Business
NAFDAC presents alcohol survey reports backing ban
Rivers and Lagos State lead in the consumption of alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles among minors and underage persons.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday made a publication presentation of alcohol consumptions survey.
This is in response to the MAN , NECA, FOBTOB, among other industrial stakeholders querying its recent ban on sachets alcohol in packet sizes and PET bottles.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said during the presentation of the survey reports that the study was conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and carried out by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, surveyed 1,788 respondents across six states between June and August 2021.
“Rivers and Lagos State lead in the consumption of alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles among minors and underage persons” , she said.
The agency said that the report examined access to alcohol and drinking frequency among minors (below 13 years), underage (13–17 years), and adults (18 years and above).”
Alcohol remains “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths” and noted that “the availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors.”
54.3 per cent of minors and underage respondents obtained alcohol by themselves.
Nearly half (49.9 per cent) purchased drinks in sachets or PET bottles, with Rivers State recording the highest rates — 68.0 percent for sachets and 64.5 percent for PET bottles.
Lagos followed with 52.3 percent and 47.7 percent, respectively, while Kaduna recorded 38.6 percent sachet and 28.4 percent PET bottle consumption.
“The proportion of drinks procured in sachets was higher among males (51.4 percent) compared to females (41.5 percent), and more in rural (50.1 percent) compared to urban (45.3 percent) locations.”
The report also revealed that minors and underage respondents also accessed alcohol from friends and relatives (49.9 percent), social gatherings (45.9 per cent), and parents’ homes (21.7 per cent).
It said that among those who bought alcohol themselves, 47.2 percent of minors and 48.8 percent of underaged respondents procured drinks in sachets, while 41.2 percent of minors and 47.2 percent of the underaged bought PET bottles.
On consumption frequency, 63.2 percent of minors and 54.0 percent of underage persons were occasional drinkers, but 9.3 percent of minors and 25.2 percent of underages respondent reported drinking daily.
The report urged stricter regulation, noting that “access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available.”
Business
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Business
Airtel launches data calculator to counter depletion complaints
Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said that the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.
Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel Web Data Calculator, a new digital tool designed to help customers estimate and better understand their internet data consumption based on real-life usage patterns.
Available through Airtel’s website, the calculator enables customers to estimate data usage across common digital activities such as video streaming, social media engagement, voice and video calls, and everyday web browsing.
Speaking on the launch, Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director, Airtel Nigeria, said that the initiative reflects Airtel’s commitment to customer empowerment and service transparency.
“As Nigerians become increasingly dependent on digital services for work, education, entertainment and communication, it is important that customers have clear visibility into how their data is consumed.
The Airtel Web Data Calculator was developed to help our customers understand their usage patterns better, make informed choices, and enjoy greater confidence in their digital experience,” he said.
Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.
“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by network investments but also by how effectively operators help customers understand and manage their digital lives. The Airtel Web Data Calculator represents a practical innovation that places more information and control directly in the hands of our customers.” He said.
Business
Kingsley Moghalu chairs Bluecode Africa subsidiary in Nigeria
Moghalu served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, heading the Financial System Stability and Operations Directorates at different periods.
Bluecode Africa, the European payments infrastructure operator backed by leading US and European institutional investors, has named Prof Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu as Chairman of the Advisory Board of its Nigerian subsidiary, Bluecode Payments Nigeria Limited as the company formally enters the Nigerian market.
The appointment was jointly announced by Chris Pirkner, Founder of Bluecode, and Odin Krismayr, Managing Director of Bluecode Africa, who described it as a foundational governance decision for the company’s Nigerian and continental operations.
Moghalu served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, heading the Financial System Stability and Operations Directorates at different periods.
He led the team that introduced the unique-identifier Bank Verification Number (BVN), enrolling 50 million banking users, simplifying Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, and doubled Nigeria’s financial inclusion rate from 33 to 60 per cent.
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