The House of Representatives, have called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to unban sachet alcoholic beverages, and pet bottles of less than 200ml as per the resolution of the green chamber.
In a chain of events, NAFDAC had banned production of alcohol in sachet and pet bottles on grounds of corrupting minors.
In turn, distillers cried foul saying it would provoke job losses and loss of multi-billion naira investments.
The gathering crisis caused the House to direct NAFDAC to lift the ban in a resolution made on March 14.
On Wednesday, the Chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC, Mrs Regina Akume reiterated the stance of the green chamber at a press conference in Abuja where she said the ban was ill-timed.
“The economy is struggling; the unemployment rate is staggering, and the inflation rate is soaring. The poverty level is on the increase and there is a paucity of foreign exchange to do business,” the lawmaker remarked.
She also advised the agency, “NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send underaged people to purchase alcoholic beverages.”
