NAFDAC Remains Defiant On Ban Of Alcoholic Sachet Drinks, As Stakeholders Lament Loss Of Over N800b Investment

By Akinwale Kasali

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, is defiant over the Ban of the importation, Manufacture, Distribution and Sale of Alcohol Beverages in Sachet and Pet Bottles less than 200ml which took effect on January 31, 2024.

The Management of NAFDAC disclosed that it is not going to rescind its decision on the ban.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, insisted that the ban was for the benefit of Nigerians and to save lives.

The Head of Public Relations of the Commission, Christiana Obiazikwor, stated that the ban remains.

Obiazikwor clarified that NAFDAC  did not ban alcohol production in bigger bottles but alcohol in containers or packing that a child can easily conceal.

“The alcoholic content in sachet or PET bottles less than 200ml is 30 per cent. Beer has four to eight per cent alcohol. The Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC in December 2018 that they will phase out production of alcohol in sachet and PET bottles less than 200 ml by January 31, 2024. The agreement document is available.  A five-year phase-out notice should be sufficient.

“They say it’s going to lead to loss of jobs, but it can lead to loss of lives as well. So, which is more important? We are not going back (on the ban). We are doing this to save the lives of Nigerians, and commuters.

“ The schoolchildren buy it and put it in their bags, so we are doing it to protect the children because they can’t take responsibility for themselves; so the leaders and adults need to take responsibility for them. Are we going to kill our children because the economy is bad?” she said.

Following this development, manufacturers and other stakeholders across the food and beverages value chain stated that the ban will lead to the loss of investments worth over N800b.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, DIBAN,  expressed the concern  at a joint news conference in Lagos.

The Executive Secretary of DIBAN, John Ichue, called on the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to reverse the ban.

“This is to avert a colossal loss on investments in machines, raw materials and financial resources and also save 5.5 million direct and indirect persons earning their livelihood from the business,” he said.

According to Ichue, manufacturers have great respect for NAFDAC; hence, the need for them to reach a common ground to address underage consumption of alcoholic beverages and business concerns of players in the wine and spirits sector.

“Some of the money invested in the sector were borrowed from banks, and many of the companies have procured raw materials that would last them for the next four or five years.

“More than 25 companies in wine and spirits sector in the country may be forced to close shop if President Bola Tinubu does not intervene in reversing the ban,” he said.

The Chairman of DIBAN, Patrick Anegbe, said that the association had always preached responsible drinking and had mounted media campaigns on radio and television, kicking against underage consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets.

Anegbe, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Intercontinental Distillers Limited, IDL, said that DIBAN was concerned about the health of underage consumers of alcohol beverages.

He, however, said that elimination of underage consumption of alcoholic beverages could be achieved through access control rather than outright ban.

“Through access control mechanism, the underage will be safeguarded, businesses will remain and our members and suppliers in the value chains in the sector will retain their jobs.

“I call on the president to intervene immediately; otherwise, many jobs are on the line,” he said.

He appealed to Tinubu to consider those who had heavily invested  in the sector.

The CEO of Stellar Beverage, Gandhi Anandan, said that the ban might trigger irresponsible drinking and make consumers drink heavily if they could not have access to smaller quantities.

“While alcohol,  like any other product, must be consumed in moderation, if we take away the size from responsible drinking, we are not being fair to anyone,” he said.

Wale Majaolagbe, CEO of Grand Oak Industries, said that distilled wine and spirits had not been pinned down as causes of death of any individual.

“NAFDAC should not be insensitive to the hardship Nigerians are going through by imposing this ban,” Majaolagbe said.

The Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi Kadir said that the association was deeply concerned about the ban, stressing that the bank would impact negatively on manufacturers, workers, the citizenry and the economy.

He said that following previous concerns, stakeholders collaborated to enlighten  citizens on responsible consumption by supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC to undertake advocacy, messaging, training and education of the public.

He said that during the period, DIBAN spent over one billion naira on campaigns to ensure zero consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage, and promote responsible use among adults.

“Furthermore strategic moves were made to identify factors that affect irresponsible consumption of alcoholic beverages and identify factors responsible for underage drinking in Nigeria.

“We also moved to implement strategies guided by best global practices and national priorities towards strengthening regulatory activities (e.g. access control) and strengthening implementation structures through effective collaboration to ensure sustainability.

“Prior to the investments made by  companies in the packaging, distribution, logistics and advertisement of their products, necessary approval were obtained.

“Government must be seen to promote and protect the growth of local industries and jobs and tackle fake, counterfeit and unwholesome alcoholic beverages,” he said.