Sachet Alcohol Ban Sparks Protests in Lagos
Protests escalated on Thursday as members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) continued their demonstration against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban.
The workers, who blocked the gates of NAFDAC’s Lagos office, accused the agency of ignoring what they described as a Federal Government directive to pause enforcement pending the full implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.
NAFDAC, however, rejected the claims, insisting that no formal order to suspend its actions had been issued.
The agency dismissed reports suggesting otherwise as “fake news” and misrepresentation of the government’s position, reiterating its commitment to protecting public health.
Speaking to protesters, Comrade Kolawole Buhari, National Vice President of FOBTOB West, warned that continued factory and depot closures could threaten millions of jobs across the sector.
He estimated that up to 5.5 million jobs could be at risk if enforcement persists.
“This action threatens 5.5 million jobs. It undermines the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. When jobs are lost, the same children the government seeks to protect will be forced onto the streets,” Buhari said.
Comrade Lanre Yusuf, National Deputy President of FOBTOB, also criticised the NAFDAC Director-General, claiming the agency’s actions contradicted Federal Government directives. Yusuf said the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had jointly advised that enforcement measures be suspended.
“The Federal Government, through the SGF and ONSA, has issued a directive. The Director-General should respect it and immediately reopen all sealed factories and depots,” Yusuf stated.
The dispute follows a clarification from Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, noting that while the National Alcohol Policy had been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under President Tinubu’s directive, enforcement actions such as factory closures should be paused until the policy is fully operational.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
