Enforce our resolution, lift ban on sachet alcohol- Reps to NAFDAC

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce its resolution and lift the ban on sachet alcohol, per bottle.
Rep. Regina Akume, Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
The House had earlier ordered NAFDAC to lif the ban on sachet alcohol and pet bottle.
According to Akume, the ban should be lifted because the timing is inappropriate, The economy is struggling, the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring.
She added that the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of FOREX to do business.
She said instead of the ban it should be replaced with prescribed regulations and access control such as establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in LGAs across the country.
She said NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send under aged people to purchase alcoholic beverages, adding that there should be tighten of enforcements by law enforcement agencies.
She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.
She said that the legislation approach should be adapted to encourage recycling of the materials for the promotion of the green economy.
She said this would go a long way in minimising importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the Forex
It would be recalled that the House had described that the ban runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and also against the Economic recovery Plan of the current administration.
This according to the house is sequel to the numerous economic challenges confronting poor Nigerians.
The House stated that the ban on the production of the said beverages will cause job losses and more economic hardship.