A tense atmosphere enveloped the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday as consumer rights advocates staged a protest against the agency’s planned enforcement of a ban on sachet alcoholic beverages.
The demonstration was organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Consumers’ Rights and led by Comrade Olufemi Lawson. It followed comments attributed to NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, regarding the commencement of enforcement actions against sachet alcohol products.
Addressing journalists and protesters, Lawson criticised the proposed enforcement as economically insensitive and poorly timed, warning that it could undermine efforts to address unemployment and economic hardship.
The coalition raised concerns about the potential impact on manufacturers, distributors, and consumers, and questioned the consistency of NAFDAC’s regulatory policies. Lawson challenged the classification of sachet alcoholic beverages as unsafe, noting that many of the products had previously been tested, registered, and approved by the agency.
“The issue of underage drinking is a regulatory and enforcement challenge, not a product issue,” Lawson said. “These products are clearly labelled ‘not for sale to persons under 18.’ If minors still have access, enforcement at the retail level needs to be strengthened.”
The protesters also rejected claims that sachet alcohol contains excessively high alcohol content, pointing out that licensed distilleries operate within recognised alcohol-by-volume standards. Environmental concerns linked to sachet packaging were also dismissed, with advocates noting that similar packaging is widely used for other consumer goods such as water and detergents.
Demonstrators carried placards reading “Suspend the Sachet Alcohol Ban,” “Save Jobs, Save Livelihoods,” and “Regulation, Not Prohibition.” They warned that enforcement could result in significant job losses across the distillery value chain, affecting factory workers, distributors, transporters, and retailers.
The coalition called for an immediate suspension of the ban, the reopening of sealed production facilities, and constructive engagement with stakeholders to develop inclusive, data-driven regulatory solutions. They also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene, cautioning that unresolved concerns could trigger nationwide protests.
As of filing, NAFDAC officials at the Lagos office had not responded to the demonstration, and the agency had yet to issue an official statement.
