Over 2Trillion naira and millions of jobs will be lost if ban on sachet containing alcohol is effected.....FOBTOB.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.

The order of the Senate to NAFDAC to ban alcoholic beverages in sachets and less than 200ml bottles will have serious adverse effects on the economy, resulting in Labour loss and discouraged investors coming to the country.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on the Senate directive, the National President of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, (FOBTOB), Comrade Jimoh Oyibo said the ban will have serious implications on the economy and the producers as the investment in machinery and raw materials  close to Two Trillion Naira, may go down the drain if the ban is effected. 

FOBTOB National President Comrade Oyibo speaking at the Conference.

He said in addition, over 500,000 direct employees, and an estimated 5 million indirect workers , this include those companies supplying materials needed for the production, those involved in marketing and distribution, and other logistics) will have their employment jeopardised.

According to Comrade Oyibo, the capacity utilisation of those companies will be eroded, and the recent improvements witnessed will be lost.

FOBTOB President Comrade Jimoh Oyibo in suit, Executive Secretary Comrade Solomon Adebosin in FOBTOB attire and two other National Executives

He added that Indigenous businesses are prone to be lost and the confidence of local entrepreneurs in the economy will definitely be shaken, while the possibility of the proliferation of adulterated, unregulated, unregistered, and unbranded alcoholic beverages will be high, because the people  we will always find a way and  this will negate the purported intention of the ban.

 He said the ban would only give opportunity for smugglers to flood the market with foreign brands, which would ultimately result in loss of revenue.

 According to Comrade Oyibo, the draft National Alcohol Policy was validated by the Committee set up for that purpose, with NAFDAC representatives included, in October 2025 (just last month) and It is therefore of  concerning that the same NAFDAC approached the Senate who has reportedly directed that NAFDAC should implement a ban on the sachet alcoholic beverages.

He said that part of the issues raised by NAFDAC was that alcohol was being abused by minors. However, several empirical research independently conducted by the government, have dismissed this claim.

"Irrespective of this outcome, the industry invested over a billion Naira for campaigns and advertisements across the nation to promote responsible alcohol consumption and discourage underage abuse of the products; and these campaigns have been impactful in discouraging alcohol consumption by under-aged persons."

He said unlike the House of Representatives that called for a Public Hearing to ensure an informed resolution was made, the Senate appears to have listened to only one side. 

He called on the Senate to invite relevant stakeholders to a Public Hearing in order to “hear the other side” and be adequately educated to make an informed decision.

"Prior to the above, the Senate should please rescind its directive to NAFDAC to ban alcoholic beverages in sachet and upwards of 200ml PET/glass bottle from December 31st 2025.

The Senate should carefully look at and consider the endorsement of the validated National Alcohol Policy in view of its multi-sectoral implementation framework."

"The Senate should consider the totality of the value chain in the alcohol beverage industry in light of the impact of the ban on both formal and informal employees, and legitimate manufacturers and  encourage the Senate Committee to have an on-the-spot assessment by visiting these companies to have a firsthand understanding of the huge investments that will be laid to waste if the order on the ban is carried out.

He said FOBTOB as an Association is are committed to ensuring that employers comply with the highest regulations and standards  since their members are the ones involved in the production of these beverages).

He added that  eith this ban in place, the government will lose revenue that would have come from the taxes to be paid by these members who will lose their jobs.

 The children we are trying to protect will possibly be out of school, when their parents cannot cater for them again, and will be more prone to other social vices in the society. 

As the saying goes, “it takes the mother chicken to live and survive to be able to raise its young ones,  Employers should be encouraged and not made to suffer loses as a result of them investing in this economy.

 

  this includes those companies supplying materials needed for the production, those involved in marketing and distribution, and other logistics) will have their employment jeopardised.The capacity utilisation of those companies will be eroded, and the recent improvements witnessed will be lost.Indigenous businesses are prone to be lost and the confidence of local entrepreneurs in the economy will definitely be shaken.The possibility of the proliferation of adulterated, unregulated, unregistered, and unbranded alcoholic beverages will be high, because we understand ourselves as Nigerians; we will always find a way. This will negate the purported intention of the ban.Furthermore, we strongly believe this ban would only give opportunity for smugglers to flood the market with foreign brands, which would ultimately result in loss of revenue to the Government.Our AppealWe passionately make the following appeal in order to avert the grave repercussions that will most definitely follow the ban:For the purpose of fair hearing, and to exhibit good faith, the Senate should invite relevant stakeholders to a Public Hearing in order to “hear the other side” and be adequately educated to make an informed decision.Prior to the above, the Senate should please rescind its directive to NAFDAC to ban alcoholic beverages in sachet and upwards of 200ml PET/glass bottle from December 31st 2025.The Senate should carefully look at and consider the endorsement of the validated National Alcohol Policy in view of its multi-sectoral implementation framework.The Senate should consider the totality of the value chain in the alcohol beverage industry in light of the impact of the ban on both formal and informal employees, and legitimate manufacturers.We encourage the Senate Committee to have an on-the-spot assessment by visiting these companies to have a firsthand understanding of the huge investments that will be laid to waste if the order on the ban is carried out.As FOBTOB, we are committed to ensuring that our employers comply with the highest regulations and standards (since our members are the ones involved in the production of these beverages). With this ban in place, the government will lose revenue that would have come from the taxes to be paid by these members who will lose their jobs. The children we are trying to protect will possibly be out of school, when their parents cannot cater for them again, and will be more prone to other social vices in the society. As the saying goes, “it takes the mother chicken to live and survive to be able to raise its young ones”.  and.The employers should be encouraged and not made to suffer loses as a result of them investing in this economy. We hope our appeal would be favourably considered and the threat to jobs would be directly addresse