NEWS
Alcohol Ban: Investments Worth N800bn may be Lost – Stakeholders
The ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles less than 200ml may cause manufacturers and other stakeholders across the food and beverages value chain to lose investments worth over N800 billion.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) expressed the concern at a joint news conference in Lagos on Friday.
Reports says that the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles of less than 200ml, with effect Jan.
31.According to NAFDAC, the ban is in line with an agreement reached by a tripartite committee set up in 2018 by the Federal Ministry of Health.
The Executive Secretary of DIBAN, Mr John Ichue, at the press conference, called on the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to reverse the ban.
“This is to avert a colossal loss on investments in machines, raw materials and financial resources and also save 5.5 million direct and indirect persons earning their livelihood from the business,” he said.
According to Ichue, manufacturers have great respect for NAFDAC; hence, the need for them to reach a common ground to address underage consumption of alcoholic beverages and business concerns of players in the wine and spirits sector.
“Some of the money invested in the sector were borrowed from banks, and many of the companies have procured raw materials that would last them for the next four or five years.
“More than 25 companies in wine and spirits sector in the country may be forced to close shop if President Bola Tinubu does not intervene in reversing the ban,” he said.
The Chairman of DIBAN, Mr Patrick Anegbe, said that the association had always preached responsible drinking and had mounted media campaigns on radio and television, kicking against underage consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets.
Anegbe, also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intercontinental Distillers, said that DIBAN was concerned about the health of underage consumers of alcohol beverages.
He, however, said that elimination of underage consumption of alcoholic beverages could be achieved through access control rather than outright ban.
“Through access control mechanism, the underage will be safeguarded, businesses will remain and our members and suppliers in the value chains in the sector will retain their jobs.
“I call on the president to intervene immediately; otherwise, many jobs are on the line,” he said.
He appealed to Tinubu to consider those who had heavily invested in the sector.
The CEO of Stellar Beverage, Mr Gandhi Anandan, said that the ban might trigger irresponsible drinking and make consumers drink heavily if they could not have access to smaller quantities.
“While alcohol, like any other product, must be consumed in moderation, if we take away the size from responsible drinking, we are not being fair to anyone,” he said.
Mr Wale Majaolagbe, CEO of Grand Oak Industries, said that distilled wine and spirits had not been pinned down as causes of death of any individual.
“NAFDAC should not be insensitive to the hardship Nigerians are going through by imposing this ban,” Majaolagbe said.
Earlier, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director- General of MAN, said that the association was deeply concerned about the ban.
Ajayi-Kadir said that the bank would impact negatively on manufacturers, workers, the citizenry and the economy.
He said that following previous concerns, stakeholders collaborated to enlighten citizens on responsible consumption by supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC to undertake advocacy, messaging, training and education of the public.
He said that during the period, DIBAN spent over one billion naira on campaigns to ensure zero consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage, and promote responsible use among adults.
“Furthermore strategic moves were made to identify factors that affect irresponsible consumption of alcoholic beverages and identify factors responsible for underage drinking in Nigeria.
“We also moved to implement strategies guided by best global practices and national priorities towards strengthening regulatory activities (e.g. access control) and strengthening implementation structures through effective collaboration to ensure sustainability.
“Prior to the investments made by companies in the packaging, distribution, logistics and advertisement of their products, necessary approval were obtained.
“Government must be seen to promote and protect the growth of local industries and jobs and tackle fake, counterfeit and unwholesome alcoholic beverages,” he said.(NAN)
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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