Civil Society Group Critiques NAFDAC's Alcohol Ban

The Concern Citizen Network, a civil society group, raised alarms regarding the enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol products by NAFDAC. During a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the group's president, Ndubuisi Nwogu, argued that the ban is illegal and arbitrary, contradicting existing provisions of the national alcohol policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.

Nwogu stated that the enforcement violates a presidential directive to halt further regulatory actions pending the outcome of a joint committee review. The group contends that the ban could disrupt the economy and threaten jobs across the alcohol product value chain, negatively impacting small-scale operations.

They warned that the move may lead to an increase in the circulation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products, potentially resulting in a loss of government revenue. The group also argued that sachet and small bottle alcohol products serve low-income adults and do not inherently promote abuse, suggesting that smaller packaging may discourage excessive consumption compared to larger containers.

Nwogu urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action to remove NAFDAC's leadership, stating that it is no longer in the public interest.