•The protesting union members
Members of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees have called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to provide empirical evidence showing that sachet alcoholic beverages are being consumed by children, amid ongoing controversy over the ban on the products.
The union, who renewed their efforts in demanding the review on the ban, gathered their members at the NAFDAC Lagos office today as the protest entered its third day.
Speaking with our correspondent, the National President of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Oyibo Jimoh, faulted claims that sachet alcohol is responsible for underage drinking in Nigeria, insisting that no data exists to support such claims, reports The Guardian.
He said: “There is no research that shows that the alcohol in the sachet is causing any harm to children. Moreover, the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria as an organisation has been doing a lot in terms of advocacy. We have our commercials on radio that it shouldn’t be sold to under 18.
“What we see today is the prevalence of substances like codeine syrup, tramadol and other drugs, yet these are not openly sold on the streets the way sachet alcohol is.”
He questioned why sachet alcohol has suddenly been singled out, alleging that many adulterated bottled wines and spirits pose a greater public health risk.
“We expected that the DG of NAFDAC would take into consideration that a lot of bottled wines and spirits in the markets that are imported into Nigeria are being adulterated. We know and we have evidence to prove that and she herself has gone and sealed a couple of them.”
According to the president, sachet alcoholic drinks are easier to regulate because their manufacturers are known and traceable, unlike counterfeit bottled products.
“Sachet alcohol has not been known to be faked. You know the manufacturers. NAFDAC regularly inspects our facilities and laboratories to ensure compliance,” he said.
He described the proposed ban as unfair, likening it to “giving a dog a bad name,” while acknowledging that the sector is not without challenges.
“Are there problems? Yes, we admit that there are problems. But are there solutions? Yes, there are solutions. And we can tackle it together by collaboration. Collaboration with the agency and advocacy. That is the best global practice. And we are also saying that, we are in support of access control. We are not saying that we don’t want to be regulated. But just don’t do an outright ban because it will do more harm than good.”
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Solomon Adebosin, argued that sachet alcohol helped control moderate consumption among its consumers.
He said: “NAFDAC’s argument that sachet alcohol beverages promote accessibility can be counteracted by the fact that they aid moderation.”
“No alcohol beverage company in Nigeria isn’t certified by NAFDAC. They can’t claim the products they certified are no longer good.”
FOBTOB Press Secretary, Comrade Jeffrey Igein, urged the regulatory agency not to destabilise the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in supporting local businesses, warning that such a move could cause unrest when the workers no longer have any means to survive.
He said: “Just yesterday, President Bola Tinubu has gone to Turkey to look for investors to invest in the country but someone is here destroying the local companies. The president promised renewed hope and with this that is happening, do we have the hope now?”
