Businesses Under Threat: Group Calls for NAFDAC DG’s Removal Over Policy

A civil society group, Concerned Citizens for Change, has called for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, alleging gross incompetence and abuse of office over the enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and small PET bottle alcoholic products.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the group’s Executive Director, Stephen Eriba, criticised what he described as the “arbitrary and illegal” enforcement of the restriction, insisting that it contravenes existing national policy frameworks.

Eriba argued that the ban violates provisions of the National Alcohol Policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health, and also disregards a presidential directive halting enforcement actions pending the outcome of a joint committee review.

According to him, the decision further contradicts resolutions of the House of Representatives, which had, after stakeholder consultations and a public hearing, advised against such a ban and described it as anti-people.

The group warned that the policy could negatively impact businesses, jobs, and government revenue, while also risking increased circulation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products in the market.

It also rejected claims that sachet alcohol encourages abuse, maintaining that smaller packaging could help moderate consumption among users.

The group added that locally produced sachet alcohol products are certified by regulatory authorities and manufactured under hygienic conditions.

Eriba noted that industry players had already invested significant resources in campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage drinking.

While expressing support for efforts to eliminate unsafe products, the group stressed that regulatory decisions should be based on empirical evidence rather than what it termed “emotional persuasion.”

The group, therefore, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by removing the NAFDAC Director-General, stating that her continued stay in office was no longer in the public interest.

NAFDAC has yet to officially respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.