Business
“Why I Don’t Take Food and Beverages in Aba “

Image credit: toppng
By Ichaburu Ochefa
Some time ago, a friend of mine living in Lagos State told me that whenever he is on business travels to Aba, Abia State, he doesn’t drink water or tea neither in the hotel he lodges nor buys from the shops outside.
Curiously, I asked him why.? “
They are fake products,” he replied. He added, “From water to tea, wine, spirits, juices, etc.
“I further asked, “So how do you survive while you are there.?
“I prepared myself from Lagos,” he said. “But there are fake products in Lagos, too, and all over Nigeria,” I told him as a matter of fact.
They are at Oke-Arin market on Lagos Island, Alaba International; the Oyingbo market … they are at Ogbete main market, Enugu …”
“I know, he cut me short and said: “Not like Aba; Aba is worst in counterfeiters…”
What my friend told me months ago matches the NAFDAC’s recent regulatory actions against fake product manufacturers in Aba.
An official statement from the agency on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, signed by Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General, described the Cemetery market Aba as ” the most dreaded and hitherto safe haven for the largest cartel ring for the manufacture of fake wines and beverages in Africa.”
NAFDAC further said that its enforcement agents, in collaboration with a large contingency of the military, DSS, and Nigeria Police, in a rare display of inter-agency cooperation, confiscated adulterated wines, fake food, and beverages valued at over N5 billion. ”
The current action of NAFDAC is the most audacious in the history of the market, with specific zones barricaded with iron welding and access gates locked to date.
The operation carried out was a follow-up to a similar raid that was carried out in December 2023.
Some of the nefarious activities of the counterfeiters included the manufacturing of all kinds of adulterated products especially different kinds of wine from a wide variety of brands ranging from the following: · Seaman Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins · Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin · Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Labels · Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice · Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, Cartel and others.
As a consequence of the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops and turned factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed.
The shops turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, coloring, dirty recycled bottles, and cloned packaging materials of other brands.
The adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is done by mixing cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruit, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.
Over 1500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation.
The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000).
The estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation is five billion naira.
The products being revalidated and mopped up include: · Soft and carbonated drinks such as Fanta, Coca-Cola · Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt · Super Commando Energy Drink, Feyrouz and Amstel Malta. Aside from drinks, notable fake home-use beverages such as: · Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink · Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink, and Ovaltine adulterated versions.
Before the evacuation of the products by NAFDAC, they were being produced in the market and neatly packaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers.
NAFDAC management appreciates the support from the Government of Abia State led by His Excellency Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering support for this project OPERATION CLEAN UP ABA.
The Mayor of Aba South, the interim management committee of the market, and other stakeholders have been working assiduously with NAFDAC on the project, leading to another discovery of three major warehouses stockpiling expired HOLLANDIA YOGHURT for revalidation on the 22nd of January 2025.
Business
Dangote Refinery Debunks shutdown rumour, says PMS’s gantry price remains N850

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has firmly dismissed recent reports alleging a shutdown of its operations, reassuring the public and market stakeholders that its activities remain fully active and stable.
In an official statement by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery’s management categorically denied claims that truck loading has been suspended or that production has been interrupted. “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is fully operational. There has been no shutdown, nor has there been any suspension of truck loading activities” the statement reads.
The refinery also clarified that the intermittent sale of Residual Catalytic Oil (RCO) is part of normal business operations, often involving large parcel sales, which explains the recent fuel oil tender.
According to the management, Dangote Petroleum Refinery consistently supplies over 40 million litres of PMS daily, alongside steady volumes of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel). These supplies continue unabated, despite speculation suggesting otherwise.
“As the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, the facility employs advanced predictive and preventive maintenance protocols to ensure uninterrupted operations. Routine maintenance activities are standard and do not impact the overall fuel supply” the statement further clarified.
In response to speculation about potential supply shortages and price increases, the refinery challenged those sponsoring the rumour to place orders for daily deliveries of up to 40 million litres of PMS and 15 million litres of diesel for the next 90 days.
“To those who believe this misinformation and anticipate a bullish market, we extend a challenge: We invite interested buyers to place immediate orders for up to 40 million litres of PMS daily and 15 million litres of AGO daily, for the next 90 days, with full upfront payment. Should any supposed supply shortage occur, these buyers would be well-positioned to benefit from the predicted market rise,” it added.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and Nigeria’s energy security, urging the public to disregard unfounded rumours sponsored by unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals seeking to undermine the country’s energy independence for their own selfish interests, including the importation of substandard fuels under the false pretext of domestic supply shortages.
Business
Ikeja Electric releases new prepaid meter prices

Ikeja Electric has released updated prices for prepaid meters, which take effect from August 6, 2025. The revised rates cover both single-phase and three-phase meter types and are inclusive of VAT.
The revised rates were announced on the disco’s official X account on Friday.
The company announced that “MBH Power Ltd’s one-phase costs ₦135,987.50, while the three-phase costs ₦226,825.00. Turbo Energy Ltd’s one-phase costs ₦145,608.75, while the three-phase costs ₦236,903.13.
“Aries Electric Ltd’s one-phase costs ₦145,125.00, and the three-phase costs ₦258,000.00. Mojec Asset Management Company Ltd’s one-phase costs ₦135,718.75, and the three-phase costs ₦226,825.00.
“Paktim Metering Nig. Ltd, the one-phase meter costs ₦137,600.00, while the three-phase meter costs ₦233,275.00. Holley Metering Ltd’s one-phase meter costs ₦133,854.03, three-phase meter costs ₦219,497.09.
“CIG Metering Assets Nigeria Ltd’s one-phase meter costs ₦150,500.00, New Hampshire Capital Ltd’s one-phase meter costs ₦133,300.00 and the three-phase costs ₦231,125.00.”
The electricity distribution company noted that the prices are “valid subject to meter availability,” adding that the changes are part of its effort to ensure customers have access to up-to-date information on meter procurement.
The company also assured customers that the new pricing reflects the latest approved rates for meter providers under its Meter Asset Provider scheme.
Business
Global electricity demand to keep growing robustly through 2026 despite economic headwinds – IEA
Renewables are expected to overtake coal as the world’s largest source of electricity as early as 2025 or by 2026 at the latest, depending on weather and fuel price trends.

Global electricity demand is set to rise by 3.3% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026 – more than twice as fast as total energy demand growth over the same period, the IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update finds.
The new report underscores the increasing demand for electricity to power factories and appliances, keep buildings cool, operate growing fleets of data centres, run electric vehicles and more.
While the latest forecasts for global electricity demand growth this year and next are a deceleration from the 4.4% surge recorded in 2024, they remain well above the 2015-2023 average of 2.6%.
Renewables are expected to overtake coal as the world’s largest source of electricity as early as 2025 or by 2026 at the latest, depending on weather and fuel price trends.
At the same time, nuclear power output is expected to reach record highs, driven by reactor restarts in Japan, robust output in the United States and France, and new additions, mostly in Asia.
The steady increase in gas-fired power generation is set to continue displacing coal and oil in the power sector in many regions.
As a result of these developments, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation are currently forecast to plateau in 2025 and record a slight decline in 2026, although weather and economic conditions could affect that trajectory.
“The growth in global electricity demand is set to remain robust through 2026, despite an uncertain economic backdrop,” said Keisuke Sadamori, IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security.
“The strong expansion of renewables and nuclear is steadily reshaping electricity markets in many regions. But this must be matched by greater investment in grids, storage and other sources of flexibility to ensure power systems can meet the growing demand securely and affordably.”
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