NAFDAC Alcohol Ban Sparks Workers’ Protest
Workers in Nigeria’s distillery sector have sounded the alarm over a new enforcement campaign that could jeopardize the livelihoods of millions nationwide.
The warning was issued on Friday in Lagos, where unions representing staff in food, beverage, and tobacco companies protested at the office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control over the renewed crackdown on sachet alcohol and small PET bottles.
The unions stated that the action followed NAFDAC’s decision to enforce a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200ml, despite earlier indications that the policy had been paused for consultations.
Union leaders argued that the enforcement would directly impact about 500,000 workers in the sector and more than five million others whose jobs rely on related supply chains, distribution, and retail activities.
They also challenged the agency’s stance that sachet alcohol drives underage drinking, insisting that the real issue is access and regulation, not outright bans, and warned that factory closures could increase unemployment and security risks.
The workers called on the presidency to intervene, advocating for dialogue and policies that protect local industries, preserve jobs, restore investor confidence, and address public health concerns in a balanced manner.
