Workers in companies producing sachet alcohol, alongside labour unions and civil society groups, have rejected the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcohol beverages and small PET bottles, warning that the decision could trigger a nationwide protest if not reversed.
The workers staged another protest on Monday at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, barely three days after their previous demonstration.
The protesters, drawn from the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, said the ban had already disrupted production activities and threatened millions of jobs across the country. They claimed that no fewer than five million Nigerians could be affected directly and indirectly if the policy remained in force.
Insightlinks had earlier reported that the workers besieged the NAFDAC office on Friday to protest the sealing of factories producing sachet alcohol. Although the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, later met with union leaders, she maintained that the ban would remain until the law backing it was amended.
At Monday’s protest, union members were joined by civil society organisations under the Coalition for the Protection of Consumers’ Rights. The protesters carried placards and sang solidarity songs as they demanded an immediate reversal of the ban.
Speaking to journalists, the National President of FOBTOB, Oyibo Jimoh, said discussions were already ongoing at the House of Representatives to develop a national alcohol policy that would balance public health concerns with the interests of workers and manufacturers. He expressed concern that NAFDAC went ahead to shut down factories despite these engagements, describing the action as contrary to the Federal Government’s position.
Jimoh also dismissed claims by the NAFDAC Director-General on the alcohol content of sachet drinks, insisting that some of the statements were inaccurate and misleading.
He further alleged that the unions were excluded from Senate deliberations that led to the factory closures, stressing that workers would continue to resist the policy until their concerns were addressed.
Also speaking, the Head of Brewery and Tobacco Department at NUFBTE, Azeez Rasaq, warned that the unions would not hesitate to escalate the protest nationwide. He said labour centres such as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress could be mobilised if the government ignored the potential loss of over 5.5 million jobs.
“If the government continues to ignore our calls, it could lead to a nationwide protest. That is very possible,” Rasaq said.
On behalf of the civil society organisations, Declan Ihekaira described the ban as discriminatory against low-income earners, arguing that it infringed on consumers’ rights. He said the CSOs were ready to mobilise their members across the country to resist the policy.
A worker at one of the affected companies, Biodun Adeyemi, said he was prepared to participate in a nationwide protest to protect his job and livelihood. He warned that losing his job would affect not only him but also his family and dependants.
“This decision will affect many staff, and I could be one of them. I have a family and extended family members who depend on my income. You can imagine the ripple effect,” he said.
The Chairman of FOBTOB in Lagos State, Olamiye Somefun, said the unions might take their protest to Abuja if their demands were ignored. He added that the workers were ready to storm the National Assembly to demand legislative intervention.
“What President Bola Tinubu promised Nigerians was improved living conditions. We do not know if the NAFDAC DG is working against that agenda,” Somefun said.
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