Workers, distillers, and labour unions converged at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday to protest against the enforcement of a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles.
The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) led the protest, joined by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Local manufacturers deserve protection, not frustration,” “N2 trillion investment deserves protection,” and “5.5 million Nigerians cannot be pushed to the streets.”
The stakeholders called on the presidency to intervene in what they describe as unfair regulatory actions by NAFDAC, which they accused of sealing several local distilleries.
The demonstrators said the ban, which bars the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles under 200ml, will have “devastating consequences” for jobs and investments across the country.
Speakers at the protest argued that more than 5 million jobs and over ₦3 trillion in business investments are at risk if enforcement continues without broader consultations.
The Secretary of the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Anthony Oyagua, and the union’s Executive Secretary, Solomon Adebosin, said the agency’s actions were harming indigenous manufacturers.
They warned that the sudden closure of factories and seizure of products could threaten more than five million direct and indirect jobs supported by the sector.
According to the group, indigenous manufacturers have invested over two trillion naira in the Nigerian economy and deserve protection rather than the punitive measures they described.
Small-Pack Alcohol Easily Accessible to Minors - NAFDAC
NAFDAC has justified the enforcement by citing concerns that sachet and small-pack alcoholic drinks are easily accessible to minors.
The move follows a directive by the Senate ordering the agency to end the nationwide production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles by December 2025.
The motion was moved by the senator representing Cross River South, Asuquo Ekpenyong, who said the decision aligns with global regulatory standards and international best practices aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.
However, the union leaders maintained that regulation and access control, rather than outright bans or factory closures, are the globally accepted approach to managing consumer products.
They accused the agency’s leadership of policies that favor multinational companies over local manufacturers. They urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, stressing that the renewal agenda must support Nigerian industries, protect jobs, and build confidence in the local business environment.
