Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Wednesday occupied the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office complex in Isolo, Lagos, protesting the agency’s continued enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets.
The union accused NAFDAC of refusing to comply with what it described as a Federal Government directive to suspend enforcement of the ban. NUFBTE called on the agency to immediately unseal production lines that were shut down, citing alleged instructions from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The protest comes amid growing controversy over the nationwide prohibition of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which NAFDAC began enforcing earlier this month.
However, NAFDAC has firmly denied claims circulating on social media that the Federal Government ordered it to halt the enforcement exercise.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described the reports as “false” and “misleading,” maintaining that no such directive had been received.
“NAFDAC operates strictly within the ambit of its statutory mandate and in alignment with duly communicated Federal Government policies and directives,” the statement read. “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 reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring regulatory compliance, noting that any significant changes to national regulatory actions would be communicated through official government channels.
NAFDAC also cautioned against the spread of unverified information, warning that such reports could trigger unnecessary public anxiety, economic uncertainty, or misinterpretation of government policy.
“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its commitment to public health, economic stability, and national interest,” the statement concluded.
