Kogiflame
A civil society group, Concerned Citizens for Change, on Tuesday called for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, over what it described as “gross incompetence and abuse of public office.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the leader of the group, Comrade Haruna Adamu, accused the NAFDAC boss of high-handedness and clandestine actions in enforcing what he termed an “arbitrary ban” on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.
According to Adamu, the enforcement allegedly contradicts provisions of the National Alcohol Policy signed by the Federal Ministry of Health and a presidential directive restraining NAFDAC from further disrupting the operations of affected companies pending the outcome of a joint committee review.
He further argued that the agency’s action runs counter to the economic objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and could potentially trigger civil unrest due to its timing and economic implications.
The group also referenced a resolution of the House of Representatives (NAS/10/HR/CT.33/77c of March 14, 2024), which, following a public hearing with stakeholders, reportedly restrained NAFDAC from proceeding with the ban and described it as anti-people.
“We have approached the Senate and trust that the distinguished Senators will reconsider the matter after wider consultations,” Adamu stated.
Concerned Citizens for Change maintained that the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles were introduced to cater to low-income adult consumers and should not be construed as harmful innovations. The group dismissed claims that sachet alcohol encourages abuse, arguing instead that smaller portions discourage excessive consumption compared to larger containers.
The group further contended that locally produced sachet alcohol products are manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC. It described assertions linking sachet alcohol to underage abuse as “untested and unverified,” claiming that independent empirical research had countered such claims.
Adamu noted that industry operators have invested over one billion naira in nationwide campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage drinking, which he said have yielded significant positive outcomes.
While expressing support for measures aimed at eliminating unsafe products from the market, the group insisted that regulatory decisions must be based on empirical evidence rather than sentiment. It warned that the enforcement of the ban could jeopardize jobs across the value chain, encourage the proliferation of illicit and substandard products, increase smuggling, and result in revenue losses for the government.
“The continued stay of Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye in office is no longer in the public interest,” Adamu declared, calling on President Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to remove the NAFDAC DG without delay.
NAFDAC has yet to officially respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
