Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Wednesday occupied the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office complex in Isolo, Lagos, protesting the continued enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.
The union is demanding that NAFDAC unseal production lines that were recently shut down, claiming that a directive had been issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to suspend enforcement of the ban.
Earlier this month, NAFDAC commenced nationwide enforcement of the prohibition on alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, a move aimed at tightening regulation of alcoholic beverage distribution.
However, reports circulated on social media on Wednesday alleging that the Federal Government had instructed the agency to halt enforcement actions.
In response, NAFDAC firmly denied the claims.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” insisting that it had not received any official directive to suspend enforcement of the ban.
“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement read.
“At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products.”
The agency reiterated its commitment to public health protection and regulatory compliance, stressing that any significant changes to national regulatory policies would be formally communicated through official government channels.
“NAFDAC urges members of the public, industry stakeholders, and the media to disregard the false report and rely only on verified information issued through the Agency’s official platforms and authorised government communication channels,” the statement added.
NAFDAC also warned that the spread of unverified information could trigger unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or confusion regarding government policy.
“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and national interest,” the statement concluded.
The protest underscores growing tensions between regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders over the sachet alcohol ban, which has significant implications for manufacturers and workers across the beverage sector.
What you should know
NUFBTE members are protesting at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, demanding the unsealing of production lines shut under the sachet alcohol ban.
The union claims there was a federal directive to suspend enforcement, but NAFDAC has denied receiving any such instruction.
The agency insists the prohibition remains in force and has warned against spreading unverified reports.
