The Committee on National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has been mandated by the House of Representatives to investigate the basis and circumstances surrounding the ban imposed on the production of beverages in sachets and small bottles in Nigeria by NAFDAC.
The investigation followed a motion moved on the floor by Rep. Paschal Agbodike and Rep. Philip Agbese.
Agbodike, moving the motion, noted that Section 4(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers the National Assembly to make laws for the order and good government of the federation or any part thereof.
Also, Agbbodike highlighted that Sections 88(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly, including NAFDAC.
He said: “NAFDAC had announced its decision to stop the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles in January 2024 when the Director General of the Agency informed the public that the agency will ensure that the validity of renewal of already registered products will not exceed January 2024.
“The decision to ban the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and runs against the Economic Recovery Plan of the current administration.
“Also worried that, given the numerous economic challenges confronting poor Nigerians, the ban on the production of the said beverages will work more havoc and cause job losses for over 50 percent of the workers in Nigeria.
“The need to encourage the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises, which are the greatest employer of labour in Nigeria, employing over 84% of the workforce in Nigeria, NAFDAC’s policy to place a ban on the production of beverages in small sachets and bottles will be counterproductive.
“The decision to place a ban on the production of beverages in small sachets and bottles will encourage unscrupulous elements to go about the production of such drinks and products without recourse to NAFDAC.”
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Agbbodike further said the ban on the registration of beverages in small sachets and bottles will cause more hardship on Nigerians whose livelihoods come from the production and sale of such beverages.
He added that the ban, in the long run, will plunge more Nigerians into unemployment and economic hardship, causing them to suffer more given the current subsidy removal regime.
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