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Lagos Reiterates Commitment to Religious Freedom

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Lagos Reiterates Commitment to Religious Freedom

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to promoting religious freedom and strengthening partnerships with faith-based organisations to advance social development and moral regeneration across the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the Annual General Conference of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, held in Lagos.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the state had recorded notable progress in key sectors such as transportation infrastructure, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, digital innovation and security.

He said the government recognised the complementary and indispensable role of religious institutions in achieving its development objectives, particularly in nurturing responsible youths, promoting family values, supporting education and caring for vulnerable members of society.

“The partnership between government and the church remains vital to building a just, inclusive and resilient society. I assure religious bodies of a safe and enabling environment to carry out their activities,” he said.

The governor added that the state government was open to deeper collaboration with the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria in promoting community development, social cohesion, peacebuilding and moral regeneration in Lagos and beyond.

In his remarks, the Supreme Head of the church, Prophet Emmanuel Alogbo, said development should go beyond physical infrastructure to include human capital development.

He stressed the need for increased investment in education, healthcare and social services, noting that the empowerment of women and youths was critical to sustainable growth.

“True development is not only about infrastructure but about people. The church must embrace innovation and technology to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world,” Alogbo said.

NAFDAC Restarts Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Debunks Shutdown Rumours

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NAFDAC Restarts Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Debunks Shutdown Rumours

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.

The agency clarified that it did not shut down any alcohol-producing company, but only prohibited the sale of alcohol in sachets and small containers due to public health concerns. In a statement on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the move aims to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, in line with a resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Agency’s public health mandate,” the statement read.

NAFDAC noted that the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers makes alcohol cheap, easily accessible, and easily concealable, contributing to underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices. Adeyeye stated that warning labels such as “Not for children” had proven ineffective, as many parents are unaware that their children consume sachet alcohol.

She cited reports from schools showing disturbing trends, including a recent case where a teacher revealed that a student said he could not sit for an examination without first taking sachet alcohol.

NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturers to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and reconfigure production lines.

“The current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” Adeyeye said.

She stressed that the ban is protective, not punitive, aiming to safeguard the health and future of children and youth. Only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml are affected, while larger pack sizes remain approved.

The renewed enforcement has sparked reactions from industry, labour, and public stakeholders. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and groups including the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB) criticised the move as potentially damaging.

On January 23, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Labour Congress, and Trade Union Congress protested at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, warning that the ban could displace over 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.

NAFDAC, however, called on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully, stressing that no further extension would be granted. The agency will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency to intensify nationwide sensitisation on the dangers of alcohol misuse, ensuring that only safe and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.

Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty Hits ₦1bn Box Office Milestone

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Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty Hits ₦1bn Box Office Milestone

Nollywood filmmaker Toyin Abraham’s comedy film Oversabi Aunty has crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the box office.

The milestone was announced on Monday by FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s distributor, in a post shared on its official X account. According to the company, Oversabi Aunty has grossed ₦1,017,201,953, making it the first Nollywood directorial debut to surpass ₦1 billion and the fourth highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

FilmOne described the achievement as a major moment for the industry, noting the film’s historic performance across cinemas in West Africa.

Reacting to the development, Abraham expressed gratitude to God, her fans and her team in a post on Instagram. She described Oversabi Aunty as her first directorial effort for the big screen and thanked Nigerians, her cast, crew and FilmOne Entertainment for their support.

Released in cinemas in December 2025, Oversabi Aunty is a Nollywood comedy directed by and starring Abraham. The film tells the story of an overzealous church usher whose interference in family affairs leads to a series of comedic and chaotic events. It features a cast that includes Mike Ezuruonye and Odunlade Adekola and has been praised for its relatable humour and cultural themes.

Meanwhile, FilmOne Entertainment also announced another box office milestone on Monday, revealing that Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes has grossed ₦2.4 billion. In a statement shared on X, the company said the film is the highest-grossing film of the year and the highest-grossing film of the weekend.

Earlier in January, Behind The Scenes, which was also released in December 2025, became the first Nollywood film to cross the ₦2 billion mark at the box office. The film completed its cinema run at approximately ₦2.103 billion in about one month, surpassing the previous record held by Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa.

The film reached ₦1 billion within 17 days and recorded a regional single-day box office high of ₦129.5 million on Boxing Day.

With this achievement, Akindele has become the only Nigerian filmmaker with three films that have grossed over ₦1 billion each, namely Behind The Scenes, Everybody Loves Jenifa and A Tribe Called Judah. Combined, the three films have earned about ₦5.39 billion at the Nigerian box office.

Akindele is also the first filmmaker to lead the African box office for three consecutive years, from 2023 to 2025.

JAMB Disqualifies Unmonitored CBT Centres From 2026 UTME Registration

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JAMB Disqualifies Unmonitored CBT Centres From 2026 UTME Registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has ruled that Computer-Based Test centres whose registration activities cannot be monitored remotely will not be allowed to participate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration.

The board made this known in its weekly bulletin published on Monday, stating that the decision is part of efforts to curb registration infractions and strengthen the integrity of its examination processes.

According to JAMB, the policy, tagged “No Vision, No Registration, No UTME,” was announced by the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, during a stakeholders’ meeting involving Peace Monitors, Chief Technical Advisers, Chief External Examiners, as well as zonal and state coordinators overseeing the monitoring of CBT centres for the 2026 UTME.

Oloyede said all CBT centres participating in the 2026 UTME registration would be monitored live from the JAMB National Headquarters in Abuja. He added that any centre whose registration process cannot be viewed live from the headquarters would be barred from registering candidates and hosting the examination.

