SACHET ALCOHOL BAN: A RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC DISASTER –FOBTOB
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE proposed ban on sachet alcohol in Nigeria has sparked intense debate, with the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) warning of severe economic consequences.
At a press conference on Tuesday,FOBTOB’s National President, Comrade Jimoh Oyibo, implored the lawmakers to shelve enforcement of such directive and faulted them for giving audience to NAFDAC alone.
Here are the key issues:
– Job Losses : Over 6 million jobs could be lost, with 500,000 direct employees and 5 million indirect workers affected.
– Investment Loss : More than N2 trillion in investments could be wiped out, damaging Nigeria’s aspiration for a $1 trillion economy.
– Economic Decline : The ban could lead to reduced capacity utilization, increased smuggling of foreign alcoholic drinks, and decreased government revenue.
– Alternative Solutions : FOBTOB suggests improved enforcement mechanisms, licensing of liquor outlets, and nationwide enlightenment campaigns instead of an outright ban.
– Disputed Health Concerns : Independent research has faulted NAFDAC’s claims that sachet alcohol is widely abused by minors.
– Previous Ban Reversed : A similar ban was reversed last year after a House of Representatives public hearing, with a one-year extension granted to develop a National Alcohol Policy
He disclosed that the fiod industry has spent over a billion naira on public campaigns promoting responsible drinking and discouraging underage consumption, Oyibo stated.
He emphasized the need for the Senate to rescind its order to NAFDAC pending a full public hearing.
He also advised the lawmakers to invite all relevant stakeholders, review and adopt the validated National Alcohol Policy, assess the impact on the entire value chain, and visit affected companies to observe the scale of investments at risk.
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