Jumoke Olasunkanmi
Workers in the food, beverage, and tobacco sector took to the streets of Lagos on Tuesday to protest the impending job losses resulting from the ban on sachet alcoholic drinks by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The workers under the aegis of the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), protested the economic repercussions of NAFDAC’s decision.
The Vice Chairman, Lagos Council of NUFBTE, Comrade Emmanuel Idogien, said that 500,000 workers may lose their jobs following NAFDAC’s directive.
“We are facing a crisis that threatens our livelihoods. Over 500,000 jobs are at risk due to this ban, and it will have severe consequences for our families and the economy as a whole.” He spoke.
The protesters argued that rather than imposing an outright ban, NAFDAC should implement better regulatory and quality control policies to ensure the safety of consumers without devastating the industry.
“We understand the need to protect public health, but there are alternative measures that can be taken. Enforcing a total ban will not only result in widespread unemployment but also create opportunities for counterfeiters to thrive, posing further risks to public health.”
African Health Report (AHR) reported that NAFDAC issued a ban on the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET, and bottles less than 200ml.
