A labour union says the federal government’s planned ban on sachet alcohol could trigger massive job losses and wipe out billions in investments.
The Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association wants the Senate to suspend its directive asking NAFDAC to enforce the ban by December 2025.
The union said the policy may curb abuse, but the economic damage would be devastating.
According to FOBTOB, manufacturers could lose up to N2 trillion in machinery and stock.
And the job fallout could be huge: about 500000 direct workers and another 5 million people in logistics, marketing, and supply chains.
FOBTOB President Jimoh Oyibo warned that the move could cripple local companies and even encourage the smuggling of unsafe, unregulated alcohol.
The Senate and NAFDAC say the ban is meant to protect young people and restrict access to cheap, high alcohol content drinks.
But labour and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria argue that a total ban is the wrong approach.
They say it could fuel a black market and that the government should instead intensify public awareness and enforce existing rules on underage sales.
The union also points out that the House of Representatives earlier asked for wider consultations before any ban, a position the Senate has now overridden.
