The standoff between labour unions and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) escalated on Thursday as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, and the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association staged a protest at the agency’s Isolo office in Lagos.
The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and labour slogans, blocked access to the premises from about 7:00 a.m., preventing staff from entering for nearly two hours. Operations at the office were temporarily disrupted until officers from the Nigeria Police Force intervened, reopening the entrance around 11:00 a.m. The protest was reported to have remained peaceful.
Union leaders said the industrial action would continue until their demands are addressed, including the reopening of sealed factories and the reversal of staff dismissals linked to the enforcement exercise.
National Secretary of FOBTOB, Jeffery Igein, said the workers were determined to sustain the protest until authorities respond to their concerns.
The dispute stems from NAFDAC’s enforcement of a ban on sachet alcohol and 10cl PET bottled products, a move unions say has led to the closure of several indigenous factories, depots, and warehouses nationwide.
During the protest, TUC Secretary Comrade Anthony Oyaga criticised the enforcement approach under the agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, describing it as economically damaging and poorly implemented. He alleged that facilities storing lawful products unrelated to the banned items were also affected.
Union representatives warned that the shutdowns could worsen unemployment, strain families, and create wider economic ripple effects across supply chains, including transporters, suppliers, distributors, and retailers.
They also called for intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, state governors, and other stakeholders, urging dialogue and regulatory engagement rather than what they described as punitive enforcement measures.
The unions insisted that reopening affected facilities and initiating structured consultations would help address both public health concerns and workers’ livelihoods.