A civil society organisation, Young Nigeria Women in Leadership, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the ongoing enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in 200ml PET bottles.
Addressing journalists at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Coordinator of the group, Patience Ojochegbe Abimaje, criticised the implementation of the policy by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), describing it as inconsistent with existing government directives and stakeholder engagements.
Abimaje alleged that the agency’s actions contradict resolutions of the House of Representatives as well as ongoing consultations involving key players in the alcohol industry.
She warned that continued enforcement of the ban could adversely affect businesses, threaten jobs across the alcohol value chain, reduce government revenue and trigger social unrest among affected operators and consumers.
According to her, the policy would disproportionately impact low-income consumers who depend on smaller and more affordable alcoholic beverage packages, while potentially encouraging the proliferation of illicit and unregulated products.
The group also challenged claims that sachet alcohol products contribute significantly to underage drinking, arguing that industry stakeholders have invested heavily in campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and restricting access to minors.
While expressing support for efforts aimed at eliminating unsafe products from the market, Abimaje maintained that regulatory decisions should be guided by verifiable evidence, broad stakeholder engagement and a balanced assessment of economic realities.
She urged the Federal Government to review the policy and take immediate steps to address concerns raised by industry operators, warning that failure to do so could have unintended economic and social consequences.
The group further called on President Tinubu to take decisive action on the matter, insisting that the continued handling of the issue by the NAFDAC leadership was no longer in the public interest.
NAFDAC has consistently maintained that its regulatory measures are designed to protect public health and reduce the harmful effects of alcohol abuse, particularly among young people and other vulnerable groups.
