The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) banned alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles. The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) called this a form of economic sabotage and an attempt to force companies in the industry into an “economic abyss.”
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is unable to effectively police the borders, and there will likely be a loss of investment. These factors make the ban on the production and sale of the products not only misguided but also ill-timed, according to Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the Director-General of NECA, who announced in Lagos yesterday.
He remarked that this shouldn’t happen at a time when every economic principle is working against business, which would have an impact on the creation of jobs and the viability of the organization.
He claims that the prohibition will push companies further closer to the edge and raise the jobless rate already at an all-time high.
The head of NECA emphasized that the measure would encourage smuggling in a nation with numerous unmanned entry ports, claiming that some unscrupulous individuals would take advantage of the restriction to flood the market with tainted items.
Oyerinde reaffirmed the association’s opposition to the purportedly misguided NAFDAC action, but she also emphasized the industry’s importance as a major employer and source of tax money for the government.
Although he acknowledged the need to curb alcohol misuse in the nation, he stressed that ensuring the viability of businesses, creating jobs, and lowering family poverty came first.
He claims that the ensuing loss of investments and jobs will worsen the nation’s already dire insecurity situation.
As a result, he demanded that the prohibition be reviewed and stepped up efforts to stop underage alcohol consumption and commercial drivers.
To discourage the target groups, he also recommended a harsher penalty.
According to him, the sachet economy gave rise to companies that manufacture goods like detergents, cocoa drinks, powdered milk, and sachet drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), among other things, because the citizens’ ability to pay for necessities was eroding.
“Therefore, alcoholic beverages in sachets, pet, and glass bottles of 200ml are not targeted at underage children and commercial bus drivers, but a product of the failing purchasing power of Nigerians.”
