Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria have protested against the ban on alcoholic drinks in sachet and PET bottles by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees issued a joint statement on Tuesday, stating that the ban has rendered over 500,000 people jobless. They also expressed concerns that this new policy may result in the eventual shutdown of industries producing these products, leading to further damage to the Nigerian economy.
The protest came after the announcement by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, on Monday, that the agency would begin enforcing the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200ml and below.
In January 2022, NAFDAC declared a stop to the registration of alcohol in sachet and small-volume PET and glass bottles. Adeyeye stated that “registration of new alcoholic drinks in sachet and small volume PET and glass bottles above 30 per cent ABV (alcohol by volume) has been banned by NAFDAC following the recommendation of a high-powered Committee of the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC on one hand, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and Industry represented by the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers, and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria in December 2018.”
On Tuesday, the distillers held a large protest at the NAFDAC office in Lagos. Many members of the Trade Union Congress reported that since the ban, several employees have been left without work, which may result in significant job losses. Speaking to journalists, the Vice Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of Trade Union Congress, Idogen Emmanuel, stated that NAFDAC moved to seal all companies producing sachet drinks, forgetting that the economy is tense and harsh. They claimed that it was wrong to close the companies at this time, and asked NAFDAC to reopen them so that they can come to a round table and find a way forward.
Watch the video here: https://x.com/instablog9ja/status/1755140541296029889?s=46&t=zZRX-Eg9dA8lWSiPRJxxQw