Employees of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) protested on Tuesday at the Lagos headquarters of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Isolo area of the state.
The members of the group were spotted carrying banners with various phrases, including ‘Let poor Nigerians breathe’ and ‘Let beverage workers breathe’.
Tuesday’s protest was the latest in a series of rallies since February 1, 2024, when NAFDAC began enforcing the ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and glass bottles of 200ml or less.
Mojisola Adeyeye, the head of NAFDAC, stated that no such beverages had been registered with the agency.
On February 13, 2024, the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ordered NAFDAC 14 days to lift the ban on sachet alcohol.
The warning was given during a protest at the NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja by the group, which is a Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate.
Members of the group have warned to escalate protests across the Agency’s offices nationwide if nothing is done.