Dr. Dan Gasama, Director of Public Health, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCT-HSES, disclosed this at a community outreach to commemorate the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day on Saturday in Abuja.

The outreach was organised by FCT-HSES, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, NTBLCP, and other partners.

Gasama said TB mortality had reduced by about 64 per cent over the years, noting that the disease remained a major public health concern globally and nationally.

“Globally, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB, with about 1.23 million deaths, including 150,000 among people living with HIV.

“With a prevalence of 219 per 100,000 population, Nigeria remains among high TB burden countries, while the FCT accounts for about 16,000 cases annually,” he said.

He added that Nigeria recorded over 467,000 TB cases in 2025, the highest ever, attributing improved detection to strengthened surveillance and community outreach.

According to him, early detection and proper treatment have contributed to the 94 per cent treatment success rate recorded in the territory.

Gasama said the FCT Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme also recorded significant progress in 2025, identifying over 40,171 presumptive cases, out of which 3,679 were confirmed and notified.

He explained that the 2026 commemoration focused on taking TB awareness, screening and treatment services to high-burden communities.

Hundreds of residents of Mabushi community benefitted from free screening for TB, malaria and other ailments, while medications were distributed and severe cases referred to hospitals.

In a goodwill message, Dr. Jenny Momoh, representing the World Health Organisation, WHO, FCT Coordinator, Dr Jibrin Alkasim, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ending TB.

She highlighted progress in diagnostics, treatment and community-centred care, while stressing the need for sustained investment and collaboration.

“Ending TB requires sustained investment, innovation and a strong multisectoral response that leaves no one behind,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Teresa Jatau, Programme Manager of TB Network, underscored the role of communities in combating the disease.

She urged residents to embrace early testing and adhere to treatment, noting that TB is curable when detected early.

The 2026 World Tuberculosis Day is themed: “Yes, we can. We can end TB”.

Source: NAN

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The inauguration was carried out on Friday in Abuja.

The agency said it was partnering with Interra Networks Limited which would manage the call centre.

Speaking during the inauguration, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the call centre would benefit not only the agency but Nigerians at large.

She noted that the platform would improve service delivery, given the agency’s engagement with thousands of customers across various sectors.

“We have thousands of customers dealing with food, drugs, vaccines, medical devices, water, cosmetics and herbal medicines.

“The services we render are such that customers may not always know what to do or where to go, especially when it comes to product registration.

“As we continue to digitise our processes, some customers may find it difficult to navigate the system, and we must meet their needs,” she said.

Adeyeye explained that the call centre would provide timely information on procedures, including product registration timelines and requirements, thereby facilitating trade.

“This timely registration will translate into increased trade, so the call centre is a great initiative for the country,” she added.

On sustainability, the NAFDAC boss emphasised the importance of financial discipline in maintaining the facility.

“If we cannot pay what it takes to sustain this project, then it will not be sustainable. Part of our quality management system involves financial responsibility,” she said.

She disclosed that upon assuming office in 2017, she inherited a debt of N3.2 billion, which had since been cleared through prudent financial management.

Adeyeye added that trained NAFDAC staff, including mid-level officers and directors, would support the call centre by handling escalated issues.

She further said the centre would help curb the circulation of substandard products by improving intelligence gathering.

“If someone calls in to report a suspicious product, whether food or drugs, we will act swiftly. The call centre will greatly enhance our surveillance efforts,” she said.

Adeyeye reiterated that the ban on alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml remained in force, stressing that there was no reversal of the policy.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Interra Networks Ltd, Mr Emeka Okafor, said the company specialised in Business Process Outsourcing Services, BPOS, providing customer engagement solutions for organisations.

“With specific reference to NAFDAC, the agency has a strong regulatory mandate and is also customer-focused.

“It has entrusted us to manage customer complaints and enquiries. We receive calls, respond to them and escalate unresolved issues to the agency,” he said.

Okafor assured that the call lines “would be available 24/7”, adding that no customer call would go unanswered.

He also noted that the company worked closely with network providers to ensure reliable, high-capacity connectivity for seamless service delivery.

