Members of the Centre for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa (CELCE-Africa) on Thursday staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Health headquarters in Abuja, calling for the immediate disengagement of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye.
Addressing journalists during a press conference at the ministry premises, the group accused the NAFDAC boss of what it described as “gross insensitivity to issues of national concern,” particularly over the agency’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
The group argued that the enforcement of the ban was hasty and inconsistent with the provisions of the National Alcohol Policy already adopted by the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to CELCE-Africa, the decision also contradicts a directive from the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu which, it said, advised the agency not to disrupt the operations of affected companies pending the outcome of a joint committee review.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Amb. Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze warned that the policy could lead to job losses and economic disruption within the alcohol production and distribution value chain.
He further referenced a resolution of the House of Representatives of Nigeria dated March 14, 2024, which restrained NAFDAC from proceeding with the ban after stakeholder consultations and a public hearing.
The group also criticised comments allegedly attributed to the NAFDAC Director-General linking alcohol consumption to banditry in Nigeria, describing the claim as misleading and lacking empirical evidence.
According to the organisation, Nigeria’s banditry crisis is driven by complex factors including organised criminal networks, proliferation of illegal arms, kidnapping activities and the abuse of hard drugs, rather than regulated alcoholic beverages.
CELCE-Africa said sachet and small PET alcohol products were introduced to provide affordable options for low-income adult consumers and warned that removing them from the market could encourage illicit production and cross-border smuggling.
The group maintained that while it supports strict regulation of unsafe and substandard products, government policies should be evidence-based and developed through broad consultation with stakeholders.
It also warned that the enforcement of the ban could threaten the livelihoods of thousands of Nigerians involved in the production, distribution and retail of alcoholic beverages.
The protesters therefore called on President Tinubu to urgently review the policy and consider removing the NAFDAC Director-General, arguing that her recent actions were no longer aligned with public interest.
Officials of NAFDAC had yet to respond to the protest as of the time of filing this report.
