Lift Ban On Sachet Alcohol, Reps Tell NAFDAC

• House of Representatives urges NAFDAC to lift ban on sachet alcohol and pet bottles.
• Chair of House Committee on NAFDAC, Mrs. Regina Akume, stresses call during Abuja press briefing.
• Previous House directive to lift ban issued on March 14, 2024, in response to industry protests over job losses and investment risks.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that on Wednesday, the House of Representatives urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to adhere to its decision and revoke the prohibition on sachet alcohol and pet bottles.

Mrs. Regina Akume, Chair of the House Committee on NAFDAC, emphasized this call during a press briefing in Abuja on the same day.

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The House had previously, on March 14, 2024, directed NAFDAC to lift the ban on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles containing less than 200ml.

This decision came in response to protests from distillers, who argued that the ban threatened the jobs of 500,000 workers and jeopardized investments worth N800bn.

Speaking on Wednesday at the news conference, Akume said the ban came at the wrong time considering the economic situation in the country.

“The economy is struggling; the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring. The poverty level is on the increase and there is a paucity of foreign exchange to do business,” Akume said.

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker said instead of the ban, NAFDAC should enforce regulations and access control such as the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in local government areas across the country.

“NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send underaged people to purchase alcoholic beverages,” she said.

She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.

She also called for the recycling of used materials for the promotion of the green economy.

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This, she said, would minimise the importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the foreign exchange.

The House a few weeks ago, described the ban as a move against the spirit and letters of the constitution as well as the economic recovery plan of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

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