Morris Monye, the Director of Mobilisation for the Obidient Movement, has announced his resignation, citing frustration with poor coordination and the financial strain of personally funding the movement’s activities.

In a statement shared on his official X handle on Thursday, Monye expressed disappointment over the movement’s lack of structure and teamwork, which he said contributed to its poor performance in the recently concluded Anambra State governorship election.

“Almost a year down the line, most of our short, medium, and long-term plans have not been met. I won’t be part of optics and no work,” Monye stated. “The poor showing at the Anambra election has also made my position untenable.”

He revealed that he had personally financed nationwide mobilisation efforts, including travel, voter awareness campaigns, and local structure support, without any financial backing from the movement’s leadership or its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Monye criticized the lack of communication, stating: “No money was given to the Directorate of Mobilisation. There’s no bank account even for the directorate. In fact, Mr. Peter Obi has never asked what we are doing in mobilisation — no communication, nothing.”

Monye also highlighted the personal toll of his role, including harassment and intimidation from government supporters, which he said endangered his safety and well-being.

“It’s a role that paints a target on your back. I’ve had to remain silent so as not to discourage anyone or appear to be complaining, but it has taken a toll on me and my family,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Monye listed his contributions to the movement, including creating an online registration system for supporters, reviving dormant support groups, establishing regional and local offices, and launching the Obidient NextGen university campus network.

He also raised funds for the Anambra election candidate and initiated a project to equip polling unit agents with affordable body cameras for election accountability, urging his successor to complete the initiative.

Monye described his time in the movement as a “privilege” but emphasized that “you can’t run a campaign simply from general goodwill. This is not 2023. The element of surprise is gone.”

He called for fresh leadership to take the movement forward.

The Obidient Movement, a grassroots political force centered around Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, gained significant traction during the 2023 elections, particularly among young Nigerians.

However, the leadership of the movement, including its National Coordinator Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has yet to respond to Monye’s resignation or the issues he raised.

(DDM) — Nigerian troops under the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai, have successfully foiled an attempted abduction of seventy-four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists along the Buratai–Kamuya road in Borno State.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the corps members, comprising thirty-six males and thirty-eight females, were travelling in three buses belonging to the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State when their vehicles broke down near a known insurgent hotspot late Tuesday night.

According to a statement released by the JTF Media Information Officer, Sani Uba, on Thursday, troops swiftly responded after a military CCTV surveillance system detected suspicious movement around the area.

“On arrival, troops discovered seventy-four NYSC members stranded after their vehicles developed mechanical faults. The soldiers immediately intervened to prevent a likely abduction attempt by Boko Haram or ISWAP elements operating nearby,” the statement said.

The rescued corps members were immediately escorted to Buratai Military Base for temporary shelter pending the arrangement of their onward movement to safety.

The JTF commended the troops’ quick response, noting that their vigilance averted what could have become another tragic national headline.

Security officials told DDM that the Buratai–Kamuya route has been notorious for terrorist ambushes, particularly targeting civilian convoys, aid workers, and unprotected transport vehicles.

This latest rescue comes just two years after a similar abduction in August 2023, when eight corps members travelling to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Zamfara State were kidnapped by suspected terrorists.

In that incident, the bus, also operated by Akwa Ibom Transport Company, was intercepted between Zamfara and Sokoto, and although three corps members escaped, eight others and the driver were taken hostage.

The victims included Emmanuel Esudue, a graduate of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering from Akwa Ibom State University, and Victoria Udoka, a Mass Communication graduate from the University of Uyo.

Military analysts have praised the troops for their proactive use of surveillance technology, describing the operation as a model for protecting civilian travellers in high-risk areas.

Meanwhile, the NYSC management has been advised to strengthen coordination with security agencies to ensure the safety of corps members travelling across volatile regions of the North-East.

The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to safeguarding citizens from terrorism and promised to continue patrols along major roads in Borno and neighbouring states to deter future attacks.

For now, the seventy-four rescued NYSC members remain under military protection, safe from what could have been one of the deadliest Boko Haram abductions in recent months.

The Federal Government has officially scrapped the National Language Policy (NLP), which required schools to use indigenous languages as the primary medium of instruction.

The announcement was made by Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday at the 2025 Language in Education International Conference, organized by the British Council in Abuja.

The now-cancelled policy, introduced in 2022, mandated that teaching from Early Child Care Education to Primary Six be conducted in the mother tongue or the language of the immediate community.

