Operations at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) were disrupted on Wednesday after protesting union members barricaded the agency’s premises in Isolo.
Staff who arrived early for work were unable to access the complex as members of the National Union of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employees blocked both the entrance and exit gates.
Dispute Over Sachet Alcohol Ban
The protest stems from NAFDAC’s continued enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres.
The union is demanding the immediate unsealing of affected factories and production lines, warning that prolonged enforcement could have serious economic implications for manufacturers, workers, and related businesses.
Earlier this month, union members picketed the Lagos NAFDAC office over what they described as the agency’s refusal to comply with an alleged Federal Government directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol production and sales.
According to the union, directives were issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser instructing that enforcement be paused and sealed production lines reopened.
However, NAFDAC denied receiving any official communication from the Federal Government directing it to halt implementation of the policy and insisted it would continue enforcement.
Police Presence, Access Restored
Police officers were later deployed to the NAFDAC Isolo premises as tensions rose.
Subsequently, the barricade was lifted, and staff were allowed back into the facility, restoring normal access to the office.
What You Should Know
Union members barricaded NAFDAC’s Lagos office in protest against the agency’s enforcement of a ban on sachet and small PET-bottled alcoholic beverages.
The union is calling for the reopening of sealed factories and suspension of enforcement, claiming there was a federal directive to do so—a claim NAFDAC denies.
Police were deployed, and access to the office was later restored.
