The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has cautioned that Nigeria could forfeit over N2 trillion in investments if the planned ban on sachet alcoholic drinks and alcohol packaged in PET or glass bottles under 200ml takes effect on December 31.
At a press briefing in Lagos, FOBTOB President Jimoh Oyibo urged the federal government to halt the proposed enforcement, warning that the Senate’s directive to NAFDAC could trigger widespread economic and social disruptions across the sector.
Oyibo said reversing the ban would safeguard jobs and prevent further strain on the economy.
“Repealing this directive would avert the grave repercussions that will follow the ban, especially by saving about 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs,” he said.
He appealed to the Senate to convene a public hearing to allow industry players to present their positions before any final decision is taken.
According to him, a similar restriction proposed by NAFDAC last year was suspended following labour protests and a public hearing at the House of Representatives, where contributions from stakeholders prompted lawmakers to instruct NAFDAC to consult manufacturers and review the policy.
He noted that the Ministry of Health later approved a one-year extension to develop a National Alcohol Policy, which was validated in October 2025 with active input from NAFDAC.
FOBTOB called on the Senate to thoroughly assess and adopt the validated policy, describing it as a multi-sectoral framework that reflects submissions made during last year’s engagement.
Oyibo also urged lawmakers to consider the impact of the proposed ban on the entire value chain—from factory workers to suppliers, distributors, marketers, and logistics operators—before endorsing enforcement.
He warned that nearly N2 trillion worth of investments in machinery and raw materials may be lost, while over 500,000 direct employees and some five million indirect workers could be pushed out of work.
He added that the ban could fuel smuggling, increase circulation of unregulated alcoholic products, reduce government tax revenue, threaten local manufacturers, and plunge affected families deeper into poverty.
