Connect with us

News

Rivers and Lagos top states where minors consume sachet alcohol

Published

on

Rivers and Lagos states top the list in the consumption of alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles among minors and underage persons, according to a nationwide survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

The survey, conducted by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and carried out by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, covered 1,788 respondents across six states between June and August 2021.

NAFDAC said the study examined access to alcohol and drinking frequency among minors below 13 years, underaged persons aged 13 to 17 years, and adults aged 18 years and above.

Presenting the findings on Tuesday, February 3, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, said alcohol remains “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths”.

She added that “the availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors.”

According to the report, “54.3 per cent of minors and underage respondents obtained alcohol by themselves. Nearly half (49.9 per cent) purchased drinks in sachets or PET bottles, with Rivers State recording the highest rates, 68.0 per cent for sachets and 64.5 per cent for PET bottles.”

“Lagos followed with 52.3 per cent and 47.7 per cent, respectively, while Kaduna recorded 38.6 per cent sachet and 28.4 per cent PET bottle consumption,” the report stated.

It further noted that “the proportion of drinks procured in sachets was higher among males (51.4 per cent) compared to females (41.5 per cent), and more in rural (50.1 per cent) compared to urban (45.3 per cent) locations.”

See also  Hundreds feared dead in devastating Sudan landslide

The report also revealed that minors and underaged respondents accessed alcohol through other channels, including friends and relatives (49.9 per cent), social gatherings (45.9 per cent), and parents’ homes (21.7 per cent).

Among respondents who purchased alcohol themselves, the survey found that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underaged persons bought drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underaged respondents procured alcohol in PET bottles.

On drinking frequency, the report showed that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54.0 per cent of underaged persons were occasional drinkers.

However, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged respondents reported consuming alcohol daily.

The report called for stricter regulation, stating that “access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available.”

It added: “A ban on small pack sizes, including sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, can reduce the menace of underage drinking.”

The report further urged parents, teachers, religious leaders and communities to take responsibility, warning that “consumption of alcohol by children should raise alarm for parents, teachers, religious leaders and the community at large.”

According to NAFDAC, the findings highlight the need for stronger policy interventions and sustained public awareness campaigns to curb underage drinking in both urban and rural communities across Nigeria.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

White House denies considering nuclear strikes on Iran

Published

on

The White House denied Tuesday that remarks by Vice President JD Vance about military operations in Iran had contained any suggestion of a US nuclear strike against the Islamic republic.

After Vance said US forces have tools they “so far haven’t decided to use” to enforce a dramatic ultimatum from President Donald Trump, the White House said on X: “Literally nothing @VP said here ‘implies’ this, you absolute buffoons.”

The post was in response to one from an account associated with former vice president Kamala Harris that said Vance implied Trump “might use nuclear weapons.”

AFP

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

See also  Data privacy issues threaten Nigeria’s financial inclusion
Continue Reading

News

Soldiers do not buy uniforms or bulletproof vests – Army

Published

on

The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations by a former soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, that personnel purchase their uniforms and protective equipment with personal funds.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, the Army described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that troops are adequately equipped and catered for.

The statement was in response to a viral interview in which Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, alleged that soldiers buy items such as uniforms, boots and bulletproof vests despite earning modest salaries.

On remuneration, the Army maintained that it operates a structured and transparent salary system, with additional benefits for personnel.

“In addition to consolidated monthly salaries, personnel are entitled to uniform allowances and other allowances, which are periodically paid directly into their accounts,” it said.

The Army also noted that troops deployed for operations receive extra support.

“Personnel serving in operational theatres… are also paid operational allowances and other mission-specific entitlements designed to support their welfare and enhance operational effectiveness,” the statement added.

Addressing the core allegation, the Army rejected claims that soldiers procure their own kits and protective gear.

“The claim that soldiers are required to purchase uniforms and protective equipment, including bulletproof vests and helmets, is entirely false. The provision of uniforms, kits, arms, ammunition, and operational gear is an institutional responsibility executed through established logistics systems,” it stated.

