The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was on Thursday confronted by protesting members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food, Beverages Tobacco Employees, who barricaded the agency’s Lagos office over the ban on sachet alcohol.
The demonstrators, who have sustained protests for several days, are demanding the immediate reversal of the prohibition on sachet alcohol and 10cl PET bottled products. They argue that the policy has triggered widespread job losses and deepened economic hardship across the sector.
“We are not criminals. We are workers. We are producers. We are parents. We are taxpayers. We are Nigerians,” said Mr. Jeffery Igein, National Secretary of FOBTOB, stressing the unions’ resolve to continue their action until their demands are met.
The protesters accused NAFDAC of poor communication and alleged that, despite a directive from the Federal Government instructing the agency to suspend the ban, it has failed to comply.
According to the unions, the restriction has severely affected indigenous manufacturing companies across the state, leading to significant job losses.
“Factories are being shut down. Depots are being closed. Warehouses are being locked — including those containing other lawful products not connected to the targeted items,” said Mr. Anthony Oyaga, Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The Association of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) also questioned NAFDAC’s enforcement approach, arguing that entire production facilities are being closed rather than applying targeted regulatory measures.
“This is not regulation; this is calculated economic suffocation,” Mr. Oyaga added.
