NEWS
TUC, FOBTOB 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.
Reports says 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. (NAN)
Israel has sent two planes to evacuate fans from Amsterdam after violent clashes between Israeli supporter and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of Ajax versus Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa Cup match.
“The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,.
“The harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked’’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted on X on Friday morning.
The Israeli leader’s office called the incident horrifying and demanded that the Dutch government and security forces take vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens.
This clash was however unclear and yet to be unfolded.
The exact events remain unclear. The violent disturbances occurred around the Europa League football match between Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Ajax won 5-0.
There were clashes in several locations in the centre of the Dutch capital; though it was not specified which side started the violence.
Around 60 people were detained temporarily on Thursday evening, the police said.
Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans.
The police’s mobile units reportedly shielded the Israelis and escorted them to their hotels.
There were also clashes in the afternoon between Israeli football fans and security forces in the city centre.
According to police, about a dozen people were arrested for disturbing public order and illegal possession of fireworks.
Even before the match, there were isolated altercations near the stadium in the south-east of the city, the police said.
More than 200 demonstrators attempted to reach the venue, according to the police.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned these “unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis’’ on X and said he had since spoken with Netanyahu.
Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders called it a pogrom.
“We have become the Gaza of Europe,’’ he said, adding that Muslims with Palestinian flags were hunting down Jews.
Israel’s UN ambassador also referred to the incident on X as a pogrom.
Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel condemned the incident.
“Chasing and beating up Israeli soccer fans is not anti-war protest.
“It is criminal and intolerable and we must all stand against it. As a European I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our great cities,’’ he wrote on X.
However the Reaction from the United States (U.S.).
In New York, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), described itself as the world’s largest anti-hate organisation.
He demanded that the Dutch government ensure the safety of Israeli fans, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and apologise for the violence.
“This is exactly what ‘globalise the intifada’ looks like,’’ Greenblatt wrote on X, saying there were mobs of hate-filled people who had attacked Israelis who came to Amsterdam to enjoy a football game.
Even New York Attorney General Letitia James chimed in on X, calling the attacks against Jews in Amsterdam “deeply disturbing and horrifying.’’
New York State, particularly metropolitan New York City, has a large Jewish population.
“We must do everything in our power to protect Jews in America and across the world.
“This anti-Semitism and violence must end now,’’ she wrote. (dpa/NAN)
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance companies Dec.31 deadline to clear all outstanding claims.
The Head, Communication and Stakeholders Management Sub-committee of the Insurers Committee, Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, made this known while addressing a news conference after a meeting of management in Lagos.
The meeting marked the first gathering of the Insurers Committee with Mr Segun Omosehin, as the Commissioner For Insurance.
Nwachukwu, also Managing Director, Rex Insurance Ltd., said the commissioner charged insurance companies CEOs at the meeting to ensure that no outstanding claims is captured at the close of their 2024 financial accounts.
The NAICOM boss, she said, tasked the insurance company’s executives to defend the insurance industry through payment of genuine claims, which is integral.
“The regulator said it would be checking in an intensive and focused manner, the outstanding claims in the insurer’s books.
“The commission said its focus is on the soundness of the insurance industry, measured by the ability of meet their obligations when due,”she said.
According to her, the commissioner also charged the insurance companies to take steps towards recapitalisation, by evaluating their financial position, as to the need to raise fresh capital.
She said the charge came by the regulator,having exposed a draft of the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) regulations to the operators, in the event that recapitalisation takes-off.
“If there will be need to raise capital, insurance companies need to start speaking with their different boards, shareholders about the possibility of recapitalisation happening, before it becomes a regulation,”she said.
Nwachukwu revealed that the commissioner further encouraged brokers to ensure strict compliance with the “no premium, no cover” regulation, having observed some violations to the regulation.
She said the commissioner also charged CEOs of insurance firms to get involved in addressing complaints.
Nwachukwu also stated that the regulator encouraged the insurance operators to submit the financial statements of their companies early enough, to create more confidence on the industry.
She mentioned that Omosehin charged the insurers to focus their attention significantly on Nigeria’s Data Protection regulations for the insurance industry.
The sub-committee chairman said NAICOM boss also wants insurance operators to pay specific attention to the implementation of the 10- year Insurance Strategic Plan.
She said this was important, having unanimously agreed to seven thrusts of commitment that would enable the industry meets its objective by year 2027.
Nwachukwu added that the commissioner charged the insurance operators to also pay attention to the legal and regulatory framework for the industry, under the Insurance Bill 2024.
“He spoke about focusing of compliance issues, under the Prudential Guidelines released by NAICOM to the insurers and put an end to Corporate Governance abuses, recognised within the industry.
“The commissioner discussed the National Credit Guarantee Scheme signed by President Bola Tinubu.
“If insurers invest in the scheme, we have the potential of sitting on the board of the facility, where a lot of decisions would be taken,”she said.
According to her, Omosehin also informed the insurance operators on the significant progress made on the Agency’s portal, noting that all resources are in place to continue the efficiency of the portal.
Nwachukwu said the present administration of NAICOM is very clear on the insurance industry and what it expects to see and has hinged its success on the collective Insurance Industry Reforms plans agreed upon as an industry.
She further said that the regulator insisted that insurers get the right approval from NAICOM before newly appointed Executive Director of insurance companies assumes their appointment.
The insurer stated that the committee also reconstituted its sub-committees in line with the pillars of its 10-year roadmap for the insurance industry.
Nwachukwu listed the reconstituted sub-committees of the Insurers Committee as, the Insurance Sector Stability committee,Communication and Stakeholders Management committee, Technology and Talent Management committee and Customer Service and Market Expansion committee.(NAN)
Three Israelis are missing following clashes between Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of football club Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match in Amsterdam, according to Israeli authorities.
Ten people were injured in the violence, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday morning.
The degree of their injuries was initially unclear.
The ministry urged its citizens to use public transport to travel to the airport, after Israel had announced it was sending two planes to evacuate the fans.
Local security forces had been deployed, the ministry said.
The ministry had initially advised fans not to leave their hotels.
It also advised its citizens not to wear Jewish or Israeli symbols in public.
(dpa/NAN)
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