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The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to halt the renewed enforcement of the ban on sachet and small PET bottled alcoholic drinks by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
The group said the action is disrupting businesses and creating confusion across the manufacturing sector.
MAN Warns of Job Losses and Revenue Decline
In a statement issued on Tuesday, MAN said NAFDAC has resumed enforcement of the ban despite existing government directives and legislative resolutions that advised restraint.
The association warned that the move threatens jobs, local manufacturers and government revenue.
MAN noted that the ban could weaken indigenous industries and open the market to illegal and unregulated products.
Conflicting Directives Create Confusion
MAN said operators now face uncertainty due to multiple and conflicting directives from different authorities.
The group explained that NAFDAC’s actions contradict an earlier directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which suspended enforcement pending further consultations.
No new directive has been issued since the suspension announcement.
House Resolution Ignored, MAN Says
The association also pointed to a resolution of the House of Representatives that followed a public hearing and broad stakeholder engagement.
According to MAN, the House had restrained NAFDAC from enforcing the ban.
The group said the agency instead relied on a Senate resolution that did not involve similar consultations.
Ban Could Encourage Illegal Products
MAN warned that banning regulated sachet alcohol could encourage smuggling and the sale of unsafe products.
The association said the move may deny the government legitimate revenue while exposing consumers to dangerous alternatives.
It added that sachet and PET bottled alcohol products were introduced to serve adult consumers with low purchasing power.
MAN Defends Product Safety
The group dismissed claims that sachet alcohol fuels underage drinking.
It said locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic conditions and approved by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC.NAFDAC
MAN also argued that smaller portions could help reduce excessive consumption compared to larger bottles.
Call for Evidence Based Regulation
MAN urged the Federal Government to intervene and direct NAFDAC to suspend enforcement of the ban.
The association called for evidence based regulation and further stakeholder engagement to address public health concerns without harming the economy.
Other private sector groups have also appealed for a pause in the ban to avoid pushing the market into the informal sector.
