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

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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.

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FG collected N6.9 billion mining fees across Nigeria in Q1 2025 – Dele Alake

Alake disclosed this via his official X page on Monday.

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has announced that in Q1 2025, the federal government collected N6,957,826,200 in mining fees across Nigeria.

Alake disclosed this via his official X page on Monday.

“I am pleased to share some exciting developments in the mining sector; in the first quarter of this year, the Federal Government collected an impressive N6,957,826,200 in mining fees and registered 118 new private mineral buying centers,” he stated.

Source: Nairametrics.

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The Untapped Wealth in Inherited Family Lands: Turning Ancestral Property into Profitable Real Estate Investments in Nigeria by Dennis Isong

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In Nigeria, we often hear things like: “That land in the village belongs to my grandfather.”

“Our family land has been there since I was a child.” “We just leave it there. Nobody touches it.

“What if I told you that the land you inherited from your father, grandfather, or even great-grandmother might just be sitting on gold — not literal gold, but real estate potential that could start making you money today?

Let’s break it down.

1. The Emotional vs Economic Value of Inherited Land

Many families in Nigeria attach deep emotional and cultural value to ancestral land.

It’s a symbol of roots, heritage, and continuity. But while emotions are valid, leaving valuable property to gather bush and termites does not honor the legacy — it stagnates it.

Ancestral land should not just be a memory bank; it should be a financial engine.

2. Common Myths That Keep Family Lands Idle

Let’s address the biggest myths: “It’s just bush, what can I do with it?” That bush is someone’s dream site for a school, farm, event center, or warehouse.

“We don’t want to sell our heritage.” Who says you must sell it? You can lease, rent, or build and still retain ownership.

“There’s a land dispute in the family.”

Then resolve it. Land conflict delays wealth. Engage a legal mediator and document ownership properly.

“It’s in the village, nobody will rent there.” These days, villages are turning into towns. Many urban workers are relocating to semi-rural areas because of cost and quiet.

People now work in the city and sleep in the village.

3. Real Possibilities:

What You Can Do With Inherited Land

Let’s talk about how to transform that “useless” land into profit:a) Agribusiness Lease

If you don’t have money to farm it yourself, lease the land to an agro-entrepreneur. Nigeria’s food needs are rising, and farmland is gold.b)

Event Center or Open Space Rental

Got family land with space? Flatten it, clear it, fence it, and start renting it out for weddings, parties, and church crusades.

Rural areas love open-air events.c)

Build Low-Cost Housing for Rent

Build a few 1-bedroom bungalows or mini-flats.

People are moving to outskirts like Ikorodu, Mowe, and Ifo. Affordable housing is in demand. d )

Warehouse or Storage Facilities

Urban traders need warehouse space in cheaper locations. Rural lands close to main roads are perfect for this.e)

Instead of leaving the land idle and arguing over it during Christmas family meetings, why not take charge and begin something that creates cash flow?

Partner with Developers

You bring the land, they bring the money. A good joint venture agreement can turn idle land into profit-yielding property while you still retain your rights.

4. Legal Steps You Must Not Ignore Before you do anything, please make sure of the following:

Proper Documentation: Make sure the land has a Deed of Assignment, survey plan, and preferably a Certificate of Occupancy or Governor’s Consent if within a government-acquired zone.

Family Agreement:

If it’s a family land, gather everyone and get a written agreement to avoid “wahala” later.

Registered Company (Optional): Consider registering a business to manage the land, especially if you’re building rentals or leasing. Get a Lawyer: Never cut corners.

A good property lawyer will save you stress, especially for joint ventures or leasing contracts.

5. True-Life Example: From Bush to Blessing.

Mr Tunde inherited a 2-acre land in Ilaro, Ogun State. For 10 years, it was just a yam farm.

In 2022, he cleared it, fenced it with blocks, built a borehole, and put plastic chairs under canopies. He started renting it out as an event ground. Today, every Owambe weekend earns him 100k-200k. All from “just family land.” Imagine that.

6. From Liability to Legacy

Family lands can move from being a burden to being a blessing.

Instead of leaving the land idle and arguing over it during Christmas family meetings, why not take charge and begin something that creates cash flow?

Think of it this way: Instead of telling your children, “This land belongs to your grandfather,”

You can say: “This property feeds our family today, and will feed yours tomorrow.”

7. Final Thoughts

It’s time to change our mindset. Not all real estate investment starts with buying new land. Sometimes, the land has already been given to you — free of charge.

The true investment is in your vision.Don’t wait till that land becomes an illegal dump site or is taken over by “omo onile” drama.

Begin today. Inspect it. Clear it. Value it. Use it. Your next real estate breakthrough might be hiding in your father’s backyard.

And if you ever need someone to help you inspect, plan, or connect you to builders, surveyors, or developers… you know who to call — Me, the real estate preacher with a sprinkle of bush-to-business miracles!

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CBN warns BDCs, banks to tighten compliance on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism regulations

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned licenced Bureau De Change Operators and financial institutions in the country against violating its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.

The apex bank issued this warning in a circular signed by its director of compliance department, Amonia Opusunju on Thursday.

CBN vowed to impose sanctions on BDC operators who failed to adhere to its regulatory framework.

“BDC operators are reminded that they are required to fully comply with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; and the Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau de Change Operators in Nigeria, 2024,” CBN said.

“Any other relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines issued by the CBN and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“All BDCs are advised to ensure that their operations, staff training, transaction monitoring, and customer onboarding procedures are always fully compliant with applicable requirements,” the apex bank said.

Similarly, CBN also urged all financial institutions in Nigeria to tighten compliance with both domestic and international sanction lists, including the United Nations Consolidated Sanctions List and the Nigerian Sanctions List, in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and others.

“Financial institutions are required to maintain a robust and dynamic sanctions compliance framework that enables them to identify and respond promptly to updates or changes across all applicable sanctions lists; prevent the use of their systems and platforms for transactions involving designated individuals or entities; conduct real-time screening of customers, transactions, and beneficial owners; and file appropriate reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and notify the CBN, where necessary,” the circular partly reads.

Recall that on February 27, 2024, the financial regulator approved the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to BDC operators, reversing its decision to halt FX sales to the BDCs in 2021.

Meanwhile, on February 6, 2025, the apex bank introduced new regulations limiting BDC operators to purchasing a maximum of $25,000 per week from a single bank.

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