He noted that centres whose activities are not visible to the board would also not be paid, and such registrations could be invalidated.

The registrar further announced the compulsory use of Microsoft or Digitech live cameras for UTME registration, stressing that only approved devices would be permitted for capturing candidates’ second images during registration. He explained that the measure was introduced to curb manipulation of candidates’ photographs, which was detected during the 2025 UTME registration exercise.

Providing specifications for approved equipment, Oloyede said all existing CBT centres must migrate to HIKVision Closed Circuit Television systems, with HIKVision recommended as the Network Video Recorder or Digital Video Recorder. He stated that the recorders must have a minimum of 16 channels to adequately cover all areas of the examination centres.

He also disclosed that all CCTV systems must be wired, noting that wireless systems would not be allowed. According to him, cameras must cover examination halls, verification areas, holding rooms, walkways, server rooms, as well as entrance and exit points.

Oloyede warned that centres found violating the guidelines would be sanctioned, including possible prosecution. He added that JAMB would not bear the cost of reconfiguring CCTV routers, stressing that affected centres must handle such expenses before being allowed to operate.

The registrar recalled that centres and individuals previously involved in examination malpractices had been delisted and were currently facing prosecution, warning that the board would not hesitate to take action against any centre or individual found culpable.

JAMB officially commenced registration for the 2026 UTME on Monday.

Sachet Alcohol Ban: Distillers Warn NAFDAC Enforcement Could Threaten 5m Jobs

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Sachet Alcohol Ban: Distillers Warn NAFDAC Enforcement Could Threaten 5m Jobs

By Johnson Idowu

Members of the distillers’ association, under the aegis of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, have warned that the enforcement being carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control will displace no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.

The unions, which are affiliates of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, disclosed this on Friday when they besieged the Lagos office of NAFDAC to protest the order stopping them from distributing their products.

PUNCH recalled that NAFDAC said it had begun enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC had, on November 11, 2025, announced plans to enforce a total ban on such products by December 2025, in line with a directive from the Senate.

However, enforcement was initially halted after the Federal Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, called for an immediate suspension of all actions and measures related to the proposed ban, pending consultations and a final directive.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, during a media briefing on Wednesday, said the agency had received a matching order from the Senate to proceed and that enforcement had already commenced.

Speaking at the protest ground on Friday, the Executive Secretary of FOBTOB, Solomon Adebosin, said the enforcement would displace no fewer than 5.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

He noted that the policy undermined the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which seeks to attract investment into the country.

The executive secretary added that NAFDAC’s claim that sachet alcohol and PET drinks were accessible to minors and children could not be backed by empirical facts.

Adebosin said, “We are here today to protest the sudden seizure of our companies in the distillery sector by NAFDAC concerning the issue of sachet drinks and PET bottles that are less than 200ml. We have 500,000 Nigerians working directly in this sector and over five million working indirectly, and they are going to be affected.

“Access and control are what we should be talking about. Let us be able to put control on these things such that children and minors do not have access to them.”

He stressed that the distillers had continued to invest in advocacy and sensitisation to prevent unqualified persons from consuming their products.

Also speaking, the Head of Department, Brewery and Tobacco, of the NUFBTE, Azeez Razaq, alleged that the actions of NAFDAC depicted sabotage of the growth of indigenous manufacturers.

He condemned the decision of the agency to violate the directive of the SGF, which ordered a stay of action on the ban.

Razaq added that shutting down the companies would result in job losses that could further worsen insecurity in Nigeria.

While reading the demands of the unions, a member of FOBTOB, Anthony Oyagha, added, “We call on the Presidency to urgently intervene to ensure that NAFDAC aligns its actions with government policy, legislative oversight, and the broader national interest.

“Local manufacturers deserve honour, protection, and partnership, not punitive measures that destroy investments, livelihoods, and confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.

“We respectfully urge Mr President to act decisively to safeguard indigenous industries, protect jobs, and ensure that regulatory agencies serve the Nigerian people and not external interests.”

PDP Will Surprise Critics in 2027, Says Makinde

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PDP Will Surprise Critics in 2027, Says Makinde

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party remains strong and prepared to surprise its critics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Makinde spoke at the Southwest PDP Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Friday

The governor debunked the claims that the party is dead, assuring members that the PDP is “well and alive.”

The Southwest PDP stakeholders’ meeting attracted PDP leaders and political office holders across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti States.

Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; PDP House of Representatives members from Oyo State; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; National Secretary of PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Chairman of PDP in the Southwest, Kamorudeen Ajisafe; former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, among others, attended the meeting.

The party leaders also received two groups of defectors from the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party into the party.

Addressing the gathering, Makinde said the turnout of party members as well as the defectors has proved those who declared the PDP a dead political party wrong.

“I can assure you that the PDP is well and alive. Whoever thinks otherwise will be surprised beyond their imagination,” the governor said.

He urged party leaders and members across the region to remain united and committed at the grassroots level, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the party’s structures within communities, wards, and local governments.

“So, my charge to you is, please hold your communities, hold your wards, hold your local governments, and it will be well with us,” he added.

Makinde also encouraged party members to be faithful and loyal, expressing optimism about the PDP’s future.

While welcoming Makinde and other party leaders, Adebutu said the PDP has proven its detractors wrong, insisting that the PDP remains united.

“Let’s remain firm in the PDP. We now have structures from ward to the national levels.

“So, we have nothing to fear,” Adebutu said.

FairMoney Disburses Over ₦150bn in Loans in 2025

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FairMoney Disburses Over ₦150bn in Loans in 2025

FairMoney Microfinance Bank disbursed over N150bn in loans in the past year.

This