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The NCDC disclosed this on Friday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 10 (2nd – 8th March, 2026).

The report indicates that the fatality rate is significantly higher than the 18.3 per cent recorded within the same period in 2025, raising fresh concerns among public health experts.

It stated that although the number of confirmed cases declined in the reporting week, the death rate remained a major concern.

“In week 10, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 65 in Epidemiological Week 9 to 40,” the report noted.

The report showed that the confirmed cases were recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Edo, Kogi, Gombe and Cross River states.

Cumulatively, Nigeria has recorded 516 confirmed cases and 2,821 suspected cases across 20 states and 78 local government areas as of week 10.

The report further revealed that five states—Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and Edo—accounted for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases, indicating persistent hotspots in these areas.

A breakdown showed that Bauchi accounted for 28 per cent of confirmed cases, followed by Ondo (21 per cent), Taraba (19 per cent), Benue (9 per cent) and Edo (8 per cent).

According to the data, the most affected age group is 21 to 30 years, with cases ranging from 1 to 90 years and a median age of 30 years.

It added that the male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases stood at 1:0.9.

The report identified late presentation of cases, poor health-seeking behaviour, high cost of treatment, and poor environmental sanitation as key factors contributing to the rising fatality rate.

It also noted low awareness levels in high-burden communities and occasional infections among healthcare workers as ongoing challenges.

It, however, noted that no new healthcare worker infection was recorded in the reporting week.

To contain the outbreak, the agency said it had activated a multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate response activities nationwide.

It listed response efforts adopted to include deploying National Rapid Response Teams to high-burden states, distributing personal protective equipment, providing treatment commodities such as Ribavirin, and strengthening surveillance and contact tracing.

The report also highlighted ongoing collaborations with partners, including the World Health Organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), to support outbreak control measures.

The NCDC has urged state governments to intensify community engagement and awareness campaigns, while advising healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols.

It also called for strengthened capacity at the state level to ensure timely detection and response to Lassa fever cases.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus and is primarily transmitted through contact with food or household items contaminated by rodents.

Nigeria records cases of the disease annually, particularly during the dry season when human exposure to infected rodents tends to increase.

Health authorities said early detection, prompt treatment and strict infection control measures remain critical to reducing mortality and preventing outbreaks.

Source: NAN

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Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Sadiq, disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna during a press conference to mark the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day with the theme, “Yes We Can End TB.”

She said the theme reinforced commitments made by global leaders at the United Nations high level meeting on tuberculosis to end the epidemic by 2030 through improved prevention, diagnosis, treatment, financing and stigma reduction.

Abubakar-Sadiq said all identified patients were placed on treatment, achieving 100 per cent enrolment, while the state recorded a 98.7 per cent treatment success rate, surpassing the 97.6 per cent target.

She added that all 732 co-infected patients received antiretroviral therapy and preventive treatment, while 11,325 eligible contacts were placed on tuberculosis preventive treatment to reduce further transmission across communities.

The permanent secretary said 340 facilities conducted outpatient screening, reaching over 454,000 patients, identifying more than 40,000 presumptive cases, and confirming 3,563 tuberculosis cases, all placed on treatment.

She said the state strengthened diagnosis through mobile trucks equipped with GeneXpert machines and digital X-rays, expanding access to hard to reach communities and earning national recognition for resource mobilisation efforts.

According to her, health facilities providing tuberculosis services increased from 298 in 2017 to 1,282 in 2025, covering public and private sectors, with ongoing expansion to improve access and case detection statewide.

She said strategies included active case finding, house to house searches, hospital screening, private sector engagement, nutrition clinic support, free chest X-rays, and integrated services for people living with HIV.

Abubakar-Sadiq said Kaduna had expanded diagnostic capacity with GeneXpert, TB LAMP, TrueNat, LF LAM, and microscopy services across all local government areas, significantly improving detection and response to tuberculosis cases.

She urged residents, organisations and stakeholders to support tuberculosis control efforts, emphasising that early testing for persistent cough was vital, adding that diagnosis and treatment remained free and accessible statewide.

