The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to investigate the circumstances underlying the agency’s prohibition on the manufacturing of drinks in sachets and tiny bottles in Nigeria.
This was in response to a proposal made on the floor of the Green Chamber by members Paschal Agbodike and Philip Agbese during the plenary on Wednesday.
Recall that in January of this year, NAFDAC prohibited the manufacture of drinks in small sachets and bottles for concerns related to the country’s prevalent drug misuse, particularly among young Nigerians.
Agbbodike argued that Section 4(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) allows the National Assembly to create legislation for the Federation’s order and good governance.
He also stated that Sections 88(1) and (2) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, 1999 (as amended), empower the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority that executes or administers laws passed by the National Assembly, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
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.
“The need to encourage the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises which are the greatest employer of labour in Nigeria, employing over 84 per cent 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.”
cc: Punch Ng
