The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), alongside organised labour and industry workers, on Friday staged a protest at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.
The protest, which began as early as 8:30am, drew stakeholders including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and workers from various food and beverage companies. Protesters carried placards urging the Federal Government to intervene, warning that the policy could have severe consequences for the economy and millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods depend on the sector.
Some of the placards read: “Local manufacturers deserve protection, not frustration,” “N2 trillion investment deserves protection,” “5.5 million Nigerians cannot be pushed to the streets,” and “The Renewed Hope Agenda must work for all Nigerians.”
Speaking to journalists, the Executive Secretary of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Comrade Solomon Adebosin, said the protest was triggered by NAFDAC’s decision to commence enforcement of the ban despite a directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) suspending all actions pending further consultations.
Adebosin warned that the ban could result in the loss of over five million jobs and place more than ₦3 trillion in investments at risk. He argued that such an outcome would be damaging at a time when the country is grappling with economic challenges.
“At this stage of our economy, throwing millions out of work and endangering trillions in investments will not augur well for Nigeria,” he said, adding that the policy appears to disproportionately affect indigenous manufacturers who dominate the sachet alcohol market.
He advocated for stronger regulation and access control rather than an outright ban, noting that regulation remains the globally accepted approach to addressing public health and safety concerns without destroying local industries.
Also speaking, Comrade Azeez Rasaki of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees said the enforcement undermines the economic recovery goals of the Tinubu administration and contradicts the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to job creation, industrial growth and support for local enterprises.
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