Source: NAN

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The announcement is contained in a communiqué jointly signed by JOHESU national chairman, Mr Kabiru Ado-Minjibir, and national secretary, Mr Martin Egbanubi, in Abuja.

The union said the decision followed resolutions reached at an emergency expanded National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.

It said the meeting was convened to review the outcome of a February 5 conciliation meeting with the federal government at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the communiqué, key resolutions include the commencement of Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, negotiations and immediate prioritisation of outstanding issues on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.

It added that the agreement provided for budgetary allocation for the salary adjustment in the 2026 Appropriation Act based on the existing technical committee template.

The communiqué said the federal government further agreed to withdraw the “No Work, No Pay” directive issued against JOHESU members during the strike.

It also said January 2026 salaries of all JOHESU members would be paid immediately and that no member would be victimised, sanctioned or intimidated for participating in the industrial action.

“Following a review of the resolutions, the expanded National Executive Council unanimously approved the suspension of the indefinite nationwide strike.

“The NEC subsequently directed all JOHESU members across federal and state health institutions to resume work with immediate effect,” the communiqué said.

It noted that the strike, which began on November 15, 2025, was triggered by the non-implementation of the CONHESS adjustment and other outstanding welfare issues.

According to the union, the prolonged strike adversely affected healthcare delivery, resulting in increased maternal and infant mortality across the country.

It also said the federal government reportedly lost close to one trillion naira in revenue during the strike period.

It stated that the conciliation meeting was convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment following a 14-day ultimatum issued to the federal government by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

It added that ministers of labour, finance and health, as well as representatives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, attended the meeting.

The union, however, commended the intervention of the National Assembly leadership, traditional rulers and professional bodies in resolving the dispute.

The union urged the federal and state governments to fully implement agreements reached to prevent future industrial actions.

Source: NAN

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Nigeria’s shift toward a pro-health review of the tax payable by manufacturers of non-alcoholic, sweetened, and carbonated drinks, commonly known as Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), has reached a critical moment.

Last November, the Senate Joint Committee on Finance, Customs and Excise convened a public hearing in Abuja to consider a bill seeking to amend the existing excise duty framework for SSBs.

The bill before the National Assembly, formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend Section 21(3) of the Customs, Excise Tariffs, Etc. (Consolidation) Act to Replace the Fixed Ten Naira (N10) Per Litre Excise Duty on Non-Alcoholic, Carbonated Sugar-Sweetened Beverages with a Percentage Levy Based on Retail Price, and to Provide for the Earmarking of a Portion of the Revenue for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programmes”, marks a significant policy turning point.

Sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the bill is grounded in growing medical and public-health evidence linking SSB consumption – soft drinks, energy drinks, and artificially sweetened juices – to a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Nigeria.

Opening the hearing, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, captured the essence of the proposal. “This amendment is not merely fiscal in nature; it is a public health investment strategy that aligns taxation policy with our national health priorities. It proposes a restructuring of existing excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) not to impose more burden on citizens, but to redirect part of the existing revenue to finance health-related programmes and infrastructure that will improve the wellbeing of Nigerians,” he told the committee, quoting Ipalibo.

This framing deserves serious reflection.

Globally, SSBs are scientifically recognised as major dietary drivers of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, childhood malnutrition, and premature death. In Nigeria, consumption of sugary drinks – particularly among children and young adults – has risen sharply. Non-communicable diseases now account for almost 30 percent of annual deaths, placing enormous strain on families and overwhelming an already fragile health system.

The real question is not whether the SSB tax should be strengthened, but whether public health will finally be placed above private profit.

Nigeria has also emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for sugary drinks. Reports indicate that the average consumer drinks about six bottles weekly, spending roughly N2,500. The consequence is a growing population burdened by debilitating illnesses that were once perceived as “foreign” diseases.

