Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) are currently occupying the NAFDAC office complex in Isolo, Lagos, to protest the agency’s refusal to comply with alleged Federal Government’s directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.

The union is calling on NAFDAC to unseal production lines that were shut down, citing a directive allegedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC on Wednesday dismissed claims that the Federal Government ordered it to suspend enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcohol.

Earlier this month, NAFDAC began implementing the nationwide prohibition on the production and sale of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

However, reports circulating on social media on Wednesday suggested that the agency had been instructed to halt the ban’s enforcement.

But in a statement signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” stressing that it had received no directive from the federal government to suspend its regulatory activities.

“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 reaffirmed its commitment to public health protection and regulatory compliance, noting that any major decisions affecting national regulatory actions would be formally communicated through official 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.

The agency also warned against the spread of unverified information, saying it could cause “unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.”

“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and national interest,” the statement concluded. (Channels TV, but headline rejigged)

•PHOTO: Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees protesting at NAFDAC office in Lagos.

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