News
Hardship: 10 million MSMEs Shut In 2023, Says ASBON

The Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria has said no fewer than 10 million small businesses under the association were shut in 2023.
ASBON’s President Femi Egbesola, who disclosed this during an interview with The PUNCH, said that the businesses ceased to exist due to economic hardship.
The removal of subsidy by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on May 29 and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol and other basic commodities, leading to worsened inflation, an increase in unemployment, and poverty rates created hardship for Nigerians.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in November 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 28.20 per cent relative to the October 2023 inflation rate, which was 27.33 per cent.
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Speaking on the effect of the economic hardship on members, Egbesola said, “We experienced about 25 per cent death of businesses this year (2023), which is a high and alarming figure. This is the percentage that was determined after thorough research.
“At the moment, we have 40 million MSMEs in the country that are captured by data. When you are talking about 25 per cent of that, that is 10 million businesses that have died.
“In some countries, if this happens, a state of emergency would be declared by the government in this sector because it is a critical sector that will be metamorphosed from micro to small, small to medium, and from medium to large. If you can ask, for the past 10 years, how many micro or small businesses have become large businesses?
“You will never see it, and that tells you that there is a lacuna and that something is mitigating against the growth. If a business has operated as a micro, small, or medium for a period of five to 15 years and is unable to migrate to a large, then there is a big problem that should be investigated and solutions provided for, but without this being done, we will not have bigger businesses, and if we don’t have bigger businesses, there will be more unemployment, there won’t be innovation, our GDP will not improve, and poverty will continue to rage.
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“When there is poverty, it goes along with its attendant problems like crimes, like japa, yahoo-yahoo and other social vices which are not good for our country.”
According to him, to save more businesses from collapsing in the coming year, the Federal Government must endeavour to fix power and roads and make forex and funds available to MSMEs.
He added, “When these things are fixed, certainly a lot of businesses will grow. We can no longer buy fuel at very exorbitant prices to power our generators, and one of the critical challenges for MSMEs is that they are unable to access affordable funds.
“This will help to awaken ailing and almost dead businesses. As far as forex is concerned, we depend on the black market, which is very exorbitant because the banks sell only to big companies at the detriment of micro and small businesses.”
PUNCH
News
Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.
In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.
The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.
They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.
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The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.
Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.
The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.
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The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.
Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”
“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”
Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”
News
How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.
Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms
In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.
NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.
“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.
“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”
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Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.
Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.
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The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.
Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.
The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.
Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)
News
Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.
The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.
According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.
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She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.
Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.
She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.
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“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.
The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.
She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.
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