Metro

TUC Protest Against Shutting Down Alcoholic Sachet Drink Factories By NAFDAC

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2024

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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 16-yr-old Marriage Is Void Of Love, I Want Divorce, Woman Tells Court

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

My wife deserted me, My husband has failed to satisfy me s3xually I will grant my wife divorce

An Area Court in Jos, Plateau State, on Friday, dissolved the 16-year-old marriage between a couple, Hussaina Abdullahi and Saidu Ali.

Delivering judgment, the judge, Lawal Suleiman granted the prayer of Abdullahi for divorce.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),the judge gave custody of their children to Hussaina and ordered Ali to send N 30,000 monthly through the court for the upkeep of the two children.

The judge also ordered Ali to pay the children’s school fees.

Earlier, before the divorce was granted, the petitioner told the court that she got married to Saidu in 2008.

”Our marriage lacks peace and love. I no longer love Saidu and can no longer live with him as his wife.

”I am ready to refund the N40,000 dowry he paid for my hand in marriage”, she said.

She prayed for custody of their two children.

Metro

‘My Wife Sapped Me, I Want Our Childless 26-yr-old Marriage Dissolved’— Clergy

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

A clergyman, Adegoke, has approached Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, seeking that it end the 26-year-old marriage between him and his wife, Adetoun on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

Adegoke stated that no peaceful coexistence dwelt between him and his wife who is childless because she was aggressive and violent.

The plaintiff gave instances of when the defendant once slapped and bit him, and at another time hit him on the head with a scissors.

The plaintiff added that the defendant never ceased to rain curses on him.

Adegoke earnestly pleaded for divorce.

He also requested an order restraining his wife from threatening and interfering with his private life.

Adetoun refused to come to court despite being served court summonses.

Adegoke, in his testimony, said, “My wife and I got married in 1999 under the native laws and customs.

“Our union was blessed in the church two days after this, and we held a reception party.

“We have the marriage certificate given to us by the church in our possession, but unfortunately, all the pictures we took on both days got missing.

“We bore no child in our 26-year-old marriage.

“Our marriage lacks peace and rest because my wife is aggressive and difficult to live with.

“She gets angry easily and misbehaves when in this state.

“While other women bless their husband, my wife rains curses on me on a daily basis.

“Her curses, no doubt, have brought a setback in my life.

“Adetoun refused to give me the honour due to me in our home.

“She fights me on a regular basis.

“She once slapped me during one of our fights.

“To my chagrin, she showed no sign of remorse after this.

“I narrowly escaped being injured when she hit me on the head with a scissors during a heated argument.

“We had just finished Bible study one faithful day, and an argument erupted between us, which ended in a fight.

“Adetoun, before I knew it went for my hand and dug her teeth into it.

“I was in anguish for days.

“The scar it left on my hand tells the story.

“My lord, there is obviously no future in my marriage to my wife, especially that she is barren.

“I humbly plead that the court declares that we are no longer husband and wife.

“I also request an order restraining her from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, after she had heard the plaintiff adjourned the case for judgment.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

‘I Caught My Wife Walking Hand In Hand With Her Lover’

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

…She told me they were divorced 15 years ago — Lover

A Soldier of Kabwe, Zambia, has been awarded K18,000 as compensation after the local court upheld his adultery claim against a man he found holding hands with his wife one night in Kapiri Mposhi.

Michael Bwalya, a resident of C Gate in Kabwe, narrated before Senior Local Court magistrate, Elias Kasonde, at Kabwe One Local Court how he caught Maybin Myula with his wife, Rose Bwalya, in a compromising situation.

According to Zambia Observer, Michael told the court that he was first alerted by his eldest daughter, who informed him that his wife had a “husband” in Kapiri Mposhi.

Michael then travelled to Kapiri Mposhi with two companions, Sylvia Phiri and Humphrey Kayambe, to confirm the claims.

He said that after arriving around 20:00 hours, he was stunned to find his wife walking hand in hand with Maybin.

“The moment they saw me, he released her hand. I was so upset, but I kept calm,” he told the court.

Michael said he followed the pair to Maybin’s house, where Maybin allegedly told him that Rose had claimed to be divorced for the past 15 years.

“I told them they should consider themselves married. I was so furious I almost killed him, but I restrained myself,” he said.

In his defense, Maybin denied committing adultery, claiming he was only escorting Rose to buy medicine.

However, the magistrate, Kasonde found Maybin guilty and ordered him to compensate Michael K18,000, to be paid in monthly installments of K1,000.