The human and economic toll is staggering. Last month, the Diabetes Association of Nigeria revealed that approximately 30,000 Nigerians die annually from diabetes, while about 11.4 million live with the condition. Managing diabetes now costs between N100,000 and N120,000 monthly, well beyond the reach of most households. Heart disease, another diet-related NCD, presents an even bleaker picture. As of 2021, Nigeria had only 13 centres conducting heart surgery and about 80 heart surgeons for a population exceeding 200 million. With surgery costs rising from roughly N3 million to N5.5 million in recent years, life-saving care has become inaccessible for the majority.

To its credit, the Nigerian government acknowledged this crisis in 2021 by introducing an excise duty on SSBs through the Finance Act. By inserting Section 21(3) into the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act, it imposed a N10 per litre levy on non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages, recognising that public-health taxation can be a life-saving tool.

However, the current tax level is far too weak to be effective.

A fixed N10 per litre duty represents a negligible fraction of the retail price of sugary drinks. In 2021, a 33cl bottle of soft drink sold for N100–N150, meaning manufacturers paid less than N3 per bottle in excise duty. Today, that same bottle costs between N350 and N500, yet the tax remains unchanged. The result is a levy that barely affects shelf prices, fails to discourage consumption, does not incentivise reformulation, and is easily absorbed by manufacturers.

This weakness is particularly troubling against the backdrop of Nigeria’s underfunded health sector. The country allocates less than five per cent of its national budget to health – far below the 15 per cent benchmark set under the 2001 Abuja Declaration. Patients exhaust family savings to manage diet-related illnesses, while health workers continue to emigrate due to poor conditions and inadequate funding. Like Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, noted recently, the system is stretched to breaking point.

Even more concerning is that recent tax reforms again sidelined public health. While new development levies earmarked funds for education, technology, defence, and cybersecurity, none were allocated to health – despite declining donor support and growing disease burdens. Without sustainable domestic financing, the deterioration of Nigeria’s health system will only accelerate.

Against this backdrop, the National Assembly’s proposed amendment to the excise duty framework is not only timely but essential. A retail-price-based SSB tax would meaningfully reduce consumption and encourage manufacturers to lower sugar content, thereby reducing health risks.

Predictably, industry opposition has followed. Manufacturers warn of job losses, factory closures, and economic hardship – the same arguments historically deployed against tobacco, alcohol, and other public-health regulations. Yet international evidence consistently shows these claims to be exaggerated. Across the globe, more than 50 countries including South Africa, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines have implemented similar taxes with demonstrated success. These countries have not recorded widespread job losses. Instead, companies adapt – diversifying products, reformulating drinks, and investing in healthier alternatives such as bottled water and low-sugar beverages.

What also makes the economic alarmism particularly hollow is that it is advanced by companies that continue to report strong revenues and sustained profitability in their Nigerian and African operations. Annual financial disclosures routinely show huge turnover, even amid broader economic pressures. The contradiction is as clear as daylight. An industry that remains profitable suddenly discovers economic fragility only when asked to bear modest responsibility for the public-health damage its products help drive.

More importantly, this narrow focus on corporate balance sheets by industry lobbyists obscures the real economic question. The cost of inaction is already being paid by households and the state. NCDs impose enormous losses through healthcare spending, reduced productivity, and premature death. A recent investigation estimate that Nigerians spend about N1.92 trillion annually treating such conditions. Prevention, through an effective SSB tax, is far cheaper and far smarter.

Another misleading claim is that the amendment represents a “sugar tax.” It does not. The proposed levy targets sugar-sweetened beverages, not sugar itself, and does not affect farmers, traditional foods, or local diets.

Ultimately, this debate is about political will. Governments exist to protect public welfare, not corporate profit margins. While businesses play a vital economic role, their interests cannot override Nigerians’ right to healthy lives.

Strengthening Nigeria’s SSB tax would align with global best practice and address the country’s urgent health challenges. Lawmakers now have an opportunity to show that evidence – not intimidation or misinformation – will guide public policy.

Accordingly, Nigeria should:

Adopt a strong retail-price-based excise structure, setting the levy at 50 per cent of the retail price, with a minimum floor of 20 per cent, in line with WHO guidance and the Bloomberg Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health.

