Protocol Good day, members of the media, We members of Stand up Nigeria greet you this morning to convey our concern and sorrow regarding th...
Protocol
Good day, members of the media,
We members of Stand up Nigeria greet you this morning to convey our concern and sorrow regarding the authoritarian actions and unlawful activities carried out by the NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, along with her associates.
We were taken aback by a news report in traditional media, television, and other channels, attributed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), claiming that it will prohibit the manufacturing, selling, and use of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET/glass bottles (less than 200ml) by December 2025.
This strict declaration by the director general, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, along with certain members of the Nigerian Senate, stands in clear opposition to the revived hope initiative of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. He came into power with a people-focused development plan and quickly initiated a complete diversification of the country's economy to ensure resources are accessible for the implementation of capital projects, as evidenced by the full liberalization of the Nigerian oil sector downstream.
Our issue with this publication stems from its rushed and undemocratic approach. The agency involved has not adequately consulted key stakeholders and industry experts to reach a mutual agreement consistent with the decisions made during a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health and members of the House of Representatives, where significant conclusions were drawn.
We face additional limitations, as the ban is based on claimed resolutions approved by the Senate, a branch of government that typically represents the interests of all Nigerians, instructing (NAFDAC) to implement the unlawful restriction on December 31, 2025, without consulting the second party.
We are convinced that the claimed Senate resolutions were approved during NAFDAC's meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2025, without considering the ongoing review of the same issue by the House of Representatives members.
Meanwhile, a directive for a one-year extension by the Ministry of Health, a government supervisory body constitutionally tasked with overseeing NAFDAC, is still under discussion. This involves the review and approval of a draft National Alcohol Policy by relevant stakeholders, which should have been addressed prior to any significant official statement from a government department.
We are surprised, as the issues regarding the ban on alcohol in sachets and small PET bottles were addressed by a high-level committee of stakeholders, who approved the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025, with key recommendations included;
Multi-sectoral Action plans.
Strong and practical approach to enforcement by police departments.
Creation of authorized alcohol retail locations within various Local Government Areas throughout the nation.
Enhanced oversight and tracking to guarantee adherence.
Inspections conducted by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and other entities to ensure quality control regarding content and safety.
Regulation of products by appropriate authorities. Awareness and educational campaigns regarding the risks of underage drinking and its sale in motor parks.
Campaigns for enlightenment are planned to take place in secondary schools throughout the nation, aiming to educate students about the risks and negative effects of alcohol misuse.
All of these were approved by stakeholders during the event, which we consider to be a more open process compared to the recent claim of an absolute prohibition.
It is also worth mentioning that the baseless and unverified claims of abuse by minors have been rejected by multiple independent studies carried out by the government. Despite this, the industry has taken additional steps, beyond the survey's findings, to launch various campaigns promoting responsible alcohol use in an effort to prevent underage drinking. These initiatives have already resulted in a significant expenditure of over one billion Naira on advertising placements in major media outlets throughout the country and have proven effective in reducing underage consumption.
Furthermore, it is crucial to emphasize that the proposed directive for a complete ban is unjust and unacceptable. This is because NAFDAC has violated the terms of a more comprehensive process that was conducted by the agency's overseeing Ministry, the Ministry of Health. Our stance is that NAFDAC should have submitted its position before the Senate Committee together with the Ministry during the validation phase, instead of bypassing these procedures and directly approaching the National Assembly without providing other stakeholders with a fair opportunity to be heard.
Regrettably, the consequences of this statement are too serious to be overlooked. It is economically unwise for a government that is broadening its revenue base to take in additional resources for the implementation of infrastructure projects. If permitted, it would lead to severe economic disruption for the country at this crucial moment, causing significant damage to our emerging economy, resulting in a loss of over N1.9 trillion in investments by local Nigerian companies, along with the mass dismissal of more than 500,000 direct employees, and roughly 5 million indirect jobs through contracts, marketing, and other logistical operations.
decrease in capacity utilization and production, which recent quarterly economic indicators show a slow increase, due to income from the alcohol industry's role within the food and beverage sector; and
decline of native enterprises that could progressively erase local business growth within the economy.
Our Prayer
That the Honorable Minister and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare be requested to approve the draft version of the validated Nigeria National Alcohol Policy along with its multi-sectoral implementation strategy.
That the Senate should conduct itself with dignity, fairness, and respect for everyone in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that they have pledged to support, and re-examine the issue by organizing a consultation with stakeholders; either through public hearings or focused discussions with key players in the alcoholic beverages sector, as thoroughly carried out by the House of Representatives.
It is imperative that Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director General, stop managing the agency as if it were a private enterprise and avoid bringing it into public disgrace, or else she should step down, as her conduct and continued presence in her position present a significant risk to the successful execution of the President's renewed hope initiative.
I appreciate your thoughtful attention.
Sunday Attah
Convener
Stand up Nigeria
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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