The Centre for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa has called for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, accusing her of alleged incompetence and abuse of public office over the agency’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and small PET bottle alcoholic beverages.
At a press conference during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, the group said the enforcement action by NAFDAC was arbitrary and contrary to existing regulatory and legislative directives guiding the alcoholic beverage sector in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists, the group’s representative, Ambassador Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze PhD, alleged that the agency’s move to enforce the ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and 200ml PET bottles violates the National Alcohol Policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to the organisation, the decision also contradicts earlier resolutions of the House of Representatives, which reportedly advised the regulatory body to suspend enforcement actions on the matter pending further consultations with stakeholders.
The group further argued that the policy could negatively affect businesses, jobs, and investments in the alcohol manufacturing value chain, warning that it may also encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated alcoholic products in the market.
It also claimed that the ban could restrict consumer choice, particularly among low-income adult consumers who rely on smaller, more affordable packaging options.
“The decision to hastily enforce the ban is capable of causing economic disruption and creating unnecessary confusion within the sector,” the group said.
The organisation also disputed claims that sachet alcoholic beverages contribute significantly to alcohol abuse among minors, insisting that industry stakeholders have invested heavily in public campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption.
The advocacy group noted that manufacturers have spent substantial resources on awareness campaigns and media advocacy aimed at discouraging underage drinking and misuse of alcoholic products.
While expressing support for regulatory actions aimed at removing unsafe products from the market, the group urged authorities to ensure that such measures are based on empirical evidence and broad stakeholder engagement.
It therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and review the leadership of NAFDAC, arguing that the situation requires urgent attention in the interest of economic stability and policy consistency.
As of the time of filing this report, NAFDAC had not issued an official response to the allegations raised during the press conference.
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