‘Economic Suicide’: Distillers, Labour Unions Storm NAFDAC Office Over Threat to 5.5m Jobs
LAGOS — The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) has declared a state of industrial crisis, warning the Federal Government that the ongoing enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol threatens to wipe out 5.5 million jobs and destroy N2 trillion in local investments.
The association, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), issued the warning on Friday morning while storming the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in a heated protest.
The demonstration comes just 48 hours after NAFDAC commenced the enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, following a directive from the Senate.
“Let Poor Nigerians Breathe”
Chanting solidarity songs and brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “Let Poor Nigerians Breathe” and “Stop Destroying Local Manufacturers,” the protesters accused the regulatory agency of sabotaging the economy under the guise of public health.
Comrade Solomon Adebosin, speaking for the coalition, described the policy as “economic suicide” at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with harsh living conditions.
“At this critical period of our economy, throwing over five million people out of their jobs and putting at least N2 trillion investment at risk will not augur well for our country,” Adebosin stated. “We appreciate the President’s efforts to strengthen the economy, but killing local investments and triggering mass unemployment directly contradicts the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Cost of the Ban
The unions argue that the ban does not just affect the factories, but destroys an entire value chain of petty traders, transporters, and suppliers who rely on the sachet economy for survival.
According to DIBAN’s data, the ban puts the following at immediate risk:
- 5.5 Million Jobs: Comprising direct factory workers and millions of indirect workers in the supply chain.
- N2 Trillion Investment: Represents the value of machinery, raw materials, and factory infrastructure that will become redundant.
- Revenue Loss: A significant drop in government tax revenue from the manufacturing sector.
NAFDAC Stands Firm
Despite the uproar, NAFDAC maintains that the enforcement is “irreversible” and rooted in safeguarding the future of Nigerian youth.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, insisted earlier this week that the ban is a necessary public health intervention to curb the rising abuse of cheap, pocket-sized alcohol by minors and commercial drivers.
“We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain,” Adeyeye said. “The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets has made them easily accessible to children. The ban is not punitive; it is protective.”
A Plea to the President
The protesters ended their demonstration with a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and call the NAFDAC leadership to order. They proposed that the government should focus on regulation and quality control rather than a total ban that “criminalizes” legitimate businesses.
“If this ban stands, it will open the floodgates for smuggled, unregulated alcohol to take over the market, which is even more dangerous for public health,” the union leaders warned.