The civil society organisation Stand Up Nigeria has criticised the planned ban on sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warning it could cost the economy trillions of naira and millions of jobs.
The group spoke at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Toprank Hotel in Garki, Abuja.
Stand Up Nigeria’s condemnation follows a directive from the senate to Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, to implement the ban in December 2025.
Sunday Attah, the convener of Stand Up Nigeria, expressed “deep concern and disappointment,” describing the directive as an act of “high-handedness and illegality” by Adeyeye and the senate.
The group argued that the ban contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which they said “prioritises economic empowerment and the protection of local industries”.
They further described the process as “hasty and undemocratic,” alleging that NAFDAC failed to adequately engage critical stakeholders.
This, they claimed, undermines a more inclusive process previously initiated by the federal ministry of health and the house of representatives.
