National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) don resume full enforcement of the ban on production and sale of alcoholic drinks wey dey packaged for sachet and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
The agency make am clear say e no shut down any alcohol-producing company, but only stop the sale of alcohol for sachet and small containers because of serious public health concerns.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, talk this one for statement wey she release on Thursday, say the move na to protect children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol.
According to the statement, “NAFDAC don resume enforcement of the ban on production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, in line with Senate resolution and the agency public health mandate.”
The agency explain say the plenty availability of strong alcohol for sachet and small bottles don make alcohol cheap, easy to get and easy to hide, leading to increase for underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropout and other social problems.
Adeyeye say warning labels like “Not for children” no work well for sachet alcohol because of the way society dey.
“Many parents no even know say their children dey drink sachet alcohol because the pack small, cheap and easy to hide,” she talk.
She also reveal say reports from schools show disturbing trends, including one recent case where teacher report say student claim e no fit sit exam without first taking sachet alcohol.
NAFDAC remind Nigerians say for December 2018, the agency, together with Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, sign five-year agreement with manufacturers to gradually phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.
The deadline later extend to December 2025 to allow manufacturers finish old stock and adjust their production lines.
“The present Senate resolution dey align with the agreement and Nigeria commitment to World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol,” Adeyeye say.
She stress say the ban no be punishment but protection.
“This ban no be punitive; na protective. E dey aimed at protecting the health and future of our children and youths by no allowing alcohol for small pack sizes,” she say.
According to her, the decision base on scientific evidence and public health concerns, adding say Nigeria no suppose sacrifice citizens’ well-being for economic gain.
“The health of a nation na the real wealth,” Adeyeye add.
She also clarify say the ban only affect spirit drinks for sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200ml, while NAFDAC still approve alcoholic beverages for bigger pack sizes.
Meanwhile, the renewed enforcement don spark reactions from industry groups and labour unions.
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders, including Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB), criticise the move, say e fit affect jobs and businesses.
On January 23, members of Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress protest for NAFDAC Lagos office, warn say the ban fit cost over 5.5 million Nigerians their jobs.
Some protesters describe the policy as regulatory mistake wey no balance public health and economic reality, especially for low-income Nigerians wey depend on cheap sachet alcohol.
But NAFDAC call on manufacturers, distributors and retailers to obey the directive fully, stressing say no further extension go come after December 2025.