It acknowledged that some personnel may choose to supplement issued kits for personal comfort but stressed that such decisions are voluntary.

“While some personnel may choose to supplement issued kits based on personal preference and comfort, such actions are voluntary and do not indicate any systemic failure,” the Army said.

See also  Resident Doctors Insist On Planned Strike Despite Court Order

The statement further emphasised that no soldier is deployed without adequate protection.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no soldier is deployed to an operational theatre without the necessary protective equipment,” it added.

The Army urged the public to disregard the allegations, warning that such claims could undermine morale and national security.

“The public is requested to disregard these baseless allegations… Citizens are urged to refrain from amplifying unverified claims that may undermine these institutions,” the statement said.

Reacting, the Army said the former lance corporal was dismissed over disciplinary breaches and not for expressing his views.

“The Nigerian Army categorically states that Mr Olamilekan was not dismissed for ‘speaking the truth’ or expressing opinions on political leadership. He was dismissed following persistent and grave acts of indiscipline, including violations of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy,” the statement read.

It added that his actions, including unauthorised media appearances and misuse of military identity, contravened established regulations.

Olamilekan had earlier claimed in an interview that soldiers earned between N51,000 and N111,000 and were responsible for purchasing essential gear, sparking widespread reactions online.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Continue Reading

News

Nigeria, Jamaica, others at risk of UK visa restrictions – Official

Published

on

Several African and Caribbean countries, including Nigeria and Jamaica, could face visa restrictions to the UK if Reform UK wins the next general election.

The proposed policy targets nations that formally demand reparations for slavery.

As reported by the Daily Mail on Monday, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, defended the plan, saying: “A growing number of countries are demanding reparations from Britain. They ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition.

“Astonishingly, these countries have received 3.8 million visas and £6.6 billion in foreign aid over the past 20 years. Enough is enough.”

Several African and Caribbean countries, such as Nigeria and Jamaica, have made requests, raising the prospect that their nationals could be barred from entering the UK.

Other nations mentioned by Reform UK include Kenya, Haiti, Guyana, Barbados, and The Bahamas.

The announcement comes weeks after a United Nations vote calling on former colonial powers to pay reparations for slavery.

The resolution described the forced displacement of Africans as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.” Britain abstained from the vote.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the UN, saying: “It is now the UN telling us we should go bankrupt, to apologise for what people did in 1775 or whatever it might have been. Forget it. The UN has no legitimacy over this country whatsoever.”

The party also vowed to cap foreign aid spending at £1 billion annually, a 90% reduction from current levels.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the UK acknowledges the horrors of the slave trade but reiterated that its position on reparations remains unchanged. Opposition leader Keir Starmer has similarly ruled out an apology or payments, saying: “I want to look at the future rather than spend a lot of time on the past.”

See also  Resident Doctors Insist On Planned Strike Despite Court Order

Reparations: History and Modern Politics

Centuries ago, millions of Africans were torn from their homes, forced onto ships, and sold into slavery across the Americas and Europe.

Families were destroyed, communities uprooted, and entire cultures disrupted. The scars of these atrocities have endured across generations, shaping nations and peoples long after slavery ended.

In modern times, countries directly affected by this history have begun formally asking for reparations. Ghana has taken a leading role, advocating at the United Nations for recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.” The African nation calls for formal apologies, restitution of stolen cultural items, and reparatory justice to address the lasting impact of slavery.

According to the United Nations, it has been increasingly involved in discussions and declarations regarding reparations, especially for slavery and its consequences.

In March and April 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity.”

This resolution, pushed by Ghana and supported by many African and Caribbean states, called for reparations to remedy historical wrongs, including apologies, restitution of cultural items, and dialogue on justice.

The vote was 123 in favour, with 3 (the United States, Israel, and Argentina) against and 52 abstentions.

The UN added that the following countries and groups asking for reparations are Ghana, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Nations, African Union, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and Haiti

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Continue Reading

Trending