Obey House resolution, lift sachet alcohol ban, Reps tell NAFDAC

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to stick to its resolution and lift the ban on sachet alcoholic beverages and pet bottles.

The Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC, Mrs Regina Akume, gave the charge at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The House had on March 14, 2024, asked NAFDAC to lift the ban on the production of alcohol in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml.

The resolution by the House followed agitation and protests by distillers, who said the ban would throw 500,000 workers out of jobs and ruin N800bn investments.

Speaking on Wednesday at the news conference, Akume said the ban came at the wrong time considering the economic situation in the country.

 “The economy is struggling; the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring. The poverty level is on the increase and there is a paucity of foreign exchange to do business,” Akume said.

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker said instead of the ban, NAFDAC should enforce regulations and access control such as the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in local government areas across the country.

“NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send underaged people to purchase alcoholic beverages,” she said.

She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.

She also called for the recycling of used materials for the promotion of the green economy.

This, she said, would minimise the importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the foreign exchange.

The House a few weeks ago, described the ban as a move against the spirit and letters of the constitution as well as the economic recovery plan of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.