NAFDAC Employees Barred From Office Amid Sachet Alcohol Ban Protest

According to industry reports, a tense scene unfolded at the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as staff were temporarily locked out amid a protest. Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) reportedly blocked entry and exit gates on Wednesday in opposition to the agency’s ban on the production and sale of sachet alcohol and PET bottles below 200 millilitres.

The union demanded the immediate reopening of affected factories and production lines, warning that continued enforcement of the policy could have serious economic repercussions for the sector. Protesters carried placards accusing NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye of defying government directives and acting against official policy.

Police later arrived at the Isolo premises, leading to the removal of barricades and allowing staff to return to the office.

Earlier this month, reports suggested that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser had instructed a halt to the sachet alcohol ban and ordered sealed production lines to reopen. NAFDAC, however, dismissed the report, describing it as false and misleading, and stated that no such directive had been received. In a statement on Wednesday, the agency emphasized that it continues to operate within its statutory mandate and in accordance with formally communicated government policies.