DISTILLERS CLASH WITH NAFDAC OVER SACHET ALCOHOL BAN, PROTEST FOR FIFTH TIME

Distillers across Nigeria staged their fifth protest today, barricading the NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja to voice their opposition to the ongoing sachet alcohol ban. The demonstrators demanded the immediate unsealing of their facilities, warning that the ban threatens the livelihoods of thousands of workers in the alcohol production sector.Eyewitnesses said protesters blocked access roads leading to NAFDAC offices, carrying banners and chanting slogans calling for regulatory fairness. One distiller explained:“Our businesses are being crippled. This ban not only affects us but also countless employees and suppliers who depend on this industry.”NAFDAC, in response, stressed that the ban is aimed at protecting public health and reducing the risks associated with unregulated sachet alcohol. The agency said discussions with distillers are ongoing but urged compliance with existing regulations.Industry analysts say the protest highlights the growing tension between regulators and alcohol producers in Nigeria. If the standoff continues, it could have serious economic and social consequences, particularly in urban areas where sachet alcohol is widely consumed.Authorities have called for calm while promising a review of the regulatory measures, but protesters insist that their companies must be unsealed immediately