The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), started the enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in small sachets Yesterday.
In the raid carry-out by the agency across the country, leading to sealing of three factories and confiscating banned products worth N6 million as part of its
effort to put law in order on the banned products.
Mr. Umar Suleiman, NAFDAC’s Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer for the Federal Task Force Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, spearheaded the raid in Jos, where one factory was found producing prohibited alcoholic beverages along with other unregistered products.
In Sokoto, a bakery faced closure for repackaging items and maintaining unsanitary conditions. The intervention, assisted by security personnel, led to the apprehension and sanctioning of the bakery owner, with confiscated materials.
The agency, represented by State Coordinator Garba Adamu, emphasized education on product registration guidelines and proper procedures for the affected bakery owner.
In Osun State, NAFDAC officials targeted factories producing alcoholic beverages in banned sachets, PETs, and glass bottles of 100ml and below, in Osogbo, Ilesa, and Ile-Ife.
Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate for Lagos, Mr. Dare Moses, underscored the expiration of licenses for sachet alcoholic drinks, necessitating the ban to curb the abuse among Nigerian youth, impacting mental health.
However, the directive faced opposition from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Food, Beverages, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB). They staged a peaceful protest at NAFDAC’s office in Lagos, led by TUC Vice President Emmanuel Idogen, highlighting job losses due to factory closures amidst economic hardships. While acknowledging NAFDAC’s mandate, the union expressed concern about the human cost of abrupt shutdowns.
“We all know the economic hardship we are facing in the country presently. The price of fuel has increased, the prices of food are increasing on a daily basis and there is inflation.
“Some of the people earn their living to feed their families and dependents from the factory that you have shut down.
“Invariably, there will be more families exposed to hunger. I believe this will have a negative impact on the society.
“We are appealing to NAFDAC to suspend the directive to shut down the production of alcoholic sachets drinks for the posterity of the masses,” he opined.
