National

FG Orders NAFDAC to Suspend Enforcement of Ban on Sachet Alcohol

Published

4 months ago

February 11, 2026

Eric

The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to suspend all enforcement actions relating to the proposed ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle alcoholic products.

The government also warned the agency to immediately stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Terrence Kuanum.

Kuanum said the order followed a joint intervention by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser, which raised concerns over the security implications of continued enforcement in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy.

“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement read.

He said although the National Alcohol Policy had been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, both offices insisted that NAFDAC must refrain from all enforcement measures until the policy is fully implemented and further directives are issued.

The government said such measures include factory shutdowns, warehouse sealing and public emphasis on the sachet alcohol ban.

According to the statement, the continued sealing of warehouses and what it described as a “de facto ban” on sachet alcohol products, without a harmonised policy framework, was already causing economic disruptions and posing security risks, particularly due to its impact on jobs, supply chains and informal distribution networks nationwide.

Kuanum said the position reinforced an earlier directive issued by the SGF’s office in December 2025, which suspended all actions relating to the proposed ban pending consultations and a final decision.

He added that the SGF’s office had also received a letter from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control dated November 13, 2025, raising concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and referencing existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the issue.

The letter, referenced NASS/10/HR/CT.53/77 and signed by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, raised concerns over NAFDAC’s proposed enforcement actions and drew attention to existing resolutions of the National Assembly on the issue.

The Federal Government said it was reviewing legislative resolutions, public health considerations, economic implications and national interest factors surrounding the matter.

The government said the involvement of the National Security Adviser showed that the issue had gone beyond regulatory concerns, warning that premature enforcement without coordinated policy implementation could destabilise communities, worsen unemployment and trigger security challenges.

It assured Nigerians and industry stakeholders that a final decision would be communicated after consultations and inter-agency coordination, in the interest of public health, economic stability and national security.

National

N210trn Audit Query: Senate Orders Arrest of NNPC Ex-GMD Mele Kyari

Published

4 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Eric

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, following his failure to appear before the committee investigating audit queries relating to NNPCL’s finances between 2017 and 2023.

The directive was issued during an investigative hearing chaired by Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North) in Abuja.

The committee is probing audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation concerning NNPCL’s financial records during the period under review.

Kyari’s absence from the hearing sparked heated debate among committee members, with some senators calling for his immediate arrest, while others urged the panel to grant him another opportunity to appear.

Senators Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North) informed the committee that Kyari was reportedly receiving medical treatment in Germany and should be given another chance to honour the invitation.

However, several lawmakers opposed the suggestion.

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) argued that any claim of illness should be supported by documentary evidence rather than verbal explanations.

Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) subsequently moved a motion for the issuance of a warrant for Kyari’s arrest, which was seconded by the committee’s deputy chairman, Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North).

Nwaebonyi said the committee had repeatedly invited Kyari without success and stressed the need to conclude its assignment.

“This is the ninth time this committee is meeting on the 19 audit queries raised against NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation,” he said.

Following a voice vote, the committee adopted the motion and directed that Kyari be brought before it to answer questions relating to the audit issues under investigation.

During the hearing, former NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya Isa, rejected claims that N210 trillion was missing or unaccounted for in the company’s records.

Ajiya argued that the figure being discussed exceeded the company’s total revenue during the period in question.

“NNPCL’s total revenue for the period under review was about N54.5 trillion before deducting production costs. It is therefore impossible for N210 trillion to be missing or unaccounted for,” he told the committee.

He maintained that the publication of audited financial statements by the company demonstrated transparency and accountability.

According to him, if such a huge sum had been missing, the company would not have been able to publish audited accounts.

Ajiya also dismissed allegations that N5.8 billion was spent on the registration of NNPC Limited, describing the claim as inaccurate and urging the committee to verify the matter with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, now known as the Nigeria Revenue Service.

He warned that unverified allegations could damage the reputation of both the company and the country, noting that international rating agencies often rely on publicly available information in assessing investment risks and sovereign ratings.

The former CFO further called on relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to investigate the claims and establish the facts.

The committee subsequently directed Ajiya and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Bala Wunti, to reappear before it in two weeks as the investigation continues.

The Senate panel is expected to submit its findings after concluding its review of the audit queries raised against the national oil company.

National

Atiku Visits Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja for Unity Talks After ADC Primaries

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Eric

Following his victory at the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday visited former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at his residence in Abuja in a bid to unify the party after a contentious primary election.

Atiku was accompanied by notable party figures, including Senator Aminu Tambuwal and Chief Ralph Nwosu, among other leaders, for what sources described as strategic consultations aimed at strengthening the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The visit comes shortly after Atiku was declared the winner of the ADC presidential primary, polling significantly ahead of Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen have rejected the results, alleging irregularities, voter disenfranchisement, and manipulation.

Videos and photos circulating on social media show Atiku and his delegation at Amaechi’s residence, signaling an effort to mend fences and bring key stakeholders on board.

This is not the first meeting between the two politicians. Atiku had previously visited Amaechi in April, describing him as a “statesman” whose service to the nation remains impactful. Atiku also described Amaechi as a brother and fellow patriot in a birthday message on Wednesday.

Political analysts view the latest engagement as a critical step towards party cohesion, especially as the ADC positions itself as a formidable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.

No official statement of the meeting has been released yet.

National

Senate Amends Own Rules, Blocks ‘Freshers’ from Leadership Positions

Published

1 month ago

May 6, 2026

Eric

The Senate has amended its Standing Orders, limiting eligibility to contest for its presiding officers and principal officers to only members of the 10th Senate.

In the new rules, a senator shall only qualify to contest for Senate Presidency and Deputy Senate Presidency if he/she has won election to the Senate for at least one term of four years.

To be eligible to contest for any principal office, a senator must have won election for two consecutive periods, the last one must immediately precede the inauguration of the next Senate.

By implication, any senator who plans to vie to become a presiding officer in the 11th Senate (2027-20231) must have been a senator for at least one term preceding the inauguration.

For principal offices (chief whip, deputy whip, minority whip, etc), the senator must have been a member of the current 10th Senate, or they are not eligible to contest.

Under the new provision on “qualification of presiding officers”, it is stated in Order 3,”A Senator vying for the Office of the President of the Senate and the Deputy President of the Senate must have served at least one term of four (4) years in the Senate as a senator of the Federal Republic.”

Similarly, nomination for the positions shall strictly follow ranking in the following order: former president of the Senate; former deputy president of the Senate; former principal officers of the Senate; senators who had served for at least one term of four (4) years; and senators who had been members of the House of Representatives.

According to the provision, it is only the absence of the above that a first-term senator can be nominated to contest for the positions of presiding officers.

Under Order 5, a senator seeking to be a principal officer must have “served as a senator for at least two consecutive terms immediately preceding such nomination. “

The Senate passed the rules after a lengthy executive session presided over by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday.

The new rules impliedly gives Akpabio, other former presiding officers, principal officers and ranked senators the right of first refusal.

Findings indicated that the new rules might be what some sources described as “self-serving” or designed to serve the interest of the present presiding officers and members of the 10th Senate.

For instance, some State governors contesting the 2027 election to the Senate in the hope of vying for the presidency of the Senate, are effectively barred by the new rules.

It was also learnt that even within the Senate, the new rules will stop some senators from vying to become principal officers as they would not have attained two consecutive terms prior to 2027.