The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Regina Akume (APC, Benue), has called for the immediate enforcement of the House resolution on the lifting of the ban on the production and sales of alcoholic drinks in sachet.
The House had resolved that the decision of NAFDAC to ban alcoholic drinks in sachet and pet bottles would have negative impact on the economy.
Addressing reporters yesterday in her office in Abuja, Akume said: “On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the House of Representatives at plenary considered a motion on the need to suspend the ban imposed by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the production of beverages in sachets and small bottles in Nigeria.
“The House said the ban ran counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and against the economic recovery plan of the current administration. Given the numerous economic challenges confronting poor Nigerians, the ban on the production of the said beverages will cause job losses and more economic hardship.
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“This motion was referred to the House Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control to investigate and recommend the outcome of her investigation and recommendation to the House for consideration.”
“In view of these, the committee, in its investigation, summoned all the relevant stakeholders to a public hearing and collected all their relevant submissions on the matter and the recommendations were made after due deliberation and consideration of issues involved on their merits by the committee.
“From the forgoing, the committee recommended that the ban should be lifted because the timing is inappropriate, considering the fact that the economy is struggling, unemployment rate is staggering, and inflation rate is soaring while the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of forex to do business.
“This should be replaced with prescribed regulations and access control, such as the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in local government areas across the country, making it unlawful to send underage person to purchase alcoholic beverages and tighten enforcements by law enforcement agencies.”
The committee, the lawmaker said, also sought increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as well as ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.