It aimed to promote indigenous languages, strengthen cultural identity, and improve early learning outcomes, while English was reserved for later stages of education.

However, Dr. Alausa explained that extensive data analysis revealed the policy had negatively impacted learning outcomes, particularly in regions where it was heavily implemented.

He noted that students taught primarily in indigenous languages recorded higher failure rates in national exams like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB, and struggled with basic English comprehension.

“Using the mother tongue language in Nigeria for the past 15 years has literally destroyed education in certain regions. We have to talk about evidence, not emotions,” Alausa stated.

He added that English will now serve as the medium of instruction across all levels of education, from pre-primary to tertiary institutions, to standardize learning and improve global competitiveness.

The minister urged stakeholders with differing opinions to present verifiable data to support their views, emphasizing that the government remains open to evidence-based dialogue.

He also commended the British Council for its continued collaboration with Nigeria in advancing education reforms and fostering inclusivity.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, announced a new initiative to address foundational learning challenges.

She revealed that a specialized training package for teachers is being developed to improve literacy and numeracy skills, focusing on educators at the pre-primary and early primary levels. “We are training them how best to teach literacy, how best to teach numeracy, and, of course, the approach,” she explained.

The British Council’s Country Director, Donna McGowan, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education sector.

“We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with the ministry, supporting teacher professional development, school leadership, and language proficiency,” McGowan said.

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned Friday James Alefia, a 29-year-old journalist and publisher of the online platform Naija News Today, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge bordering on false publication, conspiracy, and cyberstalking.

The case arose from reports allegedly published against Hon. Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.

According to Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/531/2025, filed by the Commissioner of Police, the defendants allegedly used social media, particularly Facebook, to publish a series of reports described as false and defamatory against the federal lawmaker in April 2025.

The charge sheet, obtained by SaharaReporters, listed the alleged publications as including: “How Federal Lawmaker Ogah Snatches Village Land in Ebonyi”, “I Rigged Senatorial Poll Against Emmanuel Onwe”, “Ebonyi Rep Member Returns ₦4 Million Amidst Extortion Allegations”, and “Ebonyi Rep Member Threatens Constituent for Supporting Charity Foundation.”

The prosecution claimed that the reports were “false, malicious, and intended to injure the reputation” of the lawmaker, describing them as criminal violations of Sections 24(2)(a) and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(i–ii) of the same Act.

When the case came up before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Wednesday, Alefia pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

The prosecuting counsel, E. A. Inegbenoise, Esq., from the Police Legal Section, requested a date for trial commencement.

However, defence counsel Israel Abida informed the court that a bail application had been filed, but Justice Egwuatu replied that there was no such application in the court’s file.

“There is no such application before this Court,” the judge stated. “We are not in receipt of any bail application.”

Abida appealed for a short adjournment, explaining that the defendant had been in detention for about two months and that the prosecution was not opposed to bail.

But Justice Egwuatu ruled that, since there was no formal application before the court, bail could not be considered.

The judge then adjourned the case to January 27, 2026, for hearing, and ordered that Alefia be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.

This means the detained journalist may spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in prison custody unless urgent intervention is secured.

Sources confirmed that Alefia was arrested in Lagos on September 23, 2025, by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and transferred to Abuja, where he was initially detained at the defunct SARS facility in Abattoir before being moved to Kuje Prison.

His elder brother, Uchenna Nwanchor, said the family had been unable to secure his release or access him regularly.

He lamented that Alefia’s health was deteriorating due to prolonged detention, adding that relatives had been responsible for feeding him in custody.

“We don’t know the exact date he was arrested, but he has been in detention for over seven weeks now,” Uchenna said. “He was taken from Lagos to Abuja by IRT, and since then we have not been allowed to see him.”

Investigations revealed that the case stemmed from articles published by Naija News Today between December 2024 and April 2025, including one titled “Ogah’s Political Future Uncertain Amid Senate Rumours.”

The report had analysed political speculations that Hon. Ogah was preparing to contest for the Ebonyi Central Senatorial seat in 2027 and contained criticisms of his legislative record and alleged strained relationship with party leaders, claims said to have angered the lawmaker and his aides.

Following the publications, a petition was filed to the police accusing Alefia of defamation, cyberbullying, and character assassination.

When contacted, Hon. Chinedu Ogah confirmed that the matter was before the court but declined further comment.

