By Juliet Ibimina
As the enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products continues to generate controversy, one of Nigeria’s leading advocates of phyto-medicine, Professor Benjamin Amodu, has declared his firm support for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
This comes amid a directive issued by the Federal Government on February 11, instructing NAFDAC to immediately suspend all enforcement actions relating to the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The directive, a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, cited serious concerns over economic stability and potential security implications.
Both offices warned that continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy could “destabilise communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges”
In a statement issued by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the government clarified that although the National Alcohol Policy has been approved by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operationalised.
The SGF and NSA stressed that the current “de facto ban” on these products, without a harmonised regulatory framework, is causing significant disruptions.
Commenting on the development, Professor Amodu said: “While I fully understand the Office of the SGF and the NSA and the reasons given for the suspension, including their foresight regarding the potential problems a rushed ban could create, especially protracted legal battles, I am concerned that sachet and PET bottle products have made alcohol dangerously affordable and accessible, particularly to teenagers and young adults who may not fully appreciate the long-term consequences of early addiction.
“Alcohol consumption leads to significant short-term impairment and long-term, potentially fatal physical and psychological damage. Chronic and excessive drinking affects nearly every organ system – notably the brain, liver and heart – increases the risk of cancer, and often results in severe mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and impaired cognitive function.
“While we cannot ignore the substantial economic gains generated by the industry, we must ask ourselves at what cost those gains are achieved. We must also recognise that addiction can fuel criminal behaviour.
“Therefore, while I support NAFDAC’s position on the ban, I equally acknowledge the concerns raised by the OSGF and the ONSA that the current ‘de facto ban’ without a harmonised framework is creating significant disruptions. The continued sealing of warehouses and enforcement actions are already causing economic strain and pose a growing security risk, particularly in light of the impact on employment, supply chains and informal distribution networks across the country.
“That is why a proper ban that takes cognizance of these future challenges is very necessary as highlighted by the federal government.”
Professor Amodu, a 1980 graduate of Industrial Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, is a Professor of Phyto-medicine at Triune Biblical University, USA.
He is also a prominent advocate for the integration and advancement of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, TCAM, in Nigeria.
