Tensions are rising between Nigeria’s distillers and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as unions representing the sector warn that the agency’s enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and small PET drinks could put 5.5 million jobs at risk.
Members of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), affiliates of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), staged a protest at NAFDAC’s Lagos office on Friday, demanding an immediate review of the policy.
The ban, targeting alcohol sold in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml, was first announced by NAFDAC in November 2025, following a directive from the Senate. Enforcement had initially been paused after the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) called for consultations and a final directive, but the agency has now resumed action, according to Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.
Speaking at the protest, FOBTOB Executive Secretary Solomon Adebosin said the ban threatened both direct and indirect employment in the sector. “We have 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this industry and over five million indirectly. Their livelihoods are on the line,” he said, adding that claims that sachet alcohol and small PET drinks are widely accessible to minors are not backed by facts.
Adezosin called for targeted control measures rather than an outright ban, stressing that the distillers have invested in education and awareness campaigns to ensure responsible consumption.
NUFBTE’s Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, Azeez Razaq, accused NAFDAC of undermining indigenous manufacturers and violating the SGF’s directive to suspend enforcement. He warned that shutting down operations could worsen unemployment and insecurity across the country.
FOBTOB member Anthony Oyagha read out the unions’ demands, urging the Presidency to intervene. “Local manufacturers deserve protection, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.
“We call on the President to ensure regulatory agencies act in the national interest and safeguard indigenous industries”, Oyagha said.
The unions have placed all affiliates and state councils on red alert, warning that failure to align NAFDAC’s enforcement with government policy could trigger further protests and nationwide industrial action.
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