“I am not a police officer,” he said. “The matter is in court. The young man wrote about 36 stories against me, all false. I won’t speak further, verify from the court.”

He also claimed that no member of the journalist’s family had reached out to him about the issue.

The case has since sparked public outrage in Ebonyi State, where residents and journalists have condemned the lawmaker’s action.

In an open letter posted on Facebook, Odo Chikwere, an Ebonyi resident, urged Ogah to withdraw the case, describing the journalist’s detention as “inhuman and politically vindictive.”

“This young graduate, Alefia Friday, has been in detention at the notorious SARS cell in Abuja for over two weeks now based on a petition,” Chikwere wrote. “From my findings, his health is deteriorating. Honourable Ogah, please show mercy and let him go.”

He added that some well-meaning citizens in Abuja had been feeding Alefia while his family struggled to meet a reported ₦2 million bail requirement.

Media rights groups and press freedom advocates have condemned the growing misuse of the Cybercrimes Act to intimidate and detain journalists.

A journalist and activist, Emmanuel Ogodo, said Alefia’s ordeal “reflects a dangerous trend of criminalising journalism in Nigeria.”

The Kaduna State High Court has postponed the trial of Polycarp Andrew, a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officer, to December 11, 2025.

Andrew, previously an exhibit keeper at the EFCC’s Kaduna zonal office, was dismissed after being accused of stealing exhibits worth over ₦22 million.

He was arraigned on May 5, 2025, facing six counts of criminal breach of trust, to which he pleaded not guilty.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, H.M. Mohammed, counsel for the EFCC, announced readiness to present two witnesses—a fellow EFCC officer and an Opay staff member.

However, the defense counsel, D.B. Kwajafa, requested more time to prepare, citing the recent receipt of a flash drive containing a video of Andrew’s extra-judicial statement.

Kwajafa argued that the defendant needed time to review the material for a fair defense. Mohammed opposed the request, asserting that the video was irrelevant at this stage of the trial.

Justice A. Bello, after hearing both sides, granted the defense’s request and adjourned the case.

Andrew allegedly fled to Taraba State after diverting funds kept in his custody between 2023 and 2024, including sums of $11,900 (₦10.9 million), $3,800 (₦5.9 million), and $2,800 (₦3.8 million).

The charges against him violate Section 300 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

The Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), has congratulated the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on his re-election victory last Saturday.

While congratulating the governor, whose wife Dr. Nonye Soludo, is a Patroness of the group, the leader of the NFSS in Anambra State, Commander Mazi Destiny Emmanuel Jonas, expressed optimism in continued partnership towards safeguarding Anambra State.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with this administration in safeguarding our forests, combating illegal logging, and enhancing the security of all communities across Anambra State,” Commander Jonas said.

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the NFSS in Anambra State, CFS Chibuikem Nneke, the group said they were confident in Governor Soludo’s renewed mandate which they affirm speaks to the viability of the governor’s vision of a prosperous and safer Anambra State.

“This renewed mandate is a testament to the confidence the people of Anambra place in the governor’s vision for a safer, more prosperous state”, the statement added

Similarly, the NFSS extended it’s congratulatory message to their Patroness, Dr. Nonye Soludo, saying: “We also wish to extend our congratulations to Mr. Governor’s wife, Dr. Mrs Nonye Soludo (Mama Healthy Living), the beloved Mama Anambra whose pioneering role as the only female National Patroness of the NFSS has inspired countless women and youth in our service.

“Her unwavering support and patronage have strengthened our mission and uplifted the morale of our officers. Congratulations, Madam Patroness, and we are sure that her dedication will continue to be a beacon of hope for the entire Anambra State and Forest Security Service”, NFSS affirmed.

It however, wished Soludo and his wife a remarkable second term in office, filled with landmark achievements.

The Federal Government has suspended its earlier plan to implement a 15% import duty on petroleum products, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirmed on Thursday.

In a statement signed by George Ene-Ita, Director of the Public Affairs Department, NMDPRA, the agency said the policy is “no longer in view” and urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying.

President Bola Tinubu had approved the controversial tariff on October 29, 2025, following a proposal by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Zacch Adedeji. The plan sought to impose a 15% duty on petrol and diesel imports to align import costs with domestic market realities.

The proposal, which had been scheduled to take effect on November 21, 2025, was also meant to encourage local refining by making imported fuel more expensive. The move was widely seen as an effort to protect investments in Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries across the country.

