Unions Warn Of 5.5 Million Job Losses As NAFDAC Enforces Ban On Sachet, PET Bottle Alcohol
By Musiliu Opeyemi
Members of the distillers’ association, under the aegis of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), have warned that the ongoing enforcement of a ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) could displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.
The unions, which are affiliates of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a protest at the Lagos office of NAFDAC on Friday to oppose the agency’s order halting the distribution of their products.
This follows NAFDAC’s announcement that it had begun enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, in line with a directive from the Senate.
NAFDAC had initially announced plans to enforce a total ban by December 2025, but enforcement was suspended after the Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), called for an immediate halt pending further consultations.
However, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated during a media briefing on Wednesday that the agency had received a directive from the Senate to proceed, and enforcement had already commenced.
Addressing protesters on Friday, the Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, Solomon Adebosin, said the enforcement would jeopardize over 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs.
He argued that the policy contradicts the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to attract investment and support local industries.
Adebosin also challenged NAFDAC’s claim that sachet alcohol and PET drinks are easily accessible to minors, stating that such assertions are not backed by empirical evidence.
“We are here today to protest the sudden seizure of our companies in the distillery sector by NAFDAC concerning the issue of sachet drinks and PET bottles that are less than 200ml,” Adebosin said.
“We have 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this sector and over five million working indirectly, and they are going to be affected.
“Access and control are what we should be talking about. Let us be able to put control on these things such that children and minors do not have access to them.”
He emphasized that distillers have consistently invested in advocacy and sensitization programs to prevent underage consumption of their products.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, of NUFBTE, Azeez Razaq, accused NAFDAC of sabotaging indigenous manufacturers and violating the SGF’s directive to suspend the ban.
He warned that shutting down the affected companies would lead to massive job losses, potentially exacerbating insecurity across the country.
While reading the unions’ demands, a member of FOBTOB, Anthony Oyagha, called on the Presidency to intervene urgently.
“We call on the Presidency to urgently intervene to ensure that NAFDAC aligns its actions with government policy, legislative oversight, and the broader national interest,” Oyagha stated.
“Local manufacturers deserve honour, protection, and partnership, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.
“We respectfully urge Mr President to act decisively to safeguard indigenous industries, protect jobs, and ensure that regulatory agencies serve the Nigerian people and not external interests.”
