Tensions escalated outside the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as labour groups and industry workers staged fresh demonstrations against the agency’s continued enforcement of a ban on alcohol packaged in sachets and small PET bottles.
Members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) gathered at the agency’s Isolo premises, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards while demanding the release of seized products and an immediate suspension of enforcement actions they say threaten jobs and investments across the sector. Protesters accused the regulator of disregarding instructions they claim were issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to the demonstrators, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye should comply with what they described as federal directives ordering a pause in enforcement of the sachet alcohol restriction pending further clarification on implementation.
However, NAFDAC has firmly denied receiving any official instruction to suspend enforcement. The agency described circulating claims as “unverified information, fake news and a misrepresentation of government position,” maintaining that its actions remain within its statutory mandate to regulate products and safeguard public health.
The dispute has deepened uncertainty within the industry, with manufacturers, distributors, and workers expressing concern over conflicting signals regarding the policy’s enforcement status.
The controversy stems from a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, Terrence Kuanum, who 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 becomes fully operational.
Industry stakeholders argue that continued enforcement measures, including the sealing of facilities, contradict the spirit of that clarification and have already caused significant economic losses and job disruptions. They warn that prolonged shutdowns could worsen hardship for workers and destabilise supply chains within Nigeria’s beverage sector.
The latest demonstration reflects a widening rift between regulators and industry players over the restriction. Labour unions and sector associations have repeatedly warned that strict enforcement could lead to factory closures, layoffs, and broader economic ripple effects, particularly among small businesses and informal traders linked to alcohol distribution networks.
Supporters of the restriction, however, maintain that limiting access to low-cost, high-alcohol beverages is necessary to curb abuse and protect public health, especially among young consumers.
Elijah Adeyemi
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