Members of the Coalition of Unemployed People in Nigeria on Tuesday protested at the Abuja headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), opposing the agency’s reported plan to begin enforcement of a ban on sachet alcoholic beverages.
Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, the coalition described the alleged directive by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as ill-timed, anti-people and capable of deepening unemployment and economic hardship.
In a statement read by the group’s spokesperson, Princess Mimi Peter Esq., the protesters said the move contradicts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly at a time when Nigerians are struggling with rising inflation, widespread joblessness and economic uncertainty.
The coalition accused NAFDAC of regulatory inconsistency, noting that sachet alcohol products currently in circulation were tested, registered and approved by the same agency. They argued that portraying the products as dangerous now casts doubt on NAFDAC’s regulatory credibility.
“For clarity, no licensed distillery in Nigeria produces sachet alcohol containing 50, 70 or 90 per cent alcohol, as alleged,” the group said, adding that products such as gin, schnapps, rum and bitters comply with internationally accepted standards and are clearly labelled during the registration process.
The protesters also rejected claims linking sachet alcohol to underage drinking, insisting that the issue stems from weak enforcement of existing laws rather than the size or packaging of the products. They argued that banning sachets due to affordability would set a dangerous precedent, potentially extending to single-stick cigarettes, single-dose medicines and other low-cost consumer goods.
On environmental concerns, the coalition noted that sachet packaging is widely used across several sectors, including water, milk and detergents, and maintained that better waste management—not prohibition—should be prioritised.
They further criticised NAFDAC for allegedly ignoring more serious threats to Nigerian youths, such as the abuse of tramadol, codeine mixtures and other psychoactive substances, while focusing attention on alcohol.
Warning of severe economic consequences, the group said a sustained ban would cripple the distillery industry, leading to massive job losses across manufacturing, distribution, transportation, retail and agriculture, with potential knock-on effects on crime and social stability.
The coalition called for an immediate suspension of the sachet alcohol ban, reopening of sealed factories and inclusive consultations with stakeholders.
“We are not against regulation,” the statement said. “We oppose emotional policymaking, regulatory arrogance, scientific inconsistency and economic insensitivity.”
The group warned that failure to meet their demands could trigger nationwide protests across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
