerns with the protection of traders' livelihoods.
The Ibadan protest is far from an isolated incident. Since enforcement began in early 2024, the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), backed by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has staged protests at NAFDAC offices nationwide, at times barricading entrances and demanding a policy reversal. In January 2026, DIBAN members descended on NAFDAC's Lagos headquarters, warning that the ban could destroy businesses and undermine the Federal Government's economic recovery efforts. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has also weighed in, insisting that the ban was based on "unfounded assumptions".
The economic stakes are staggering. The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned in January 2026 that the ban could threaten over five million direct and indirect jobs and put approximately ₦800 billion in investments at risk. The Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria separately estimated that the policy could wipe out over ₦400 billion in investments across the alcoholic beverage value chain. Distillers have claimed the ban threatens investments estimated at over ₦2.3 trillion. Organised labour has further warned that ongoing NAFDAC raids could put more than 5,000 jobs at immediate risk.
Despite the economic arguments, NAFDAC has remained resolute. The agency has uncovered secret factories continuing to produce banned sachet alcohol despite the enforcement drive, with some manufacturers secretly continuing production even after a six-year grace period. In July 2026 alone, NAFDAC sealed three factories in Ogun State producing banned alcoholic drinks. The agency has also urged Nigerians to support the campaign by refusing to buy prohibited products and reporting violators.
Consumers have expressed mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the ban, citing concerns about children accessing alcohol. One consumer, identified simply as Godwin, told NAFDAC officials that he had seen school children buying sachet drinks and putting them in their school bags. Others, however, have argued that the ban makes alcohol less affordable for low-income earners and that enforcement should be targeted at motor parks to prevent highway accidents rather than a blanket prohibition. The Nigerian Youth Solidarity Assembly has even called on President Tinubu to dismiss NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye over what it described as "gross incompetence and abuse".
The ban has also raised concerns about unintended consequences. The Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association has warned that the policy could promote smuggling and the proliferation of adulterated products. Suppliers have raised prices significantly following the enforcement drive, while the continued availability of banned products despite the crackdown could encourage smuggling and lead to revenue losses for the country.
As the traders in Ibadan returned to their stalls on Monday evening, their placards still held high, the fundamental question remained unresolved. Is Nigeria willing to sacrifice millions of livelihoods and billions in investment to protect its children from the dangers of early alcohol exposure? Or can a middle ground be found that addresses both public health and economic realities? NAFDAC has made its position clear: public health considerations outweigh commercial interests. But for the sachet alcohol sellers of Ibadan, that is a luxury they cannot afford. Their children may be protected from alcohol, but they are now watching their parents struggle to put food on the table.
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