However, experts had warned that the new tariff could push pump prices higher by as much as ₦150 per litre, worsening inflation and transportation costs for consumers.

In its Thursday statement, NMDPRA clarified that the policy would not be implemented as earlier planned.

“It should be noted that the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Diesel is no longer in view,” the agency stated.

The regulator also assured Nigerians that there is adequate fuel supply nationwide, noting that the country’s stock remains within acceptable sufficiency levels during this peak demand period.

“There is a robust domestic supply of petroleum products sourced from both local refineries and importation to ensure timely replenishment of stocks at storage depots and retail stations,” it added.

NMDPRA further warned against hoarding, panic buying, or artificial price hikes by marketers. It said it will continue to monitor the market and enforce measures to prevent any disruption in fuel distribution.

“The Authority remains committed to guaranteeing energy security and ensuring smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products across Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

The agency also thanked industry stakeholders for their cooperation in maintaining stable fuel availability across the country.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the inclusion of two key federal road projects in Ekiti State in the proposed 2026 national budget.

The projects are the Itawure–Aramoko–Ado Ekiti road and the Aramoko–Ijero–Ifaki Ekiti road.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, who said the presidential approval was communicated through a letter from the Office of the President to the Minister of Works, David Umahi.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji was also copied in the correspondence.

Oyebode explained that the approval followed a high-level meeting between Governor Oyebanji and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on November 9, 2025.

The discussions reportedly centered on the poor condition of federal roads across the state.

He added that the approval came amid public complaints about the deteriorating Itawure–Aramoko–Ado route. “There has been deliberate misinformation about the condition of federal roads in the state,” Oyebode said.

“However, the Tinubu-led government has already awarded three federal road contracts in Ekiti, with contractors mobilized to site.”

He further noted that the Oyebanji administration has completed the Ado–Iworoko–Ifaki road and launched several inter-city and intra-city projects over the past three years.

According to him, the two newly approved roads will ease travel, improve connectivity, and boost trade across Ekiti and neighboring states.

“These projects will open up Ekiti to new economic opportunities, in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Oyebanji’s Shared Prosperity vision,” Oyebode said.

Governor Oyebanji also expressed gratitude to the President for his continued support. “On behalf of Ekiti people, I thank President Tinubu for his strategic intervention in the socioeconomic and infrastructural development of our state,” he said.

The governor reaffirmed his commitment to partnering with the federal government, private sector, and development partners to enhance the welfare of residents.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Aramoko-Ekiti, Princess Sherifat Owolabi, recently appealed to the state government to prioritize road rehabilitation.

She warned that the worsening condition of major roads is hurting local trade and discouraging investors.

“Good roads attract investment and drive development,” Princess Owolabi said.

“We are asking the governor to come to our aid and fix our roads. The government has done well in other areas, but this issue needs urgent attention.”

She also urged indigenes in the diaspora to invest in Aramoko, saying improved infrastructure will boost transport, confidence, and commerce in the community.

The Nigerian Senate has strongly denied reports suggesting any plan to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio, calling the claim false and misleading.

Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate Leader dismissed the rumour as a deliberate attempt to create confusion and distract lawmakers from their legislative duties.

He clarified that no discussions or moves toward Akpabio’s removal had taken place. According to him, statements attributed to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu were taken out of context.

“From my discussion with Senator Kalu, it was clear the statement was misrepresented,” he told the chamber.

He cautioned that spreading such misinformation could distract the Senate from addressing urgent national issues. Lawmakers, he said, remain united under Akpabio’s leadership and have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against political distractions.

“There is no tension in the Senate,” he said firmly. “We are focused on delivering results for Nigerians and won’t let rumours derail our work.”

The clarification was officially noted during plenary, with senators reaffirming their confidence in Akpabio. Many described the Senate’s response as a strong message to those trying to cause instability within the legislature.

Earlier, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, told reporters that there had indeed been an attempt to impeach Akpabio, though he said it failed.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, described the incident as a “family misunderstanding.”

“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” Kalu said.

Addressing Nigeria’s economic situation, Kalu admitted that citizens are facing hardship but insisted that the economy is gradually improving.

“As a businessman, I feel the pain too,” he said. “The macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not. Investors are coming in, and soon the progress will trickle down so people can eat daily and return to farming.”

He added that both President Bola Tinubu and the Senate are working tirelessly to stabilize the economy and achieve food security.

