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.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, announced the launch of Air Algérie’s inaugural direct flight service from Algiers to Abuja, set to begin on April 6, 2025.
This is said to strengthen the diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Algeria.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the new route, which is the result of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, will be operated by the national carrier, Air Algérie, using a Boeing 737 aircraft.
This new service is expected to boost connectivity, encourage tourism, and facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and Algeria.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the commencement of Air Algerie’s inaugural direct flight service from Algiers to Abuja, scheduled for 6th April 2025.
“This historic development marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria.
“It is pertinent to state that it is the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between both countries, which culminated in this successful venture,” the statement read in part.
The inaugural flight is expected to carry the Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Algiers, Nigerian community leaders, and representatives from the Algerian government.
The Federal Government has extended congratulations to Air Algérie and offered its full support to ensure the success of the new service.
With affordable fares and Algeria’s proximity to Europe, the flight also offers Nigerians a convenient gateway to Europe, enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit.
The statement added, “The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant aviation authorities, extends its warm congratulations to Air Algerie and assures all necessary support to ensure the success and sustainability of this new service.
“We believe this initiative will further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and Algeria, while opening new opportunities for mutual growth.
“The affordable fare structure and the proximity of Algeria to Europe would also provide Nigerians with a convenient gateway to Europe, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit.”
The ministry encouraged citizens and businesses to take advantage of this new connectivity to explore opportunities for trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
Business
FG borrows N13.21trn from World Bank in 20 months
The country’s debt profile has hit N142 trillion, according to data published by the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The World Bank has approved over N13.21 trillion ($8billion) as loans for different developmental projects for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government in the last 20 months,
Daily Trust analyses of the various loans indicated that they were targeted at several interventions in various sectors of the economy with three fresh loans amounting to $1.1 billion approved between Friday and yesterday.
The country’s debt profile has hit N142 trillion, according to data published by the Debt Management Office (DMO).
The 2025 budget of N54.99tn has a debt service component of N14.32tn and N13.64tn for recurrent expenditure.
Business
Women make up 15% of 288 new billionaires in 2025
One of the most striking trends among the newcomers is the high percentage of self-made billionaires.
The newcomers come from 33 countries and territories, marking a significant rise from the 265 additions made in 2024.
Forbes’ 2025 World’s Billionaires list has welcomed a record 288 new billionaires, pushing the total number of billionaires to 3,028 globally.
This group, which includes entrepreneurs, investors, and heirs, is collectively valued at nearly $680 billion, averaging $2.4 billion per person.
The newcomers come from 33 countries and territories, marking a significant rise from the 265 additions made in 2024.
The United States remains the dominant force, contributing the most new billionaires with 103 additions this year.
Among the top names is Marilyn Simons, widow of quantitative hedge fund founder Jim Simons, whose net worth is estimated at $31 billion.
She stands alongside Lyndal Stephens Greth, the daughter of oil magnate Autry Stephens, who holds $25.8 billion following her father’s passing in 2024.Germany ranks second in terms of new entries, with 37 individuals joining the list, including Johannes von Baumbach. At 19 years old, he becomes the youngest new billionaire globally, with a fortune of $5.4 billion.
Along with von Baumbach, 14 other heirs to the Boehringer Ingelheim pharmaceutical empire also made their debut on the list.China and Hong Kong together contributed 32 new billionaires, with jeweller Xu Gaoming being one of the notable additions, valued at $8.2 billion. India saw 17 new billionaires, while Russia accounted for 15.
One of the most striking trends among the newcomers is the high percentage of self-made billionaires.
Of the 288 newcomers, 196 (approximately 70%) built their wealth from the ground up, rather than inheriting it.
The wealthiest self-made newcomer is Saudi Arabian entrepreneur Sulaiman Al Habib, whose fortune stands at $10.9 billion. Al Habib’s success is a notable achievement as Saudi Arabia has seen a resurgence of billionaires on the list for the first time since 2017.
Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old co-founder and CEO of Scale AI, is the youngest self-made billionaire this year, valued at $2 billion.
(BusinessDay)
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