CSOs hold “let the poor live” protest over sachet alcohol, beverages ban

No fewer than 100 civil society groups, Wednesday, held what it described as a ‘Let The Poor Live’ protest in Abuja challenging the ban on sachet and PET bottles of alcoholic drinks by the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Led by the Coalition Against Economic Saboteurs, the groups also called for the immediate sack of the NAFDAC DG Prof. Moji Adeyeye for her anti-people policies. The groups lamented that the new policy would further pile more problems on the Nigerian economy as it may lead to the eventual shutdown of the industries producing these products. They further decried that Adeyeye is being used by multinationals to destroy small businesses in our local production and companies. “Today, we address a matter of grave concern, the recent decision by the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojo Adeyeye, to ban the sale of beverages in small sachets. We view this policy as a direct assault on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, a move that will not only put countless citizens out of work but also exacerbate the existing problems of insecurity and unemployment in our nation,” Comrade Kabir Matazu said on behalf of the groups. “We strongly condemn this ill-thought-out policy, which seems disconnected from the realities faced by the ordinary Nigerian citizens. NAFDAC leadership abandoned their core responsibility of focusing on issues that truly threaten the well-being of our people, such as the inflow of fake and substandard drugs, we find the Director General choosing to target a sector that provides employment for many Nigerians and serves the needs of millions of families. “Professor Mojo Adeyeye’s tenure at NAFDAC has, regrettably, been marked by a series of disappointments and failures to deliver the desired results. Rather than ensuring the safety of our food and drugs, we have witnessed a surge in counterfeit beverages, creating a pervasive doubt about the authenticity of what our citizens consume. Ben Omale also called on all stakeholders to unite against the leadership of Professor Mojo Adeyeye. “We demand her immediate suspension from office by the President in order to avert further damage to our economy, job losses, and business closures. It is imperative that NAFDAC should be led by someone who prioritizes the real issues affecting our nation’s health and economic stability.”

CSO tackles Reps over N81.2bn spent by agency to plant 21m trees

A Civil Society Organisation, Budget Implementation, Assessment, Evaluation and Monitoring Committee has faulted the House of Representatives over claims that the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) spent N81.2 billion to plant 21millin trees. Mr Ogakwu Dominic, Coordinator of the CSO dismissed the claims while briefing newsmen in Abuja. The Ad hoc Committee probing the utilisation of ecological funds released to NAGGW had uncovered N81.2 billion allegedly spent to plant 21m trees in 11 states. Domini said the claim by the committee was lacking in merit, adding that part of its engagement with the agency was continuous monitoring and evaluation of all the agency’s activities. This according to him include zonal intervention projects and all constituency projects of the national assembly domiciled in the NAGGW. Dominic said the amount was not only for planting of trees, adding that it was meant for other issues in line with the responsibility of the agency. According to him, the agency has a unique mandate which is transforming Nigerian Drylands through an aggressive and robust tree-planting campaign program. He said it became imperative to check out facts to avoid a misrepresentation that could be antithetical to the achievements of the agency’s set goals. He said , Mr Yusuf Bukar, the Director General of the agency is transparent in all the activities of the agency under his watch. “In its accountability in service, the agency has promoted local, national, and international conferences that champion the cause of planting many trees,. This according to him had created a green society that brought about ecological advantage and also saved the lives of the country’s ecological habitats. He said this had promoted the United Nation habitant agenda and climate policy of the UN, this according to him include: the Bonny Island Green Wall Development Programme Others are: the Northern Sahara Desert Great Green Wall Programme to mention a few. 11 states where the trees were said to have been planted are: Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.