Month: December 2023

 

By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos:  Mr Temidayo Kafaru, the Chief Executive Officer of Booze.ng, has expressed concern over the rising sale of fake alcoholic beverages in the country.

He said the issue of fake alcoholic products was worrisome due to high consumption during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Kafaru made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He said part of the solutions to the surge in counterfeit products, especially during the yuletide season, was to bridge the gap between premium, legitimate offerings and the prevalence of substandard alternatives.

He said his company, Booze.ng, was committed to providing that solution.

“Our commitment to direct relationships with producers and a unique business model positions us to offer a curated selection of premium drinks approved by National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC),” Kafaru said.

According to him, his organisation is committed to ensuring that fun seekers understand that while drinking alcohol, it is important to ensure that it is safe to consume it.

“We aim to contribute by not just selling drinks but by actively shaping a culture of responsible enjoyment in the industry,” he said.

He said Booze.ng offered consumers the convenience of ordering premium alcoholic beverages online nationwide.

According to him, the targeted audience of Booze.ng is hard working men and women who need to unwind and calm their nerves after a long day at work.

“Booze.ng strategically caters to three distinct customer segments. Our primary audience consists of ambitious hustlers, aged 21-45, with medium to high incomes, primarily located in Lagos.

“The secondary audience comprises lifestyle enthusiasts, aged 25-60, with a focus on middle-class professionals across Nigeria. The tertiary audience includes trendsetters, aged 21-65, with a more budget-conscious approach.

“We address their diverse needs by offering a range of premium to affordable alcoholic beverages, ensuring accessibility, and promoting responsible consumption,” he said.

On competitiveness, he said the Nigerian alcoholic beverage market ws highly competitive, with players like Drinks.ng, Luxuria, Wine Bank, and others.

But he said Booze.ng focused on unbranded gondolas in its physical store, creating a premium shopping environment.

“Our VIP spaces, business café, and Kratos Nightclub offer exclusive experiences.

“Additionally, our expansion plans, integrated e-commerce, and commitment to innovation provide distinct competitive edges.

“Booze.ng maintains a physical store in Victoria Island, Lagos, catering to premium buyers with a selection of high-end alcoholic beverages,” he said.

Kafaru said in the spirit of the season, Booze.ng would hold an art exhibition from Dec. 12 to Dec. 17, and that each day, the store and drinks would be showcased. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

 

By Suleiman Shehu

Ibadan:  The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said nine passengers have sustained varying degree of burns in an auto crash on Ogbomoso-Oyo Expressway.

The Sector Commander in the state, Joshua Adekanye confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ibadan on Sunday.

He said the accident which occurred on Saturday involved a trailer and a truck at Sekona area along Ogbomoso – Oyo Expressway.

Adekanye said that nine out of the total 13 people involved in the accident got burnt while four others escaped unhurt.

“The accident happened around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, and that the truck vehicle caught fire while the trailer collided with it.

“The actual cause of the truck which went on fire could not be ascertain because it happened at night,” he said.

He, however, said the likely cause of the trailer colliding with the truck might be speeding and wrongful overtaking.

According to him, the burnt victims are being referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for treatment, adding that the RS11.31 Ogbomoso and RS11.312 Oolo Commands conducted rescued operation.

“Other agency that carried out the rescue operation are the Fire Service and Odo-Oba Lolice Division,” he said.

Adekanye called on motorists to shun night travelling, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving to ensure safety on the road. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

 

By Ahmed Abba
Damaturu:   National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has begun sensitisation of the public about the dangers of using calcium carbide to ripen fruits and azo dye to thicken and color palm oil in Yobe.

NAFDAC Coordinator in the state, Mr Lawan Dadingelma, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu.

Lawan said that the practices were harmful and could lead to serious health problems, hence the decision to sensitise the people.

According to him, calcium carbide is a dangerous chemical that can damage the organs of the body when ingested.

He also described azo dye as a carcinogenic compound that can cause cancer.

Lawan urged the general public to avoid consuming fruits that had been ripened with calcium carbide and palm oil that had been thickened and coloured with azo dye.

The NAFDAC coordinator urged packaged water manufacturers and bakers to maintain good manufacturing practices to ensure that their products were safe and wholesome for human consumption.

He said that the agency had, during the campaign, recognised and rewarded some traditional rulers who were championing the fight against harmful food practices.

“During the campaign, NAFDAC officials visited the Emirs of Bade, Potiskum and Fika and presented them with awards of recognition,” he said.

Lawan enjoined Nigerians to join the fight against harmful food practices.

“The agency will not hesitate to shut down businesses that are found to be using harmful chemicals in their products,” he warned. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

Crew members of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) survived a crash involving an MI-35P helicopter in Port Harcourt on Friday.

A statement by the Director of NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the crash.

He said, “The unfortunate incident occurred at about 7.45 a.m. shortly after the aircraft took off for an operation against economic saboteurs in Rivers State.

 

“Fortunately, the entire crew of 5 survived the crash with very minor injuries and are currently being attended to at NAF Medical Centre Port Harcourt.

 

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, is currently en route to Port Harcourt to access the situation for himself, see to the wellbeing of the crew, and give further directives.

