Stand Up Nigeria, a civil society organisation, has slammed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its plan to prohibit the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles.
The group described the move as undemocratic, warning that it could threaten millions of jobs and wipe out trillions of naira in economic value.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, recently stated that the ban was being implemented in line with a directive from the Senate, which insisted that the agency must fully enforce the policy without granting any further extensions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Garki, Abuja, recently, the convener of Stand Up Nigeria, Sunday Attah, said the directive was disappointing, high-handed and unlawful.
He argued that the decision contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises support for local industries and job creation.
The group said it was “shocked” to learn that NAFDAC intended to halt the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/glass bottles below 200ml by December 2025.
It further accused both NAFDAC and the Senate of rushing the process and failing to engage industry players, despite earlier commitments made during a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health and members of the House of Representatives.
According to the organisation, the Senate’s directive appeared to have been issued without giving stakeholders an opportunity to present their views, and may have been influenced by NAFDAC’s position.
They warned that if implemented, the ban could destabilise the Nigerian economy.
Stand Up Nigeria listed several potential consequences to include the loss of over ₦1.9 trillion in investments by local manufacturers, retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct workers, and the collapse of up to five million indirect jobs across supply chains, marketing and logistics,
Others are a drop in manufacturing output, reversing recent gains in the food and beverage sector and the gradual extinction of indigenous businesses and reduced opportunities for entrepreneurship.
The group urged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, to approve the Nigeria National Alcohol Policy and its multi-sectoral implementation framework.
Also, it appealed to the Senate to act “fairly and constitutionally” by revisiting the issue and organising a public hearing or stakeholder forum similar to the extensive consultations already conducted by the House of Representatives.
