House of Representatives has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce its resolution on the ban on sachet alcohol and pet bottles.
The chairman, House Committee on NAFDAC and member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Regina Akume, gave the directive at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.
Last week, the House resolved that the ban imposed by NAFDAC on the sachet alcohol and 200m pet bottles be suspended.
Akume said the ban should be lifted because the timing is inappropriate, adding that the economy is struggling, the unemployment rate is staggering and the inflation rate is soaring.
She added that the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of FOREX to do business, hence the ban should be replaced with prescribed regulations and access control such as establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in LGAs across the country.
The lawmaker said NAFDAC should make it unlawful to send under-aged people to buy alcoholic beverages, adding that there should be tightening of enforcements by law enforcement agencies.
She also advocated increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.
Akume said that the legislation approach should be adapted to encourage recycling of the materials for the promotion of the green economy.
She said this would go a long way in minimising importation of raw materials used in producing these pet bottles and sachets, thus conserving the Forex
The House had described that the ban runs counter to the spirit and letter of the Constitution and also against the Economic recovery Plan of the current administration.
