Protesters Storm Federal Ministry of Health, Demand Removal of NAFDAC DG
Tension escalated in Abuja on Thursday as members of Concerned Citizen for Change staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Health, calling for the immediate removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, over allegations of gross incompetence and abuse of public office.
The protesters, who besieged the ministry’s headquarters, accused the NAFDAC boss of unlawfully enforcing a ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottled alcoholic beverages, which they claimed contradicts existing national policies and directives.
Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, the group’s Director, Kingsley Nwanze, described the enforcement as “hasty, obscure, and illegal,” alleging that it violates the National Alcohol Policy approved by the Federal Ministry of Health.
- Advertisement -
Nwanze further alleged that the move disregards a presidential directive restraining NAFDAC from taking actions that could disrupt affected businesses pending the outcome of deliberations by a joint committee of stakeholders.
He warned that the decision could trigger civil unrest amid prevailing economic challenges, adding that it undermines the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and portrays the government negatively.
The group also argued that the ban contradicts earlier resolutions of the House of Representatives, which had advised against such enforcement following consultations with industry stakeholders.
According to the protesters, the policy could result in widespread job losses, disrupt livelihoods across the value chain, and create opportunities for the proliferation of illicit and unregulated alcoholic products, ultimately reducing government revenue.
They dismissed claims linking sachet alcohol to increased abuse among minors, insisting that smaller packaging discourages excessive consumption and that manufacturers adhere to regulatory standards.
While acknowledging the need to eliminate unsafe products from the market, the group stressed that regulatory actions should be evidence-based rather than driven by sentiment.
The protest concluded with a call on President Tinubu to take decisive action by removing Adeyeye from office, insisting that her continued tenure is no longer in the public interest.
Security personnel were deployed to maintain order as activities at the ministry were briefly disrupted during the protest.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MARCH 26TH 2026)