Earmark SSB tax revenues for public health, particularly for NCD prevention and management, to ensure sustainable health financing.

Establish a national monitoring and evaluation task force to oversee implementation, ensure compliance, and assess health and fiscal outcomes.

Nigeria cannot afford delay. As NCD rates climb and healthcare costs soar, maintaining an ineffective N10 per litre tax amounts to policy complacency. The real question is not whether the SSB tax should be strengthened, but whether public health will finally be placed above private profit.

The answer should be unequivocal.

*Egbe is a healthy food advocate at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

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DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s spokesperson, who made this known in a statement on Saturday in Akure, said the case was reported by concerned citizens of Sabo area on January 18 at about 6 p.m.

Jimoh said the concerned citizens alleged that one Kehinde Olawuyi, male, aged; 36 years, and his wife, Eniola Olawuyi, were operating an illegal medical clinic at Orita Odigbo.

“According to the report, the suspects allegedly admitted one Iyanu, female, aged 28 years, on Jan.4 at about noon for delivery at the said illegal facility.

“It was further alleged that the suspects mishandled the medical procedure in an unprofessional manner, which resulted in the victim becoming unconscious and bleeding profusely.

“The victim was immediately rushed to another medical facility in Odigbo for emergency medical attention.

“Unfortunately, despite efforts by medical personnel, she was later confirmed dead.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were not registered medical practitioners, confirming the facility was being operated illegally.

“The case is currently under investigation, and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” he said.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police warned members of the public against patronising unregistered and illegal medical facilities.

He also said the CP urged residents of the state to always seek medical care from licensed and certified health institutions.

Jimoh, therefore, appealed to members of the public with any credible and actionable information, which might lead to the apprehension of the suspects, to promptly report such information to the nearest police station.

According to him, all information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Source: NAN

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WHO, in a statement acknowledged several significant contributions of the U.S. to the organisation since its founding.

The U.S. formally withdrew from the WHO on Thursday, making good an executive order that President Donald Trump issued on January 20, 2025, his first day in office.

“As a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States of America has contributed significantly to many of WHO’s greatest achievements,” WHO said.

These include “the eradication of smallpox, and progress against many other public health threats including polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and more.”

“WHO, therefore, regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe.

“The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting starting on 2 February and by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting in May 2026.”

WHO said it took note of statements from the government of the United States that stated that WHO had “trashed and tarnished” and insulted it, and compromised its independence.

“The reverse is true,” the UN global health agency declared.

“As we do with every Member State, WHO has always sought to engage with the United States in good faith, with full respect for its sovereignty,” WHO stressed.

In its statements, the United States cited as one of the reasons for its decision, “WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The failure, the U.S. noted, included “obstructing the timely and accurate sharing of critical information” and that WHO “concealed those failures.”

“While no organisation or government got everything right, WHO stands by its response to this unprecedented global health crisis.

“Throughout the pandemic, WHO acted quickly, shared all information it had rapidly and transparently with the world, and advised Member States on the basis of the best available evidence.”

WHO said it recommended the use of masks, vaccines and physical distancing, but at no stage recommended mask mandates, vaccine mandates or lockdowns.

The global health body said it supported sovereign governments to make decisions they believed were in the best interests of their people, but the decisions were theirs.

“Immediately after receiving the first reports of a cluster of cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause” in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019, WHO asked China for more information and activated its emergency incident management system.

“By the time the first death was reported from China on 11 January 2020, WHO had already alerted the world through formal channels, public statements and social media, convened global experts, and published comprehensive guidance for countries on how to protect their populations and health systems.

“When the WHO Director-General declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations on 30 January 2020 – the highest level of alarm under international health law – outside of China there were fewer than 100 reported cases, and no reported deaths.”

WHO said in the first weeks and months of the pandemic, the Director-General urged all countries repeatedly to take immediate action to protect their populations.

The global health agency said it warned that “the window of opportunity is closing”, adding “this is not a drill” and describing COVID-19 as “public enemy number one.”

