Tension flared in Abuja on Wednesday as a coalition under the aegis of Concerned Citizen for Change staged a protest, calling 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 they described as “gross incompetence and abuse of office.”
Addressing journalists during a press conference at the protest ground, the group’s Director, Amb. Kingsley Nwanze, criticised the agency’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products, describing the move as “illegal, arbitrary and economically damaging.”
Nwanze alleged that the enforcement contravenes existing national alcohol policy provisions approved by the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as a presidential directive halting disruptions of affected businesses pending the outcome of stakeholder consultations.
According to him, the action also disregards resolutions of the House of Representatives, which had earlier advised against the ban following a public hearing involving key industry stakeholders.
“The decision is capable of triggering civil unrest and undermining ongoing economic reforms. It will harm legitimate businesses, lead to job losses, and create room for illicit and unregulated products to thrive,” he said.
The group argued that sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages serve low-income consumers and provide controlled consumption options, contrary to claims that they encourage abuse, particularly among minors.
They further maintained that industry operators had invested heavily in campaigns promoting responsible drinking and restricting underage access, noting that such efforts have yielded measurable results.
Nwanze warned that sustaining the ban could negatively impact government revenue, disrupt the value chain, and encourage smuggling of substandard alternatives into the country.
He said the group had formally petitioned the Senate and expressed confidence that lawmakers would review the matter based on “empirical evidence and stakeholder engagement.”
The protesters, however, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by removing the NAFDAC DG, insisting that her continued stay in office was no longer in the public interest.
As of the time of filing this report, NAFDAC had not issued an official response to the allegations.
The protest highlights growing tensions between regulators and industry players over public health policies and economic considerations in Nigeria’s beverage sector.
