“Enough Is Enough!” Outrage Trails NAFDAC Chief Over Alcohol Crackdown

A civil society group, the Concerned Citizens Network, has called for the immediate dismissal of Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), over allegations of gross incompetence and abuse of office.

The group made the demand on Thursday while addressing journalists at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its President, Ndubuisi Nwogu, criticised NAFDAC’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in small PET bottles, describing the policy as “arbitrary, unlawful, and economically damaging.”

Nwogu argued that the enforcement contradicts the National Alcohol Policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and violates a presidential directive restraining NAFDAC from disrupting affected businesses pending the outcome of a joint committee review.

He further stated that the agency’s actions disregard resolutions of the House of Representatives, which had, after a public hearing with stakeholders, directed NAFDAC to suspend implementation of the ban, describing it as anti-people.

“The decision is not only ill-timed but capable of triggering widespread economic and social consequences,” Nwogu said. “It undermines the economic reform agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and threatens the survival of legitimate businesses operating within the law.”

The group warned that the ban could result in job losses across the alcohol production value chain and encourage the proliferation of illicit and unregulated products in the market.

According to Nwogu, this could reduce government revenue and expose consumers to unsafe alternatives.

He also dismissed claims that sachet alcohol significantly contributes to abuse, arguing that smaller packaging can help moderate consumption.

Nwogu added that industry stakeholders have invested heavily in campaigns promoting responsible drinking and restricting access to underage consumers.

While acknowledging the need for effective regulation of harmful products, the group insisted that such policies must be driven by credible data and broad stakeholder engagement rather than “unverified claims and emotional considerations.”

The Concerned Citizens Network, therefore, urged President Tinubu to act decisively by removing Adeyeye from office, stating that her continued leadership of NAFDAC is no longer in the public interest.

“The country cannot afford regulatory inconsistency and policy contradictions at a time when economic stability is paramount,” Nwogu said.