Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria on Friday staged a protest at the Lagos State office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), demanding a reversal of the ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.
The protesters, joined by members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), gathered peacefully at the NAFDAC premises, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards highlighting the potential economic and social impact of the ban.
Some of the placards carried bold messages such as “Stop destroying local manufacturers,” “N2 trillion investment deserves protection,” “5.5 million Nigerians cannot be pushed to the streets,” and “The Renewed Hope Agenda must work for all Nigerians.” The inscriptions reflected deep concerns over job losses, threatened investments, and the survival of small and medium-scale manufacturers within the sector.
The distillers argue that the sachet alcohol segment sustains millions of livelihoods across the value chain, including factory workers, distributors, transporters, and retailers, particularly among low-income earners who depend on the trade for survival.
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As of the time of filing this report, leaders of the association had not addressed journalists, and no official from NAFDAC had emerged to engage the protesters or issue a formal response.
The demonstration is the latest development in an ongoing standoff between regulators and industry players over the controversial ban, which authorities say is aimed at addressing public health and safety concerns. However, manufacturers and labour unions insist that the policy, if not reviewed, could trigger massive unemployment and undermine local production.
The protest adds to mounting pressure on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to revisit the policy and engage stakeholders in dialogue to find a balance between public health objectives and economic sustainability.