AFDAC office in Isolo, Lagos, were disrupted today, Thursday, February 26, 2026, as protesting union members barricaded the agency’s premises, locking staff outside.

he protest was organized by members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE). This is the latest escalation in a months-long standoff over the agency’s ban on sachet alcohol and small PET bottles

Key Points of the Protest

• The Barrier: Protesters blocked both the entrance and exit gates early in the morning, forcing arriving staff to remain outside the complex.
• The Demand: The union is demanding the immediate unsealing of factories and production lines that NAFDAC shut down. They argue that the enforcement is causing massive job losses and economic hardship.+1
• The “Directive” Dispute: Labor leaders claim the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) issued a directive to suspend the ban. NAFDAC, however, has firmly denied receiving any such official instruction and continues its enforcement.+1
• Current Status: Reports indicate that police eventually arrived at the scene, the barricades were lifted later in the day, and staff were eventually allowed back into the building.

NAFDAC’s ban targets alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml. The agency maintains that these small, affordable packages are a major factor in the rise of underage drinking and alcohol abuse among minors. Conversely, manufacturers and unions argue that the ban threatens nearly five million jobs and trillions of naira in investment.+2

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This situation seems to be at a total deadlock between public health goals and economic survival.