Reps direct NAFDAC to lift ban on sachet alcohol
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The House of Representatives has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce its resolution lifting the ban on the sale of sachet alcohol.
The Chairman of the House Committee on NAFDAC, Mrs Regina Akume, made this known at a press conference in Abuja.
Mrs Akume maintained that the immediate implementation of the House resolution would calm frayed nerves among the teeming population of the unemployed in the country.
The Benue-born lawmaker contended that the timing of the ban on the sale of sachet alcoholic drinks was inappropriate, given the unemployment rate and the inflation trend in the country.
She added that the poverty level is on the increase with a paucity of FOREX to do business.
She said instead of the ban it should be replaced with prescribed regulations and access control such as the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in LGAs across the country.
She said NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send under-aged people to purchase alcoholic beverages, adding that there should be tightening enforcement by law enforcement agencies.
She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.
She said that the legislation approach should be adapted to encourage recycling of the materials for the promotion of the green economy.
She said this would go a long way in minimising importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the Forex
It would be recalled that the House had described that the ban runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and also against the Economic recovery Plan of the current administration.
This according to the house is sequel to the numerous economic challenges confronting poor Nigerians.
The House stated that the ban on the production of the said beverages will cause job losses and more economic hardship.
