Food And Beverage Workers Protest At NAFDAC Lagos Office Over Sachet Alcohol Ban

Workers under the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) have taken over the premises of NAFDAC’s office in Isolo, Lagos.

The workers are protesting over the continued enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol.

The union accused the agency of ignoring a directive from the Federal Government to suspend enforcing the restriction on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets.

The protesters are demanding that NAFDAC reopen factory production lines that were previously sealed, claiming the instruction to suspend the ban came from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

However, NAFDAC has denied receiving any such order.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” stressing that it had received no directive from the federal government to suspend its regulatory activities.

“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.”

NAFDAC also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring compliance with regulations.

It stated that any significant change in policy would be properly announced through official government channels.

“NAFDAC urges members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the false report and rely only on verified information issued through the Agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels,” the statement added.

The agency also warned against the spread of unverified information, saying it could cause “unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.”

“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and national interest,” the statement concluded.

This comes barely 24 hours after reports emerged claiming the Federal Government ordered the NAFDAC to suspend the enforcement of planned ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic drinks sold in 200ml plastic bottles.