Success Nwankwo
The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria has stated that the Federal Government’s recent ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachet and PET bottle forms is expected to cause loss of over N1.2 trillion in investments and the unemployment of 5.5 million direct and indirect workers.
In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, DIBAN stated that the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in PET bottles and sachets was completely prohibited as of January 31, 2024, by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. The regulator provided that this was due to an increase in underage alcohol use and an increase in hard narcotics use.
The distillers further pointed out that NAFDAC’s claim that alcoholic beverages in sachets or pet bottles contain hard narcotics is unsupported by any records from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
A portion of the letter stated, “DIBAN’S investment is worth over N500bn.” Over N800 billion is also the value of indirect investments made by other businesses that are connected to DIBAN in some capacity. Over N1.2 trillion has been contributed to Nigeria’s economy by DIBAN. More than half a million people work directly with DIBAN.”
Additionally, “nearly 5 million people received labor or indirect employment through DIBAN”.
When NAFDAC first floated the idea of a ban, the organization reportedly spent over N1 billion on campaigning, marketing, and media outlets—both print and electronic—to make sure that underage consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited, no matter how small.
DIBAN recommended that the President immediately lift the NAFDAC restriction on the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles by issuing an Executive Order or a directive to NAFDAC.
It also demanded that Local Government Areas throughout Nigeria open liquor establishments with licenses and issued a warning that there would be investments of N1.2 trillion and 5.5 million job losses if nothing was done to change the current situation.