House of Representatives Intervenes, Lifts Ban on Alcoholic Sachets

By Comfort Olayinka

The House of Representatives and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have reached a consensus to temporarily lift the ban on the sale and consumption of sachet alcoholic beverages. This decision is contingent upon the manufacturers’ ability to adapt to the new regulations and the stabilization of the economy.

The deputy spokesman of the House, Hon Philip Agbese stated this while briefing journalists in the National Assembly complex Abuja.

Recall that, NAFDAC had imposed a ban on the production of alcoholic beverages in small sachets citing concerns over the escalating cases of drug abuse among young Nigerians.

On February 7, 2024, the House of Representatives tasked its Committee on NAFDAC chaired by Hon Regina Akume to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the agency’s decision to ban the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets in Nigeria. The committee was mandated to probe the reasons behind the ban, gather facts, and report back to the House with its findings and recommendations.

According to Hon. Philip Agbese, the decision to temporarily lift the ban was reached after a productive meeting between the House Committee on NAFDAC and officials from the agency. The meeting facilitated a constructive dialogue, leading to a mutual understanding and a joint resolution to suspend the ban, pending further review and adaptation by the industry.

He said “We all agreed at the meeting that at a certain stage in history, we must move on with our counterparts across the globe. Nevertheless, at the moment, we agreed with NAFDAC that there would be a temporary lifting of the ban until the economy regains its strength.”

Speaking on how the decision was arrived at, Agbese said, “Recall that there was a motion before the parliament to investigate the activities leading to the ban placed by NAFDAC on the use and sale of sachet beverages in the country. The parliament in its wisdom delegated the House Committee on NAFDAC led by Hon Regina Akume to investigate the matter and report back to the parliament. The committee did carry out its legislative function as mandated by the parliament.

“We had engagements with stakeholders including NAFDAC and the organized private sector involved. Resolutions were reached at that meeting based on the submissions made by the stakeholders, civil society organisations and other interested parties. Part of the recommendations before the parliament was that the ban was not timely given the current economic realities and coupled with the fact that the five-year moratorium granted by NAFDAC to the private sector, the advent of COVID-19 and other economic realities we are facing today did not permit the operators in the industry to comply with their terms.”

“After that, the parliament in its wisdom adopted the House Committee Report as a whole. Following the questions we received yesterday (Thursday) after the final meeting we had with the leadership of NAFDAC headed by Prof Mojisola Adeyeye; we all agreed as a government, parliament at one end and the executive in charge of that agency to, in the interest of the masses of our country and the mood of the nation, that the ban be suspended.”

The lawmaker noted that by July, the modalities for the removal of the ban would be made public, saying, “We agreed that in July, we will meet and she (NAFDAC’s Director General) would have worked out the modalities for the temporary removal of the ban.”

Responding to questions from journalists on the sideline of the briefing,Hon. Philip Agbese dispelled fears that lifting the ban on alcoholic beverages in small sachets would lead to a significant increase in health risks associated with their sale and consumption. Agbese assured that the temporary lifting of the ban would not compromise public health and safety, as the industry would still be required to adhere to strict regulations and guidelines.

He said, “If you pick up a packet of cigarettes, you will see on it the inscription that cigarette smoking is dangerous to health. This warning expresses this warning in diverse languages, yet, people still buy cigarettes to smoke. It is within people’s fundamental human rights to decide what they consume, especially adults who can make their own decisions.

“The health implications of consuming sachet drinks, when people consume the same content in bottles, I think to be very mild, is hypocritical.”

He further stressed that part of the agitation against the ban came from low-income earners who believed that their fundamental human rights were breached by NAFDAC.

“Part of the presentations we received in the course of the briefing is that those who earn lower income raised the issue of fundamental human rights, discrimination, harassment and victimization. If it is within people’s right to go to the supermarkets and buy choice loaves of bread with butter, we should in the same manner allow people to be able to afford their Agege bread.