The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB, has insisted that the attempt by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to enforce its recent ban on sachet alcohol has disrupted operations of many of its members in different parts of the country.

Organised labour and consumer rights group have staged protests in Lagos and Abuja against NADFAC’s ban, explaining that the policy could displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.

To address public concerns, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency’s action targets only alcohol packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200ml, not manufacturers, stating it has not shut down any alcohol-producing company while enforcing the ban.

However, FOBTOB, in its reaction by President, Jimoh Oyibo, yesterday, said, “NAFDAC’s assertion that it ‘did not close down any company that makes alcohol’ and that its actions were limited to banning alcohol in sachets and small containers below 200ml does not, fully reflect the commercial and operational realities within the industry today.

“There are reports and documented instances of depots belonging to known businesses being sealed by NAFDAC while enforcing the ban in locations such as Enugu and Abakaliki states. In some cases, these depots have remained sealed since January 20, 2026, despite housing a range of products that are not covered by the ban.

“Notwithstanding, representations made by affected stakeholders, access to these depots has not been restored by NAFDAC, and this is affecting normal business operations negatively. As a labour union, the livelihoods of our members will be adversely affected by the closure of manufacturers’ depots,” Oyibo said.

“While we acknowledge and fully support the shared objective of protecting children, adolescents, and vulnerable populations from the harmful use of alcohol, we must express deep concern that the approach adopted by NAFDAC is disproportionate, economically disruptive, and inconsistent with broader regulatory and public health realities in Nigeria.

“No reasonable stakeholder disputes that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful. However, public health challenges require holistic, data-driven, and enforceable solutions, not blanket prohibitions that fail to address root causes.

“Alcohol abuse among minors is primarily a challenge of effective enforcement, parental responsibility, public education, and social regulation, rather than one of packaging format. The size of an alcohol container does not in itself, confer safety, nor does increasing pack sizes prevent access by minors.

“In fact, global public health evidence consistently demonstrates that behavioural regulation, age-restriction enforcement, education driven interventions, and appropriate sanctions are more effective in addressing underage alcohol consumption than blanket product bans.”

Oyibo insisted that the ban on sachets and small containers below 200ml also risks tilting the market in favour of larger, better-capitalised multinational players who can absorb retooling costs and pivot to premium pack sizes. Smaller local producers, who rely overwhelmingly on sachet sales, are disproportionately harmed, raising concerns about market concentration and unfair competitive outcomes. (Vanguard)

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