The House of Representatives Committee overseeing the National Agency on Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered the suspension of the ban on the production and sale of spirits and alcoholic drinks in sachets and pet bottles.

The committee headed by former Benue state First Lady, Regina Akume said the suspension should be in force pending its investigations into the issue.

NAFDAC had banned the production and sale of spirits and alcoholic drinks in sachets and single-use plastic with immediate effect, but the House at Plenary directed its committee to investigate the issue.

The House initially declined to instruct NAFDAC to lift the ban.

However, following a meeting involving the regulatory agency and various stakeholders, it was decided that NAFDAC should postpone the enforcement of the ban.

Those who attended the meeting are Regina Akume and her Deputy Chairman, Idu Obiajulu; the Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa; NAFDAC DG, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye; the DG, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi- Kadir, representatives of the Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria; representatives of the spirits and alcoholic drinks producers; the Nigerian Police Force; Customs and Excise; Federal Road Safety Corps; organised labour and civil society were present.

The NAFDAC DG told the gathering that the ban was imposed to protect the health and welfare of children, youths, and other vulnerable groups.

But despite her position, the committee aligned itself with the views of the Spirit producers, civil society, and organised labour that the unemployment and hardship being occasioned by the closure of the factories as a result of the ban far outweighed the health concerns being raised by NAFDAC.

The committee observed that the proper step is to put in place control procedures to prevent children and youths from consuming the alcoholic contents of the sachet and pet bottles.

END.