Responding to questions about Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Kalu described Soludo as a “progressive” who may soon join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I think after the court cases, he will join us. He has no other alternative,” Kalu declared confidently.

The senator also predicted that President Tinubu would easily win a second term, saying the president currently faces “no real opposition.”

When it became clear to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, that his preferred successor, Prof. Aniekan Offiong, would not scale through the hurdles of the selection process, he reportedly shifted strategy. In a calculated political maneuver, sources say, Prof. Ndaeyo swiftly adopted another candidate — Prof. Patrick Linus Akpan from Essien Udim Local Government Area — in a bid to curry favor with the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the nation’s number three citizen.

However, a confidential letter leaked to our correspondent has exposed what insiders now describe as a coordinated and fraudulent scheme to position Prof. Akpan as the frontrunner for the Vice Chancellorship.

The Leaked Document

The two-page petition, dated November 10, 2025, and signed by Mr. Ekom Akpan Solomon (JP), was addressed to the Chairman of the University Governing Council. It accuses some powerful elements within the University Senate of colluding to manufacture administrative credentials for Prof. Akpan through what the author terms a “phony and fraudulent appointment.”

At the heart of the controversy is the creation of a questionable new office — “Provost, University of Uyo Business School” — announced at the 137th Meeting of Senate held on October 29, 2025.

“This appointment was a desperate scheme to give Prof. Patrick Akpan an administrative advantage in the ongoing Vice Chancellorship race,” a senior faculty source told Our Correspondent, corroborating details in the petition. “The term ‘Provost’ was deliberately chosen to score him points in the Council’s ranking system.”

A Title That Should Not Exist

The petition argues that the title “Provost” is alien to the Nigerian university structure except within medical colleges. The appropriate designation for a business school, it insists, should be “Director.”

“It was rightly pointed out to Senate that the nomenclature ‘Provost’ is a misnomer… Nevertheless, the observation was ignored,” Solomon wrote.

Multiple academic sources confirmed to this newspaper that the University of Uyo Business School is not a full-fledged faculty, making the appointment of a Provost not only irregular but procedurally indefensible.

A former Dean, who requested anonymity for fear of victimization, described the appointment as “a dangerous precedent.”

“If this goes unchallenged, tomorrow every unit can create new titles to fast-track someone’s rise. It’s corruption by rebranding,” the source warned.

The Candidate in Question

Records reviewed by Our Correspondent show that Prof. Patrick Linus Akpan last held a major administrative office more than a decade ago — as Director of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Business School and Coordinator of the MBA Programme in 2012.

Since then, he has reportedly not occupied any position that qualifies as top-level administrative experience — a key requirement for consideration as Vice Chancellor under Nigerian university regulations.

“He has not functioned as such and lacks the requisite administrative experience,” the petition reads. “The appointment of Provost was made in October 2025 solely to provide him the needed points during assessment.”

A high-ranking academic familiar with the internal process confirmed that administrative experience carries significant weight in the Governing Council’s scoring template for Vice Chancellor candidates.

“Whoever controls the administrative record controls the race,” the official said.

Council in a Tight Corner

The letter, which has now gone viral across faculty WhatsApp groups, has placed the University’s Governing Council in a difficult position. Several senior staff members are calling for an internal audit of recent appointments, while others warn that any attempt to dismiss the petition could spark open protests.

“If the Council keeps silent, it means complicity,” a union representative said. “The system must not reward deceit.”

Efforts to reach Prof. Akpan for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. Calls and text messages to his known line were not returned. The Registrar’s office also declined official comment, saying the matter was “still under review.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Senate who attended the controversial meeting privately admitted that the nomenclature issue was raised but “hurriedly brushed aside.”

“Everyone could see it was a setup,” the source said. “But no one wanted to challenge it openly — not when the stakes are this high.”

A Pattern of Manipulation?

Observers within and outside the University note that the controversy fits a recurring pattern of behind-the-scenes manipulation that has marred leadership transitions in several Nigerian universities.

An Abuja-based education analyst described the University of Uyo case as “a mirror of the wider rot.”

“What you’re seeing here is institutional capture,” the analyst said. “Appointments are now engineered to favor preselected candidates, and the academic community is left to clean up the mess.”

Integrity on Trial

As the Vice Chancellorship race intensifies, the revelation of this alleged appointment fraud is expected to dominate discourse within the University of Uyo in the coming weeks.