 

“Incidents of this nature are yet again a grim reminder of the dangers associated with military flying and the risks NAF pilots and technicians experience in their onerous tasks of defending our nation and deterring criminal elements from their nefarious activities.

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed the arraignment of 12 officers of the agency before a disciplinary panel for various offences bordering on corruption.

 

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that our of the 12 officers arraigned, one was, however, found not guilty.

 

 

 

The acting General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare, confirmed this in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Public of Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Mr Taofiq Adebayo.

 

 

 

Bakare said that the disciplinary action was in line with the agency’s extant rules, as guided by the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

 

 

 

The acting general manager, who was also part of the disciplinary panel, noted that while 11 officers were found guilty of corrupt practices, one officer was exonerated with the report of the panel.

 

 

 

According to him, the disciplinary panel, which was statutorily constituted with three permanent secretaries in attendance, adjudicated on the cases of corrupt practices levelled against the 12 officers.

 

 

 

He said that panel had also forwarded its recommendations to the State Civil Service Commission for ratification, in line with the public service rules.

 

 

 

Bakare explained that the panel recommended various punishments, ranging from dismissal, reduction in rank to immediate termination of appointment from the state public service.

 

 

 

“‘Riot Acts to all comptrollers, commanders and zebras of the agency maintain that stiff and severe punishment will continue to be meted out to corrupt officers and men in the efforts to weed the agency of few bad elements tarnishing its image.

 

 

 

“We, hereby, call on residents, especially the motoring public, to support the agency in the ongoing restructuring by promptly reporting any errant officer via any of the agency’s complaints hotlines (08100565860, 08129928503, 08129928515 & 08129928597), with proof of evidence.

 

 

 

“All officers are, hereby, warned to always carry out their duties without fear or favour, but in accordance with the stipulated laws guiding the authority.

 

 

 

“Any operative caught in the process of bringing the agency or the state government into disrepute shall equally face the consequences,” he said.

 

 

 

Bakare commended LASTMA officials for their dedication, dutifulness, diligence and professionalism.

 

 

 

He, however, warned the motoring public to stop inducing traffic personnel with bribes in order to avoid prosecution, as the law frowned on both the giver and the receiver.

 

 

 

He also urged motorists to reach out to LASTMA management for complaints and inquiries via its social media handles, including Instagram – ekolastma; Twitter ‘X’ – @followlastma; Facebook – ekolastma and Youtube – LastmaTV. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

AIC/KTO/WAS

The Federal Government says it will sanction employers of labour over indecent working conditions that negates local and international labour laws.

 

Mr Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment said this during the inauguration of Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) III, (2023-2027) on Friday in Abuja.

 

The DWCP was inaugurated to promote jobs, guarantee rights at work, extend social protection and promote social dialogue.

 

The programme was organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

 

Lalong said decent work deficits had continued to abound in the economy as informal employment has become the norm, while well-paying jobs that offer social protection benefits are the exception.

 

According to him, workers in the informal economy are exposed to poor working conditions, low pay, long hours of work and low rate of unionism, unsafe working environments.

 

“As well as absence of efficient employment and job creation opportunities and conditions of underemployment, among others.

 

“Government is aware of the activities of some of these employers, who due to the pursuit of profit, disregard the extant labour laws.

 

“This creates work environments that frustrate the attainment of decent work for employers or employees because of the quest for profit.

 

“Many workers are exploited and make the work in very indecent and intolerable conditions, which negate all local and international labour laws.

 

“Hence, we shall not fail to sanction such organisations and ensure that the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers are protected,”he said.

 

He said that he had directed the Inspectorate Department in the ministry, to wake up to its responsibility and ensure the full compliance with decent work regulations across the country.

 

The minister said “I shall be engaging relevant government agencies to ensure that these entities are fully made to face the rod of the law.

 

Lalong said the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme would ensure that existing, and new jobs in both the public and private sectors are productive.

 

“It would also provide opportunities for career progression to deliver a fair income and social security for the family.

 

“It will ensure that the tenets of decent work are mainstreamed into all Employment Generation activities,”he said.

 

Also speaking, Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director to Nigeria said that the process of developing the DWCP was robust, inclusive, and consultative with the participation of the social partners.

 

According to him, the ILO in 2021 conducted a diagnostic study on the decent work situation in Nigeria, which gave it reliable data on the situation at hand.

 

She said that several recommendations were made to address the decent work deficits in Nigeria.

 

Phala said the DWCP document would serve as a tool in addressing the country’s social and economic challenges.

 

“It will ensure job-rich, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

 

“It is also an instrument that the government and social partners can use to mobilise resources needed to address productive employment and decent work,”she said.

 

Mr Matthias Schmale, UN Resident Coordinator, said that Nigeria was lagging far behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

“Sadly, Nigeria is seen as the biggest in the African continent if not by whole.

 

“We must really work very hard together to ensure that Nigeria like everyone else catches up in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

“If Nigeria can achieve the SDGs, the implementation of DWCP would be a thing of the past,”he said.

 

Schmale said that the UN would continue to offer Nigerian government series of transformative initiatives to help accelerate the SDG achievement.