A coalition of civil society teams protested on the Nationwide Meeting on Wednesday towards the ban on alcoholic drinks in pouches by the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management.
The protesters led by the Coalition In opposition to Financial Saboteurs held indicators with the inscription “Let The Poor Stay.”
The coalition spokesperson, Adam Matazu, additionally referred to as for the rapid dismissal of NAFDAC DG, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, over her alleged anti-people insurance policies.
The teams acknowledged that the brand new coverage would create additional issues for the Nigerian financial system, presumably resulting in the closure of the industries that produce the merchandise.
They additional alleged that multinationals are utilizing Adeyeye to destroy small companies and native manufacturing corporations.
Matazu mentioned: “In the present day we’re addressing a matter of nice concern, the current choice of the Director-Normal of the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration Management, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, to ban the sale of drinks in small pouches.
“We view this coverage as a direct assault on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, a transfer that won’t solely render numerous residents unemployed but in addition exacerbate the prevailing issues of insecurity and unemployment in our nation.
“We strongly condemn this ill-conceived coverage, which seems disconnected from the realities confronted by peculiar Nigerian residents.
“NAFDAC management has abdicated their core duty to concentrate on points that actually threaten the well-being of our individuals such because the inflow of faux and substandard medicines. We really feel that the Director Normal is selecting to concentrate on a sector that gives employment to many Nigerians and serves the wants of hundreds of thousands of households.”
Matazu added: “ProfMoji Adeyeye’s tenure at NAFDAC was sadly marked by disappointments and failures to ship the specified outcomes.
“Fairly than making certain the protection of our meals and medicines, we’ve witnessed a rise in counterfeit drinks, casting deep doubt on the authenticity of what our residents eat.”
One other speaker, Ben Omale, additionally referred to as on all stakeholders to unite towards Adeyeye’s management.
He mentioned: “We demand her rapid suspension by the President to stop additional harm to our financial system by inflicting job losses and enterprise closures.
“It’s crucial that NAFDAC is led by somebody who will prioritize the true points that affect the well being and financial stability of our nation.”
NAFDAC had on Monday introduced the enforcement of the ban on the import, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of alcoholic drinks in sachets, PET and glass bottles of 200 ml and beneath.
“As of January 31, 2024, there will probably be no alcoholic drinks in these classes registered by NAFDAC. I additionally need to let you understand that the company has initiated enforcement actions to implement the implementation of this coverage.
“The window interval given by NAFDAC to producers to promote all alcoholic drinks on this class expired on January 31, 2024.
“To this finish, the company commenced nationwide enforcement actions on the primary day after the expiry of the window interval, February 1, 2024, to implement the implementation of the brand new coverage,” Adeyeye mentioned at a press convention.
