Metro
TUC Protest Against Shutting Down Alcoholic Sachet Drink Factories By NAFDAC

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) on Tuesday held a peaceful protest against the National Agency Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC)’s directive to shut down companies manufacturing alcoholic sachet drinks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protest took place in front of NAFDAC’s office at Plot 1, Industrial Estate, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Isolo, Lagos State.
NAFDAC in 2018, had given a directive to stop the production of alcoholic beverages and drinks in sachets and bottles below 200ml with effect from Jan. 31, 2024.
Also, NAFDAC had in January 2022 suspended the registration of alcoholic beverages in sachet as well as small volume PET and glass bottles below 200ml.
READ ALSO: NAFDAC Begins Enforcement Of Ban On Alcoholic Drinks In Sachets
This led to a two-day enforcement exercise which was recently carried out in Ota, Ogun State, leading to the shutting down of some factories.
The Vice-President of TUC, Mr Emmanuel Idogen, said that a lot of people had already been rendered jobless from the factories shut down by the regulatory agency .
Idogen said that though he was not against NAFDAC carrying out their duty, but to shut down the livelihood of thousands of people at a time of economic hardship was inhumane.
“We all know the economic hardship we are facing in the country presently. Price of fuel has increased, prices of food is increasing on a daily basis and there is inflation.
“Some of the people earn their living to feed their family and dependents from the factory that you have shut down.
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“Invariably, there will be more families exposed to hunger and I believe this will have a negative impact on the society,” he said.
The vice-president said that many companies in the country, as a result of the harsh economic indices of doing business, had been under strain due to limited available jobs.
“And now, you want to lay off thousands of workers into the labour market that is already overstretched.
“What do you expect them to do in order to feed and cater for the needs of their family?.
“We are appealing to NAFDAC to suspend the directive to shutdown the production of alcoholic sachets drinks for the posterity of the masses,” he said.
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Idogen said that the Lagos State government raised the motion that alcoholic sachets were the cause of blocked drainage systems in the state.
“What about others like nylon bags, plastic bottles and other things blocking the drainages.
“To label alcoholic sachets as the sole contributor to the blockages of drainage would be unfair,” he said.
The vice-president also said that alcoholic sachet drinks was affordable and economical in quantity for those that don’t have enough money but still wanted to enjoy alcohol consumption.
“When you talk about the purchasing power of the masses, sachet alcoholic beverages is still more available for easy purchase.
“It is not everyone that has money to buy the expensive bottle so why are you trying to make life difficulty for the common man on the street?,” Idogen said.
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Similarly, the Secretary of FOBTOB, Mr Anthony Oyagua, said that no fewer than 5,000 members had been put out of jobs and sent into the labour market.
“The labour market is already saturated and you have piled more problems on our nation’s economy by sending more people into that same market.
“This does not represent President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for the renewed hope,” he said.
Oyagua said that the action would affect workers, suppliers, customers and most especially the local, state and federal government whose revenue drive will also drop in tune of billions of naira.
“We appeal to NAFDAC to help take a second look at this policy of government and help save our industry from imminent collapse and protect the jobs of millions of Nigerians nationwide,” he said.
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The Director, Drug and Evaluation Research, NAFDAC, Mr Kayode Amuda, said that the agency’s focus was to shutdown the alcoholic line production because of its negative effects on the society.
“Our critical focus is to protect the health of the nation because a lot of our children and youths have been made redundant as a result of easy access to these sachet drinks.
“We have been on the front burner of this message for long and have been telling the manufacturers about this impeding change but we keep on shifting goal post.
“However, we have to take a step toward enforcement and address this because it is ruining the life of our children and youths in the country.
“Our focus in NAFDAC is to put a stop to the production of alcoholic sachet beverages,” the NAFDAC representative said.
Metro
My Husband Started Coming Home Late, Dated Other Women After He Bought BMW

Kabushi Local Government, Zambia, has heard how a married man changed after buying a BMW vehicle as it gave him confidence to go after other women.
In this case, Veronica Chiluya 30, , sued Sammy Shapi, 40, for divorce due to marital disputes.
Veronica told the court that the two got married in 2014 after Sammy paid K400 as dowry and together they have two children.
READ ALSO:My Husband Comes Home With Used Condoms — Wife
According to Zambia Daily Mail, she said all was well until 2021 when her husband bought a car after he went to do some work outside the country.
“He started coming back home late and sometimes he would come the next day around 14:00 hours.
“He used to be a good husband, but the moment he bought a car, things changed in the house as he now started seeing other women.”
Metro
My Husband Seized My Wedding Gifts, Threw Me Out — Wife

…I’m sorry —Husband
A Sharia Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State, has dissolved a two-year-old marriage between a couple, Harira Sanusi and Aliyu Yunusa.
The judge, Malam Salisu Abubakar-Tureta dissolved their marriage following a petition for divorce filed by Harira.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Harira accused Aliyu of calling her parents names and humiliating her.
“He will often throw out my suitcases and other belongings.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
“He seized my wedding gifts and humiliates me,” she said.
She prayed the court to order Aliyu to allow her access to her belongings.
On his part, Aliyu who did not deny the allegations apologized to her in court.
Aliyu granted the request of Sanusi and made one pronouncement of divorce to her.
Metro
My Husband Threw Me Out After 17yrs of Marriage —Wife

…I still love her —Husband
A housewife, Lawal Modupe, has approached an Upper Area Court sitting at Kubwa, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking the dissolution of her 17-year-old marriage to her husband, Ismaila on the grounds of lack of love and affection.
Modupe told the court that she got married Ismaila according to Islamic laws.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the mother of three stated that her husband sent her out of their matrimonial home on June 17, 2023.
READ ALSO:My Husband Wants To Take A New Wife, Threatens To Kill Me If I Refuse To Leave, Woman Tells Court
“I do not love him anymore and I want the court to dissolve our marriage,” she said.
The respondent, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call for a mediation involving his family and that of the wife.
READ ALSO:My Husband Does Not Give Me, Our Children Feeding Allowance —Wife
The judge, Mohammed Wakli, however, said that he still loves his wife and would not grant her request for divorce.
He pleaded with the court to call or a mediation involving his family and that of his wife.
The judge, Mohammed Wakili, however, advised the respondent to make efforts to win his wife’s love back and the couple two weeks to settle their differences and report back to the court.
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