Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – A coalition of alcohol producers and organised labour stages a protest at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), condemning the enforcement of a nationwide ban on sachet-packaged alcoholic beverages.
The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), joined by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), warns that the policy threatens jobs, local manufacturing and long-term investment in the sector.
Protesters march with placards reading “Protect Nigerian industries”, “₦2 trillion investment at risk” and “5.5 million jobs matter”, urging the Federal Government to suspend the enforcement and reopen dialogue with stakeholders.
The demonstration follows NAFDAC’s confirmation that it has begun clamping down on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The action aligns with a Senate resolution mandating a nationwide phase-out by December 2025.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, defends the move as a public health intervention.
“Alcohol in sachets and small containers is cheap, concealable and easily accessible to minors and vulnerable groups,” Adeyeye says. “Our duty is to protect public health.”
Industry leaders counter that the enforcement is abrupt and economically destabilising. They argue that manufacturers have invested heavily in compliance, awareness campaigns and job creation, particularly within informal distribution networks.
Union leaders caution that mass layoffs could follow if the ban proceeds unchecked, worsening unemployment in an already strained economy.
As pressure mounts, analysts say the controversy underscores the tension between public health regulation and industrial sustainability, with calls growing for a phased, consultative approach rather than immediate enforcement.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Otamere Gladness