ABUJA – The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has issued a strong warning that the proposed ban on sachet alcohol will be catastrophic, leading to significant job losses, reduced government revenue, and a surge in dangerous illicit alcohol consumption.
Speaking on ARISE News on Thursday, Ajayi-Kadir accused the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of acting unilaterally and ignoring directives from the House of Representatives and the Federal Government. “To set the record straight, we did not agree that the ban should take effect… It has always been a monologue between NAFDAC and us,” he stated.
He argued that a joint study by NAFDAC and MAN did not recommend a ban, and that the packaging model serves low-income consumers legitimately. The MAN DG warned that prohibiting a legal product would not solve underage drinking but would instead disrupt the formal economy. “This policy will affect livelihoods, industrialisation, government revenue and jobs. It will disrupt the market and open the door for illicit alcohol,” he explained.
Ajayi-Kadir outlined alternative, evidence-based solutions proposed by manufacturers, including stricter licensing, enhanced product traceability, and sustained public education campaigns. He urged regulators to adopt a collaborative approach focused on restricting access rather than imposing outright bans, which have failed in other countries and pushed consumers toward unsafe, unregulated alternatives.
The warning highlights a major clash between industry stakeholders and regulators over public health policy and its economic implications.
Read more on economic policy: Fuel Price Increases: How Oil Companies Exploited Nigerians
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Disclaimer: This report details the position of the manufacturing industry’s representative body regarding a regulatory policy. The public health rationale and counter-arguments from NAFDAC in support of the ban are not covered in this specific industry statement.
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