The House of Representatives has instructed the Committee on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to investigate the ban imposed by the agency on the production of beverages in sachets and small bottles in Nigeria.
According to Nigerian Tribune, this decision was made following the approval of a motion put forward by Hon. Paschal Agbodike and Hon. Philip Agbese during Wednesday’s plenary session.
During his presentation titled
“Need to suspend the ban imposed by NAFDAC on the production of beverages in sachets,” Hon. Agbodike emphasized the authority of the National Assembly to enact laws for the orderly governance of the Federation or any of its parts, as stated in “Section 4(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
He also pointed out “Sections 88(1) and (2) of the Constitution,”
which empower the National Assembly to investigate the activities of authorities implementing laws administered by NAFDAC.
He expressed reservations about NAFDAC’s decision to discontinue the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles, arguing that it contradicts the Constitution and the Economic Recovery Plan of the current administration.
He also voiced concerns about the potential negative impact on the economic well-being of poor Nigerians, predicting significant job losses for more than half of the nation’s workforce.
Emphasizing the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, he deemed NAFDAC’s policy to ban the production of beverages in small sachets and bottles as counterproductive.
He also warned that such a ban could lead to the illicit production of these beverages without adherence to NAFDAC regulations.
He stated that the prohibition on registering beverages in small sachets and bottles would inflict additional hardships on Nigerians who depend on the production and sale of such beverages.
In response to the motion, the lawmakers granted the committee four weeks to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report for further legislative consideration.