NECA blasts NAFDAC over ban on sachet alcoholic beverages
By Bimbola Oyesola
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), yesterday, described the recent ban on the production of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small-sized bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as an act of economic sabotage.
Raising the alarm over the unintended consequences of the ban, NECA said it was an attempt to further drag businesses in the sector into the abyss.
The Director General of the Association, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said the recent ban on the production and sale of these products is not only ill-advised, but also ill-timed in view of the current scathing economic situation, the current rate of unemployment, the inability of the Customs to effectively police the borders and the likely loss of investment by these organizations.
“At a time when all economic fundamentals are against organized business with consequential effects on job creation and enterprise sustainability, the ban by NAFDAC will further drag businesses into the precipice and escalate the current rate of unemployment in the country,” he stated. The NECA boss noted that in a country where there are many unguarded entry points, this will also promote smuggling as unscrupulous elements will leverage on this ban to flood the market with dangerous adulterated products, while reiterating the Association’s opposition to the ill-advised NAFDAC action, the NECA Director General reiterated the importance of the Beverage and Alcoholic industry as a major provider of employment and a significant contributor to Government tax revenue.
He explained that, while it is important to control the abuse of alcoholic drinks in the country, it is of greater importance to ensure business sustainability, employment creation and poverty reduction among households.
According to him, “The consequential loss of jobs and investment will further escalate the already bad insecurity situation in the country.
Calling for a review of the ban, Oyerinde charged that campaign against the drinking of alcohol by underage children and commercial drivers should be intensified in all front, suggesting a stiffer penalty to deter this target groups.
He however stated that the sachet economy led businesses that produces commodities such as detergents, cocoa beverages, powdered milk, sachet drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) etc., came to be as a result of the “declining purchasing power of the citizen in meeting basic needs”.
“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 failing purchasing power of Nigerians,” he said.
The NECA Director General however charged NAFDAC to reverse the ban and advocates for further dialogue with relevant Associations, particularly the Distillers Association, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others in order to avoid the negative economic and social consequences of the ill-advised and ill-timed ban.