Photo credit: Channels TV
By Crystal Ugoeze
Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) on Thursday protested at the NAFDAC office in Isolo, Lagos, over the enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.
The union is demanding that the agency unseal production lines shut down following the ban. Protesters claimed that the Federal Government had directed NAFDAC to suspend enforcement, citing alleged instructions from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
However, NAFDAC has denied receiving any such directive.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency described reports of a suspension order as false and misleading. It stated that it had not been instructed by the Federal Government to halt enforcement of the ban.
NAFDAC maintained that it operates within its statutory mandate and in line with officially communicated government policies. The agency urged the public and stakeholders to disregard unverified reports and rely only on information released through its official channels.
The agency also warned that the spread of false information could create public anxiety and economic uncertainty, reaffirming its commitment to public health and regulatory compliance.