The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has faulted the proposed ban on sachet products across the country.

The President of MAN, Francis Meshioye, said the ban will only cause more job losses in the manufacturing industry.

According to Meshioye, he was reacting to the plan by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control to phase out sachet drinks.

According to him, making decisions about the manufacturing industry without due consultation with stakeholders is not the best way for the government to swing its regulatory sword.

He said, “The best thing is to bring all stakeholders on board. They should understand – how will it affect them? Is that the best way to go about it? The government should not just wake up and do things. They should call for stakeholder meetings and declare the intention of doing things and explain why it should be done. They should ask for our opinion.

“The government should be looking for ways to create jobs rather than create unemployment because people have made investments, and people who are doing their jobs will lose those jobs. I think we should be more innovative.” 

Recently, the NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed in a statement that the uncontrolled access and availability of high-concentration alcohol in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles contribute to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria.

The Distillers And Blenders Association of Nigeria, a sub-sector of MAN, in a letter addressed to NAFDAC, had called on the Federal Government to reconsider its plan to phase out the sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate bottles, warning that going ahead with the action will cost the Nigerian economy over N500bn in direct investment and N800bn in indirect investments.

Comprising over 24 corporate organisations, DIBAN in a letter of appeal addressed to the Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, advised the Federal Government to consider the decision to save their businesses and the 80 percent of the workforce that may be laid off.

DIBAN called on the government to direct NAFDAC to consider the impact lay-offs will have on the unemployment market and halt the plan.

They pointed out that DIBAN has a conglomerate membership of over 24 corporate organisations, the majority of whom are indigenous companies with few multinationals currently operating in the industry and are manufacturing wines and spirits with over 70 percent local inputs.