Workers in the food and beverage sector staged yet another protest at the office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, calling on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and protect their livelihoods.

For the fifth time in 2026, distillers operating under the umbrella of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB, stormed the NAFDAC office along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, demanding an end to what they described as the crippling enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and PET bottles below 200ml.

The workers, both junior and senior staff, thronged the agency’s premises in large numbers, standing firm at the entrance of the facility as they voiced their frustration.

With emotions running high, they sang solidarity songs and waved placards boldly declaring: “Tinubu does not want jobs to be lost,” “Stop destroying local manufacturers,” “NAFDAC should release products put on hold,” and “5.5 million jobs at risk.”

The protest followed the continued sealing of factories accused of violating the ban, a move labour leaders say had paralysed operations and pushed thousands of families to the brink of economic hardship.

National President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, warned that shutting down legitimate, regulated manufacturers could open the floodgates for illegal operators.

“Once you stop licensed manufacturers from producing approved products, you create space for unregulated and dangerous alternatives.

“This is not just about jobs, it is about public safety, government revenue, and the survival of lawful businesses,’’ Oyibo said.

Also addressing the protesters, Secretary of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Comrade Jeffery Igein, argued that the enforcement contradicted the spirit of the national alcohol policy which, according to him, has already been signed.

Igein said:  “The alcohol policy has been signed. Therefore, NAFDAC should have lifted restrictions on these factories.  This action threatens manufacturers and workers. The economy is already harsh. Policies should support the President’s agenda of job protection and economic growth, not undermine it.”

Labour leaders insist they are not resisting regulation but demanding clarity, dialogue and policies that balanced public health concerns with economic realities.

They claimed that similar protests were ongoing in Abuja and Aba, signaling growing nationwide dissatisfaction within the industry.

While some protesters claimed the federal government had directed a pause in enforcement, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, has maintained that no official communication to that effect had been received.

As uncertainty lingers, workers say they will not relent in their appeal to the federal government, warning that prolonged factory closures could worsen unemployment and deepen economic strain across the country.

In line with its vision to end the problem of obstructed educational pursuits occasioned by financial incapacitation, a global philanthropic organisation, De Imperial Philanthropic Family, has presented 25 undergraduates from the five South-East states with cheques of N1 million each.

The beneficiaries were top performers in the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examinations, who have secured admission in various universities, selected after a thorough process conducted by ‘Best Brain Contest’.

Presenting the cheques in Awka, over the weekend, the DIPF President, Chief Darlington Nwabunike noted that DIPF currently has 1,012 beneficiaries from the South-East region under its scholarship programme, adding that the programmes speaks volume of the group’s commitment to empowering young people for a meaning future life.

Nwabunike said, “DIPF is founded to drive socio-economic development in South-East. The group focuses on education, healthcare, and humanitarian empowerment with various interventions.

Christian faithful in Kaduna State have commended Gov. Uba Sani for restoring the state-sponsored Christian Pilgrimage Programme after an eleven-year suspension, describing the move as a strong statement of fairness, equity, and inclusive governance.

The commendation came during the 2025 orientation programme for 50 intending Christian pilgrims sponsored by the Kaduna State Government.

The event marked the first state-backed Christian pilgrimage in over a decade, following its discontinuation by previous administrations.

The participants expressed gratitude to the Governor for reviving the initiative, noting that the decision has rekindled hope within Christian communities and strengthened their sense of belonging in the state.

The Head of Service, Mrs Jimami Bako, praised Governor Uba Sani for reintroducing the programme, emphasizing that the administration recognizes spiritual growth and moral values as important complements to physical infrastructure and economic development.

She described the revival as a reflection of leadership that values faith as a foundation for peace and social harmony.

The Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, stated that the initiative aligned with Sani’s administration’s commitment to justice, equity, and inclusiveness for all residents, regardless of religious affiliation.

He urged the intending pilgrims to use the opportunity to pray for peace, unity, and sustained prosperity in Kaduna State and Nigeria.

1. The beneficiaries said the revival of the Christian Pilgrimage Programme underscores the government’s renewed commitment to religious harmony, balanced governance, and strengthened trust between citizens and the state.