Workers Stage Protest Against Sachet Alcohol Ban Enforcement at NAFDAC Lagos Office
Members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) continued their demonstrations on Thursday, barricading the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in protest against the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban. The union alleges that federal government directives have been issued to suspend enforcement actions until the National Alcohol Policy is fully operational, a claim that NAFDAC has firmly denied.
Union Claims Federal Directives Ignored by Regulatory Agency
The protesting workers, representing numerous alcohol manufacturing facilities, accused NAFDAC of failing to comply with what they described as joint directives from the federal government. According to union representatives, both the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had issued instructions advising that enforcement activities be paused pending the complete implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.
Kolawole Buhari, FOBTOB's National Vice President for the Western region, addressed the gathering of protesters with serious concerns about employment consequences. He warned that the continued sealing of factories and distribution depots could potentially affect approximately 5.5 million jobs throughout the production and distribution value chain. Buhari emphasized that such employment losses would contradict the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and could exacerbate existing social challenges that the administration aims to address through its economic policies.
NAFDAC Denies Receiving Formal Suspension Orders
In response to the protest and the union's allegations, NAFDAC officials dismissed claims that they had been directed to halt enforcement activities. The regulatory agency stated that reports suggesting such directives were unverified and amounted to misinformation circulating within the industry. NAFDAC maintained that without formal, documented communication instructing them to suspend regulatory actions, they would continue to fulfill their statutory responsibilities to safeguard public health through enforcement of existing regulations.
Lanre Yusuf, FOBTOB's National Deputy President, countered NAFDAC's position during the protest, asserting that the agency director-general's stance appeared inconsistent with the federal government's communicated position. Yusuf called for the immediate reopening of all factories and depots that had been sealed during NAFDAC's regulatory exercises, arguing that continued enforcement without proper policy implementation would create unnecessary economic disruption.
Government Clarification on Policy Implementation Timeline
The dispute follows recent clarification from Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, regarding the implementation timeline for the National Alcohol Policy. According to Kuanum, although President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Health to approve the National Alcohol Policy, enforcement actions such as factory sealing should be placed on hold until the policy becomes fully operational through proper implementation mechanisms.
Previous reports indicated that the federal government had indeed directed NAFDAC to suspend all enforcement activities related to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic drinks. The directive, as conveyed by the SGF's office, specifically instructed the regulatory agency to immediately cease sealing factories and warehouses over the matter. However, NAFDAC insists that without formal written communication of such directives, they cannot legally suspend their enforcement responsibilities under existing regulations.
Economic Implications and Employment Concerns
The protest highlights significant tensions between regulatory enforcement and economic considerations within Nigeria's beverage industry. Union representatives emphasized that the sachet alcohol sector represents a substantial portion of Nigeria's informal economy, providing livelihoods for millions of Nigerians across production, distribution, and retail segments. They argue that abrupt enforcement without proper policy transition mechanisms could create severe economic dislocation.
Industry analysts note that the sachet alcohol market has been controversial for years, with public health advocates pushing for restrictions due to concerns about underage drinking and alcohol abuse, while industry representatives emphasize the economic importance of affordable alcohol packaging formats for low-income consumers. The current conflict demonstrates the challenges of balancing public health objectives with economic realities and employment considerations in policy implementation.
As the standoff continues, stakeholders await further clarification from federal authorities regarding the precise implementation timeline for the National Alcohol Policy and whether formal directives will be issued to regulatory agencies to adjust their enforcement activities accordingly. The outcome of this dispute may set important precedents for how Nigeria balances regulatory enforcement with economic considerations in sensitive industry sectors.
