Sachet Alcohol Ban Could Threaten Over Five Million Jobs, Distillers’ Unions Warn NAFDAC
Distillers and workers’ unions in Nigeria have raised alarm over the ongoing enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and small-sized PET bottle drinks, warning that the policy could displace more than five million Nigerians from their jobs. The warning was issued on Friday as members of the distillers’ association, operating under the aegis of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), staged a protest at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The protesting unions, which are affiliates of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), accused NAFDAC of enforcing a directive that could have severe economic and social consequences. According to them, the decision to halt the production and distribution of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200 millilitres threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers directly employed in the distillery sector, as well as millions more who depend on the industry indirectly.
NAFDAC had announced on November 11, 2025, that it would begin enforcing a total ban on the production and sale of sachet alcohol and small PET bottle drinks by December 2025, in line with a directive issued by the Senate. The agency cited public health concerns, including easy access to alcohol by minors and children, as well as broader social and environmental implications.
However, enforcement of the ban was initially suspended after the Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), ordered an immediate halt to all actions related to the policy pending further consultations and a final directive. Despite this, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced during a media briefing earlier this week that the agency had received a renewed matching order from the Senate to proceed, adding that enforcement had already commenced.
Speaking at the protest ground, the Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, Solomon Adebosin, warned that the enforcement could lead to the loss of no fewer than 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs across the country. He argued that the policy runs contrary to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, investment attraction, and economic growth.
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Adebosin challenged NAFDAC’s claim that sachet alcohol and small PET bottle drinks are widely accessible to minors, stating that the assertion lacked empirical evidence. He maintained that the issue should be addressed through improved regulation and access control rather than an outright ban that could cripple an entire industry.
“We are here today to protest the sudden seizure of our companies in the distillery sector by NAFDAC concerning sachet drinks and PET bottles below 200 millilitres,” Adebosin said. “There are over 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this sector and more than five million earning a living indirectly. All of these people are going to be affected.”
He added that distillers had consistently invested in advocacy and public sensitisation campaigns to discourage underage consumption and promote responsible use of their products. According to him, stricter enforcement of age restrictions would be a more balanced approach than shutting down production lines.
Also addressing the protesters, the Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, of the NUFBTE, Azeez Razaq, accused NAFDAC of sabotaging the growth of indigenous manufacturers. He criticised the agency for allegedly disregarding the earlier directive from the SGF, which called for a suspension of enforcement actions.
Razaq warned that shutting down distillery companies could worsen unemployment and insecurity, particularly at a time when Nigeria is already grappling with economic hardship and rising joblessness.
While reading the unions’ demands, a member of FOBTOB, Anthony Oyagha, called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene. He urged the Presidency to ensure that NAFDAC aligns its actions with government policy, legislative oversight, and the broader national interest.
“Local manufacturers deserve protection and partnership, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment,” Oyagha said. “We respectfully urge Mr President to act decisively to safeguard indigenous industries and protect jobs.”
As of the time of filing this report, NAFDAC had not issued a fresh response to the protest, while public opinion remains sharply divided between concerns over public health and the potential economic fallout of the ban.