Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) employees vehemently expressed their discontent on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, as they organised a protest at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the Isolo area of Lagos State.
Amidst the demonstration, members of the association wielded placards adorned with compelling messages such as ‘Let poor Nigerians breathe’ and ‘Let beverage workers breathe,’ reflecting their collective plea against the recent ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and glass bottles of 200ml and below, enforced by NAFDAC since February 1, 2024.
This protest marks the latest episode in a series of demonstrations triggered by NAFDAC’s stringent stance on alcohol packaging.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that no such beverages had undergone registration with the agency, adding a layer of regulatory concern to the ban.
The tension escalated on February 13, 2024, when members of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, affiliated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC), issued a stern ultimatum.
They demanded a reversal of the ban within 14 days during a protest at NAFDAC’s headquarters in Abuja, threatening to intensify demonstrations nationwide if their grievances went unaddressed.
The air is charged with anticipation as stakeholders await the resolution of this standoff between regulatory authorities and the affected industry players
