Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Thursday occupied the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office in Isolo, Lagos, protesting the continued enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic drinks.
The union is demanding that the agency unseal production lines shut down as part of the crackdown, claiming that a directive from the Federal Government had instructed NAFDAC to suspend enforcement of the ban. According to the union, the alleged directive was issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The protest follows NAFDAC’s recent nationwide implementation of the prohibition on the production and sale of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles a move the agency says is aimed at protecting public health.
Reports circulated on social media on Wednesday suggesting that the Federal Government had ordered the agency to halt enforcement. However, NAFDAC swiftly dismissed the claims.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” insisting it had not received any formal directive to suspend regulatory activities related to sachet alcohol.
“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement said. “At no time has the Agency received any formal directive ordering the suspension of its regulatory or enforcement activities in respect of sachet alcohol products.”
The agency urged stakeholders and the public to disregard unverified reports and rely only on official communication channels for accurate information.
It also warned that the spread of misinformation could create unnecessary public anxiety and economic uncertainty.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory standards in the interest of public health and national stability, even as tensions with industry workers continue over the impact of the ban on jobs and production.
Source: ChannelsTv