The National President of Food Beverage Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Jimoh Oyibo has stated that the ban of sachet liquor manufacturing companies in Nigeria is a lazy solution, rather the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) should regulate and control access.
Oyibo said this when speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday about the February 1st ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets by NAFDAC
He explained, “The producers of sachet liquor spent billons of naira to educate the public to drink responsibly and that these liquor shouldn’t be sold to under age. What NAFDAC needs to do is complement their efforts by regulation and access control. I think to just say ban is a lazy way to address an issue.”
Expressing his reaction to the ban, he stated, “We were taken by surprise when we were informed that our factories were shut down. The Director General of NAFDAC, Madam Adeyeye, closed them down because the small pack sizes are easily accessible to children.”
He criticised NAFDAC’s approach, noting that a prior agreement in 2018 stated that sachet liquor production would be phased out by 2024. “If that was the agreement, it would have been morally justified to call a meeting with stakeholders to remind them and discuss implementation,” Oyibo said. “She just shut down the company, and before you know it, our members have been laid off.”
The impact of the ban on industries has been significant. Oyibo highlighted, “Foreign and local investors have invested billions of naira into this sector. By banning these companies, those investments have gone down the drain, and our members have lost their jobs.”
He also condemned NAFDAC’s refusal to lift the ban despite intervention from the House of Representatives. “If it takes the wisdom of 360 members of the House to lift the ban, and NAFDAC still insists, it means there’s something more going on,” he remarked.
The union leader emphasised the need for NAFDAC to engage with stakeholders before making such decisions. “What NAFDAC should have done is summon stakeholders as the due date approached,” Oyibo said. “We could have revisited the issue and made a decision.”
He called on President Ahmed Tinubu to address the situation. “We are calling on President Tinubu to ensure that if his renewed hope agenda is anything to go by, the Director General of NAFDAC should be called to order.”
Looking forward, Oyibo supported the resolution from the National Assembly urging the lift of the ban. “The way forward is to follow the National Assembly’s resolution from March 21, which recommended lifting the ban for economic reasons,” he said.
Why workers are protesting NAFDAC’s move to shut down the production lines of industries manufacturers liquor drinks in sachet.
NANCY MBAMALU
Follow us on:
