A pressure group, Concerned Citizen for Change, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately sack the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, over what it described as “gross incompetence, abuse of public office, and disregard for constituted authority.”

Addressing a press conference at the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, the group’s Country Director, Hilary Akor, strongly condemned NAFDAC’s enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottled alcoholic beverages, describing the action as illegal, anti-people, and capable of worsening the country’s economic challenges.

Akor alleged that the agency’s decision violates the National Alcohol Policy already approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and runs contrary to directives previously issued by the Presidency and resolutions of the House of Representatives restraining NAFDAC from proceeding with the enforcement pending further consultations with stakeholders.

According to him, the enforcement action could trigger large-scale economic hardship and social unrest by disrupting the operations of indigenous manufacturers and threatening thousands of jobs across the alcohol production and distribution value chain.

“The Director-General must be fired by Mr President without delay, as her incompetence stinks and is gradually throwing the entire country into needless confusion at a time the administration should focus on consolidating economic gains,” Akor declared.

The group argued that the production of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles was designed to provide affordable options for low-income adult consumers and should not be criminalised.

It further dismissed claims that sachet alcohol encourages abuse among minors, insisting that smaller packaging sizes actually discourage excessive consumption compared to larger containers.

Concerned Citizen for Change also maintained that locally produced sachet alcoholic beverages are manufactured under hygienic conditions and duly certified by regulatory authorities, including NAFDAC.

The group claimed that industry operators have already invested heavily in campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage drinking through nationwide media awareness programmes.

It warned that the continued enforcement of the ban could lead to the collapse of local businesses, increase unemployment, encourage smuggling, and create room for the circulation of illicit and substandard alcoholic products in the Nigerian market.

The group further alleged that the policy would negatively affect government revenue generation while limiting access to affordable products for low-income consumers.

Akor urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “wield the big stick” by removing the NAFDAC boss from office in the interest of the administration and the Nigerian public.

The group, however, noted that it supports measures aimed at eliminating unsafe and unregulated products from the market but insisted that such policies must be based on empirical evidence, broad stakeholder consultation, and economic realities rather than “emotional persuasion and arbitrary enforcement.”

President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said Africa cannot achieve meaningful economic growth with outdated port infrastructure, stressing that aggressive investment in modern ports, technology and deep sea facilities is now unavoidable.

Dantsoho, who is also the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said countries across West and Central Africa have resolved to modernise their ports to remain competitive in global trade and accommodate larger vessels.

Speaking at the closing of the PMAWCA meetings in Lagos, Dantsoho commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for providing policy direction that is repositioning Nigeria’s maritime sector.

According to him, port infrastructure remains the backbone of economic growth, noting that no country can expand its GDP without expanding and modernising its ports.

“This is an industry that requires huge investment in infrastructure. You cannot make progress with obsolete facilities and still expect to receive newer and larger vessels,” he said.

“You cannot have a hotel built 50 years ago and expect modern customers to continue coming without refurbishment. It is the same thing with ports.”

He said countries within the sub-region, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin Republic, are currently repositioning their port systems through upgrades and modernisation projects.

Dantsoho disclosed that while Nigeria is refurbishing Apapa and Tin Can Island ports as a medium-term solution, the country must ultimately develop more modern deep sea ports capable of handling future trade volumes.

He noted that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, with two berths, represents progress, but added that Africa must aim for larger and more sophisticated facilities comparable to global maritime hubs.

“In Singapore, they are building ports with hundreds of berths. Guinea is developing a $20 billion deep sea port project. These are the kinds of investments Africa must begin to pursue if we want to compete globally,” he said.

The PMAWCA President also highlighted the growing role of technology, automation, artificial intelligence and robotics in port operations, insisting that data-driven systems are now central to efficient maritime administration.

According to him, the Nigerian Ports Authority has achieved nearly 90 per cent automation in its operations, with electronic payment and cargo processing systems significantly improving efficiency.

He cited the electronic call-up system introduced at Apapa Port as one of the innovations that has drastically reduced traffic congestion around the port corridor.

“Today, you can go into Apapa and leave within minutes. Before now, people spent hours and sometimes slept on the bridge because of congestion,” he said.

Dantsoho further stated that Nigeria currently accounts for over 70 per cent of cargo traffic entering the West and Central African sub-region due to its large population, market size and strategic position in serving landlocked neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso.

He explained that Nigeria’s huge consumer market, combined with its youthful population, gives the country enormous maritime and economic potential if supported with modern infrastructure.

“Our market extends beyond Nigeria because several landlocked countries depend on Nigerian ports. But to sustain that advantage, we must provide deeper waters, stronger quays and modern infrastructure that can accommodate bigger ships,” he added.

He also stressed the importance of regional collaboration and peer review among African port authorities under PMAWCA, saying member countries are increasingly sharing experiences, performance benchmarks and strategies to improve operational efficiency and competitiveness across the region.

According to him, Africa’s future economic growth will depend heavily on how quickly its maritime sector adapts to global realities through infrastructure renewal, technological innovation and regional integration.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya says the councils 2026 Press Week should be a time for reflection, professional advancement, unity, and renewed advocacy not mere ceremony.

Delivering the lecture at the NUJ FCT Press Week 2026, Comrade Yahya urged journalists to recommit to ethical reporting, press freedom, national development, and the welfare of media professionals across Nigeria.

He disclosed that “Press Week is not merely a ceremonial event. It is a period of introspection, recommitment, and renewed advocacy for ethical journalism, press freedom, national development, and the welfare of media professionals across Nigeria,”

Highlighting the fast-changing media landscape, Yahya noted challenges posed by digital communication, artificial intelligence, citizen journalism, and the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation, alongside mounting security threats facing reporters.

Despite these pressures, he praised Nigerian journalists for their resilience, courage, and commitment to truth and public accountability.

“Journalists are custodians of democracy,” he said, adding that a vibrant and independent press is essential to holding leaders accountable and protecting justice, transparency, and good governance.

“Without a vibrant and independent press, democracy itself becomes vulnerable.”

Yahya thanked the NUJ FCT Council for its strategic role in strengthening professional journalism and promoting media excellence in the nation’s capital, commending council members for their dedication and unity.

He outlined persistent threats confronting journalists attacks, harassment, intimidation, poor remuneration, job insecurity, and unsafe working conditions and called for urgent action to protect the integrity of the profession.

“The Nigeria Union of Journalists remains resolute in advocating for better welfare, improved working conditions, insurance protection, prompt payment of salaries, and greater institutional support for journalists nationwide,” he said

“A journalist who works under fear, uncertainty, or hardship cannot effectively discharge the sacred responsibility of informing society.”

The president said the NUJ is engaging government institutions, media owners, development partners, and other stakeholders to prioritize journalists’ welfare and protection.

Emphasizing capacity building, he said the future of journalism belongs to practitioners who are adaptable, technology-savvy, fact-oriented, and ethically grounded.

“Our credibility remains our greatest asset,” he stated, urging reporters to resist sensationalism, political manipulation, ethnic bias, and unprofessional conduct.

He pledged the NUJ’s support for initiatives that strengthen fact-checking, digital literacy, investigative reporting, and ethical standards.

The Comrade President also appealed to government at all levels to respect press freedom and protect democratic values, reminding officials that journalists are partners in nation building, not enemies of the state.

He urged security agencies to safeguard journalists as they perform lawful duties, noting that “democracy flourishes where the press operates freely without intimidation or fear.”

In closing, the NUJ president called on members to recommit to unity, mentorship, and preserving the dignity of the profession, and he paid tribute to veteran journalists whose sacrifices shaped today’s practice. He reminded attendees that Nigeria’s complex political, social, and economic transitions make the media’s role more critical than ever, and asked journalists to promote peace, national unity, responsible dialogue, and issue-based reporting.

“Let this Press Week serve as a platform for renewed collaboration between the media, government, civil society, and the Nigerian people in pursuit of a more just, peaceful, and prosperous nation,” he concluded.