Workers Stage Protest At NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees are presently occupying the NAFDAC office complex in Isolo, Lagos, in protest against the agency’s alleged refusal to comply with a Federal Government directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets.

The union is urging NAFDAC to reopen and unseal production lines that were previously shut down, referencing a directive reportedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC on Wednesday rejected reports claiming that the Federal Government had instructed it to suspend enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcohol.

Earlier in the month, the agency began enforcing a nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate bottles.

However, social media reports circulating on Wednesday alleged that NAFDAC had been directed to halt enforcement of the prohibition.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” emphasizing that it had not received any directive from the Federal Government to suspend its regulatory operations.

“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement read.

“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products.”

The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, adding that any significant decisions affecting national regulatory measures would be officially communicated through appropriate channels.