Metro

TUC Protest Against Shutting Down Alcoholic Sachet Drink Factories By NAFDAC

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2024

Editor

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

One Killed, 3 Wounded As Communal Crisis Rocks Okuama After Withdrawal Of Soldiers

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

One person has been reported dead with three others seriously wounded in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

This is coming after soldiers who had laid siege in the community for the past 51 days pulled out on Tuesday.

DAILY POST learnt that indigenes of Okuama in their attempt to return to their community were engulfed in a fresh crisis.

It was also gathered that residents who fled the community attacked those who were said to have strayed into the wasteland to loot what is left of the ruins.

Sources said there is serious tension in the area as neighbouring communities alleged that their indigenes were macheted, injured and hospitalised.

A source noted that there are fears that there could be a reprisal attack if urgent steps are not taken by the relevant security agencies and the Delta State Government to address the situation.

Metro

Cleric Arrested For Defiling Three Minors In Kwara

Published

5 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a cleric for allegedly defiling three teenage girls in Agah village in Ilorin South local government area of Kwara state.

The 45-year-old Cleric identified as Prophet Olayinka Ajiboye, described as a serial rapist, was alleged to have defiled three minors, all within the age range of 13–17 years, in Agah Village, Ilorin South local council area of the state.

The cleric, who had been under surveillance of the state command of NSCDC, was arrested on Tuesday by the operatives of the Command.

Confirming the arrest of the Cleric on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, ASC Ayoola Michael, said that “the suspect, who specialises in harassing and sexually assaulting minors, has been under the surveillance of the command following several complaints about his nefarious activities. He was apprehended after a tip-off on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect is the General Overseer of Divine Land of Joy Prayer Ministry located in Agah village and has sexually assaulted several members of the church, as reported by the victims.”

“One of the victims, Joy Godfrey who bravely reported the case at the Gender Unit of the command on the 3rd of April, 2024, revealed horrifying details of her ordeal. She disclosed that Prophet Olayinka Ajiboye lured her into an unfamiliar house in the Sango area of Ilorin and sexually assaulted her.

“Additionally, he compelled her to swear with the Bible and instructed her never to discuss the incident with anyone, threatening her with fatal consequences if she dared to speak about it”, NSCDC PRO said.

“The second victim, who suffered similar abuse (name withheld) also revealed that the suspect started having canal knowledge with her at the age of sixteen (16). She further disclosed that the suspect impregnated her and gave her drugs to abort the baby, resulting in severe bleeding that lasted for several months. The suspect threatened to kill her if she revealed their illicit relationship to anyone.”

“According to the third victim (name withheld), who is also a member of the church, disclosed that the suspect defiled her at the age of 13. She mentioned that she couldn’t report to her mother because the suspect consistently threatened her, warning that she would die if she exposed him to anyone.”

Michael said that the suspect had confessed to the crime, attributing it to the work of the devil.

“The Kwara NSCDC State Commandant, Dr Umar J.G. Mohammed, expressed concern over the infamous act and directed the Head of Gender Unit to conduct a detailed investigation and ensure that the suspect is prosecuted diligently.”

Mohammed appealed to the public to support the command’s fight against all forms of gender-based violence and assured them that perpetrators would be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.

Metro

Video Of Female Students Loosening Male Teacher’s Braids in Sparks Backlash [WATCH]

Published

10 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

A video shared online by a male teacher has sparked backlash and led to a debate.

The science teacher, who goes by @thilluminator on social media, took to Instagram and TikTok to share a video of his students unbraiding his hair.

He was at his desk, working on a laptop, while at least 4 girls surrounded him, taking down his braids.

He wrote in the caption: “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Teaching is a work of heart. Comment your thoughts.”

Well, the comments were not exactly favourable. Many questioned why female students are unbraiding his hair, and in school of all places.

The video went viral on X as people shared it alongside their opinions.

Most people insisted it was inappropriate while very few people defended the teacher.

Watch below.