….say suspension due to hardship and economic circumstance
By Paul Effiong Abuja
The House of Representatives has directed a five years temporary suspension on the ban of sachet alcohol, water among others in the country.
The deputy chairman, House of Representatives Commitee on media and public Affairs, Hon Phillip Agbese made this known during a press briefing at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday.
The House of Representatives, according to Agbese was more concern about current economic circumstances in the country than the ban.
He revealed that the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had earlier in the year ban use of sachet alcohol as well as sachet water in the country.
The House he said, had engaged the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye among other stakeholders before before the five years suspension was reached.
It would be recalled that the House Commitee on NAFDAC had recently accused NAFDAC management of high headedness alleging that the agency has refused to enforce it directives to suspend the ban on sachet alcohol among other items as directed by the commitee.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Commitee on NAFDAC Hon. Regina Akume had earlier last month during a press brieffing informed newsmen that NAFDAC action in refusing to suspend the ban was tantamount to outright disregard to the rule of law and that of the parliament.
But the deputy spokesman, however, informed that that stakeholders were fully involved in the decision to temporarily suspend the enforcemnt of the ban directives.
The resolution entitled: NASS/CNA/35/VOL4/100, dated 21st March, 2024 in consideration of report of the Committee on NAFDAC on the need to suspend the ban it has imposed on the sachet alcohol and less than 200ML pet bottles directed that the ban should be lifted because of wrong timing as well as prevailing economic circumstances.
Agbese maintained that unemployment rate is staggering and inflation rate is soaring, while the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of FOREX to do business adding that these were common factors that necessitated the temporary suspension.
He disclosed that earlier next month, the commitee will still meet to access the development.
