By Paul Joseph
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged for regulations regarding the ban on sachet alcohol to be based on evidence.
In a statement released in Lagos, NECA’s director-general, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasized that any regulation should be grounded in evidence, proportionality, and adherence to the rule of law.
Oyerinde expressed serious concern over the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s renewed enforcement of a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles.
He pointed out that this enforcement contradicts a directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation issued on December 15, 2025, which suspended the ban. Additionally, it goes against a resolution from the House of Representatives dated March 14, 2024, that called for restraint and greater engagement with stakeholders.
“The ongoing enforcement is disrupting legitimate businesses, jeopardizing investments, threatening thousands of jobs, and undermining confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment at a time when investor trust is crucial,” Oyerinde stated.
He affirmed NECA’s commitment to protecting minors, removing unsafe products from the market, and achieving positive public health outcomes.
However, he criticized the current approach as misguided, arguing that it unfairly targets compliant manufacturers while neglecting the real issues of underage access and the rising problem of illicit substance abuse in the country.
Oyerinde argued that it is unacceptable to penalize compliant businesses or criminalize products that have undergone proper regulatory approval, while overlooking significant gaps in retail enforcement and the proliferation of more dangerous unregulated substances.
He called for smarter, data-driven enforcement rather than blanket bans that harm jobs, deter investment, and fail to address the core issues.
He noted that the alcoholic products currently under scrutiny have been tested, registered, and periodically validated according to NAFDAC’s scientific and technical standards.
Regarding underage drinking, Oyerinde stated that access control is primarily an enforcement issue rather than a packaging one.
He pointed out that alcoholic beverages already come with clear warnings indicating they are not for individuals under 18 and should be consumed responsibly.
He argued that when minors gain access to these products, it reflects a failure in monitoring retail outlets and enforcing age restrictions.
To address this issue, he suggested implementing stricter licensing, compliance checks, and penalties for retailers who violate regulations, rather than eliminating packaging formats that cater to adult consumers legally.
Oyerinde also expressed concern that enforcement efforts were being disproportionately focused on compliant businesses.
Leave a Reply