Accordingly, it said in response to the multiple reviews of the COVID-19 pandemic, including of WHO’s performance, WHO has taken steps to strengthen its own work.

These steps, WHO stressed, included to support countries to bolster their own pandemic preparedness and response capacities.

“The systems we developed and managed before, during and after the emergency phase of the pandemic, and which run 24/7, have contributed to keeping all countries safe, including the United States.”

The United States also said in its statements that WHO has “pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests.”

“This is untrue,” the world health body counters.

“As a specialized agency of the United Nations, governed by 194 Member States, WHO has always been and remains impartial and exists to serve all countries, with respect for their sovereignty, and without fear or favour.”

WHO appreciates the support and continued engagement of all its Member States, which continue to work within the framework of WHO to pursue solutions to the world’s biggest health threats, both communicable and noncommunicable.

Most notably, WHO Member States in 2025 adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which once ratified will become a landmark instrument of international law to keep the world safer from future pandemics.

Member States are now negotiating an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system.

If adopted, this will promote rapid detection and sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential, and equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

The global health body said it hoped that in the future, the United States would return to active participation in WHO.

Meanwhile, “WHO remains steadfastly committed to working with all countries in pursuit of its core mission and constitutional mandate: the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people.”

Source: NAN

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NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, spoke to journalists on Friday after manufacturers and union members protested at the agency’s Lagos office.

The protesters carried placards urging the federal government to stop NAFDAC’s ongoing enforcement of the ban on sachet and small-sized alcoholic beverages.

Adeyeye said the enforcement was backed by law, stressing that only a change in legislation could compel the agency to halt its actions.

She said reasons advanced by the protesters would not deter the agency from carrying out its statutory responsibilities.

“We told them clearly that we will continue the enforcement because it is backed by the law.

“The legislature makes the laws and directs us to regulate manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and use of alcohol.

“So, if the law changes and says we should not regulate alcohol, we will stop. Only the law can stop us from doing our duties,” she said.

Adeyeye said the ban aligned with global health standards and Sustainable Development Goal 3.5 on reducing harmful alcohol consumption.

She said manufacturers were given a five-year moratorium, with an additional one-year extension, to adjust production and business plans.

The Director-General warned that easy access to alcohol by children could lead to substance abuse and long-term health problems.

She added that excessive alcohol consumption by adults could cause liver damage and other serious health risks.

Adeyeye urged parents to monitor their children and called on community and religious leaders to support NAFDAC’s public health campaign.

“No Nigerian has the right to make money at the expense of another person’s health,” she said.

Source: NAN

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The post Protests: NAFDAC insists on alcohol sachet ban appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a media parley, organised by the agency, on Wednesday in Lagos.

NAFDAC had on November 11, 2025, announced that it would enforce a total ban on the production and sale of the items by December 2025, in line with directive of the Senate.

However, the proposed enforcement was halted after the federal government called for the immediate suspension of all actions and measures related to the proposed ban, pending the outcome of consultations and final directive.

Adeyeye said that the agency had got the order from the Senate to enforce the ban, noting that NAFDAC had already commenced enforcement.

She said that the agency took the decision to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable population, particularly children, adolescents, and young adults, from the harmful use of alcohol.

Adeyeye noted that the proliferation of high alcohol content beverages in sachets and small containers had made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable.

“We already started the enforcement to ban alcohol production in sachet and bottles below 200ml, after we received order from the Senate to proceed.

“NAFDAC is not against alcohol, but we are against its proliferation of high alcohol content in sachet and small bottles, to prevent children from having easy access to it,” she said.

She noted that prior to her position as NAFDAC boss, sachet alcohol had 50 to 90 per cent concentration of alcohol, describing it as extremely high.

“We asked the manufacturers to reduce the content to 30 per cent, they went directly to the ministry to express their displeasure, citing loss of jobs and investment.

“The then Minister of Health gave them a five-years period between December 2018 to January 31, 2024, to put their business in place,” she said.

Adeyeye, consequently, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the health of the nation, especially the safety of vulnerable groups like children, through its regulatory activities.

Source: NAN

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