Workers in Nigeria’s distillery industry have raised concerns that the enforcement actions currently being carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control could result in widespread job losses affecting millions of Nigerians.
The warning was issued by members of the distillers association operating under the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees. Both unions, which are affiliated with the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, staged a protest on Friday at NAFDAC’s Lagos office over the restriction placed on the distribution of their products.
The protest followed NAFDAC’s announcement that it had begun implementing a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and plastic bottles with volumes below 200 millilitres.
The regulatory agency had earlier disclosed on November 11, 2025, that it planned to fully enforce the ban by December 2025, acting on a directive issued by the Senate. However, the enforcement process was temporarily suspended after the Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ordered all actions related to the ban to be paused pending further consultations and final approval.
Despite the suspension, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stated during a media briefing on Wednesday that the agency had received a renewed directive from the Senate and had already resumed enforcement.
Addressing protesters on Friday, the Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, Solomon Adebosin, warned that the policy could lead to the loss of at least 5.5 million jobs, both directly and indirectly. He argued that the enforcement contradicts the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to encourage investment and economic growth.
Adebosin also challenged NAFDAC’s claim that sachet alcohol and small PET bottled drinks are easily accessible to minors, stating that the assertion lacks supporting evidence.
He explained that the protest was triggered by what he described as the sudden sealing of distillery companies across the sector. According to him, about 500,000 Nigerians are employed directly in the industry, while more than five million others depend on it indirectly.
He added that rather than banning the products outright, the focus should be on stricter regulation and control to prevent access by children and underage persons. He noted that distillers have continued to invest in public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging misuse of their products.
Also speaking at the protest, the Head of the Brewery and Tobacco Department of the NUFBTE, Azeez Razaq, accused NAFDAC of undermining the growth of local manufacturers. He alleged that the agency’s actions amounted to sabotage of indigenous businesses.
Razaq further criticised the regulator for allegedly ignoring the directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which instructed that enforcement be suspended. He warned that shutting down distillery operations would worsen unemployment and could contribute to rising insecurity across the country.
While presenting the unions’ demands, FOBTOB member Anthony Oyagha called on the Presidency to step in and ensure that NAFDAC’s actions align with national policy, legislative oversight, and the broader interest of the country.
He stressed that local manufacturers deserve support and collaboration rather than sanctions that could destroy investments, threaten livelihoods, and erode confidence in Nigeria’s business environment. Oyagha urged President Tinubu to intervene swiftly to protect local industries, preserve jobs, and ensure that regulatory bodies act in the interest of Nigerians rather than external pressures.
