Deborah Akinyosoye
Members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) have shut down the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), protesting the continued enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban despite what they described as clear directives from the Federal Government to halt the action.
The protesting workers, drawn largely from distiller companies affected by the ban, demanded the immediate release of products allegedly placed on hold by NAFDAC and the reopening of factories and depots sealed during recent enforcement operations.
Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards, the workers accused the agency of disregarding instructions from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to the protesters, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye should comply with federal directives purportedly ordering a suspension of the sachet alcohol ban enforcement pending further clarification on implementation.
However, NAFDAC has refuted claims that it received any official directive to suspend enforcement. The agency described the reports as “unverified information, fake news and a misrepresentation of government position,” insisting that its actions remain within the scope of its regulatory mandate to safeguard public health.
The controversy stems from a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, which clarified that while the National Alcohol Policy had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NAFDAC was advised to refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy was fully operationalised.
Industry stakeholders argue that continued enforcement actions, including the sealing of facilities, contradict the spirit of the SGF’s clarification and have led to significant economic losses and job disruptions. They warn that prolonged shutdowns could deepen hardship for workers and disrupt supply chains within the beverage sector.
As of press time, there were no reports of violence, though security presence around the NAFDAC office was heightened.
Efforts to mediate between the workers’ union and the regulatory agency are reportedly ongoing.