In his closing appeal, Mr. Solomon urged the Governing Council to “discountenance the fraudulent appointment for what it is.”

“This is a phony and fraudulent appointment,” he wrote. “The integrity of the University must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition.”

With the credibility of the process now under intense scrutiny, the University of Uyo stands at a crossroads — between institutional reform and institutional decay.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reverse the planned ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small PET bottles.

Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the move as shocking and economically dangerous.

He said the ban contradicts previous agreements reached among industry stakeholders and undermines the collaborative work already done to regulate alcohol consumption responsibly.

NAFDAC had announced that it would stop the production and sale of sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks from December 31, 2025, citing health and safety concerns.

The directive reportedly followed a resolution passed by the Senate on November 6, 2025.

Ajayi-Kadir said it was disturbing that the new directive ignored the position of the House of Representatives, which had supported a one-year extension to allow for better coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health.

He stressed that stakeholders had agreed during a validation meeting in October 2025 to adopt a multi-sectoral action plan rather than impose an outright ban.

The plan recommended tighter enforcement of existing laws, licensing of official liquor stores in local government areas, and stronger public awareness campaigns against underage drinking.

According to him, industry operators had already invested heavily in public education.

“We have spent over ₦1 billion on campaigns promoting responsible consumption and discouraging underage abuse,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

“It is unfair and economically reckless to ignore these efforts.”

The MAN chief argued that the Senate should have held a public hearing before taking such a far-reaching decision.

He also said that NAFDAC bypassed the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders by taking its proposal directly to the National Assembly.

Ajayi-Kadir warned that enforcing the ban would have severe economic consequences.

He estimated that it could wipe out over ₦1.9 trillion in investments, lead to the retrenchment of 500,000 direct employees, and displace around five million others who depend on the sector indirectly.

He added that such a move could also encourage the influx of illicit and smuggled alcohol products not regulated by NAFDAC.

“A ban will only open the floodgates to unwholesome substances and illegal imports,” he cautioned.

Ajayi-Kadir urged the government to instead fast-track the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy validated in October.

He said this policy already provides practical steps to address alcohol abuse without destroying local businesses.

“We support removing unsafe products from the market,” he said. “But regulatory decisions must be driven by data, not emotion. If the ban goes ahead, it will cost jobs, destroy livelihoods, and harm Nigeria’s economy

(DDM) – Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs against Gabon, former Watford striker Troy Deeney has criticized the Super Eagles’ decision to boycott training over unpaid bonuses and allowances.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the entire Nigerian squad, including backroom staff, refused to participate in a scheduled training session on Tuesday, citing long-standing financial grievances with the country’s football authorities.

The boycott occurred just days before Nigeria faces Gabon in the first semi-final of the World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Observers note that the outcome of this match is crucial, as it could determine Nigeria’s path to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Deeney, speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, expressed disappointment at the timing of the players’ protest, emphasizing that such disputes distract from key on-field preparations.

He stated, “It’s a real shame because it’s a huge moment in the World Cup qualifiers and we are now talking about off-the-pitch stuff again.”

The former Premier League forward added that incidents of financial disputes affecting team focus have occurred repeatedly, undermining the Super Eagles’ preparations.

Deeney noted, “It’s not the first time, not the second time,” highlighting a pattern of off-the-pitch issues within Nigerian football that compromise competitive performance.

Football analysts told DDM that while players’ grievances over unpaid bonuses are valid, timing protests during critical qualification matches can be counterproductive.

The Super Eagles’ management later confirmed that the strike was suspended, allowing the squad to resume training ahead of the Gabon clash.

DDM reports that Nigeria’s football authorities have promised to address the players’ financial concerns, including clearing outstanding bonuses and allowances, to restore morale before the playoffs.

Fans and sports commentators have expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the players’ right to protest and others criticizing the disruption to team preparations.

Nigeria’s head coach, in a brief statement, emphasized that the team must remain focused on the task at hand, urging players to channel their energy toward securing a win in the crucial playoff.

Observers also warned that continued off-the-pitch disputes could damage Nigeria’s reputation in African football and reduce the morale of players during international tournaments.

The Super Eagles, who have a strong history in FIFA World Cup qualification, are expected to leverage their experience and skill to overcome Gabon, provided that financial and administrative issues are fully resolved.

DDM reports that attention now turns to the team’s performance in the first leg of the semi-final, with both fans and officials hoping for a positive start to Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup campaign.