The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) metered 109,556 customers in December 2025.
The figure, contained in the Metering Factsheet for November and December 2025, was released by the NERC in Abuja on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. In comparison, 88,592 customers were metered in November.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
According to the fact sheet, the national metering rate rose to 57.27 per cent by the end of December, up from 56.54 per cent in November.
NERC listed Ikeja, Eko, and Abuja DisCos as the best performers, maintaining the highest metering rates above 76 per cent.
The report revealed that, by December 2025, a total of 6,966,584 customers were metered out of 12,163,412 active electricity customers nationwide.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised concern over increasing Lassa fever cases across 18 states and 67 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The agency attributed the sustained transmission and rising fatalities to operational gaps at the state level, urging urgent action to strengthen outbreak response and control measures.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Abuja.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris
He said that Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo and Benue accounted for more than 80 per cent of confirmed cases recorded during the 2026 peak transmission season.
Idris described as particularly worrisome the growing infections among healthcare workers, with 28 confirmed cases and three deaths reported so far this season.
He said field investigations showed most transmissions were occurring in known endemic areas, but weak implementation of established response frameworks had contributed to the continued spread and higher case fatality rate.
According to him, gaps identified include infections in general outpatient and maternity settings, poor adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, and inadequate pre-positioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
He added that delayed patient presentation due to financial barriers, inconsistent activation of State Incident Management Systems, weak contact tracing, persistent stigma and poor isolation centre standards were also driving transmission.
Idris emphasised that outbreak response implementation and health service delivery fell primarily under state governments within Nigeria’s federal structure, urging them to strengthen accountability and resource allocation.
He called on affected and high-risk states to urgently activate and closely monitor their Incident Management Systems, ensuring timely coordination and efficient outbreak response at all levels of healthcare delivery.
He also urged the immediate release of response funds, strict enforcement of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) compliance in public and private health facilities, and continuous availability of PPE and other critical supplies.
The NCDC boss also advocated accelerated financial protection mechanisms to reduce late presentation and high fatality rates, alongside institutionalised rodent control and environmental sanitation measures under a One Health approach.
He advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere strictly to IPC guidelines.
He also urged the public to keep environments clean, prevent rodent entry into homes, store food safely and seek early medical care when symptoms appeared.
Idris noted that Lassa fever was treatable, with improved outcomes when detected early, adding that Nigeria was also responding to other epidemic-prone diseases including Cerebrospinal Meningitis, Diphtheria, Mpox and Cholera.
He reiterated NCDC’s toll-free emergency line, 6232, for reporting suspected cases and obtaining further information.
Recent scientific research continues to demonstrate that climate change is reshaping forest ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and environmental governance systems globally. While the impacts vary by region, the underlying patterns are increasingly consistent: altered temperature regimes, changing rainfall patterns, rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, and increased frequency of extreme weather events are influencing both natural and managed ecosystems.
Bibliometric analyses of climate change research in agriculture and forestry show a sharp growth in scientific output since the mid-2000s, reflecting heightened global concern. Studies indicate that more than half of climate-related agricultural research in the past decade has focused on adaptation, modelling, temperature impacts, and CO₂ dynamics.
Forest ecosystems
International collaboration particularly led by institutions in the United States, China, Canada, and Europe, has shaped much of the knowledge base. However, research from developing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, has expanded significantly in recent years, especially on vulnerability and adaptation.
Forest systems are particularly sensitive to climate variability. Evidence shows that warming temperatures and prolonged drought stress increase susceptibility to pests, invasive species, and wildfires. In temperate regions, large-scale pest outbreaks have been linked to warming winters. In tropical regions, including West Africa, forest degradation interacts with climate stressors, creating feedback loops between deforestation, carbon emissions, and reduced ecosystem resilience. Globally, approximately 10-12% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to deforestation and forest degradation.
At the same time, forests serve as major carbon sinks. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ can stimulate plant growth under certain conditions (the “carbon fertilisation effect”), but this effect is constrained by nutrient availability, water stress, and disturbance regimes. Current research suggests that while some forests may initially experience productivity gains, long-term ecosystem stability depends heavily on management practices and disturbance frequency.
Agricultural systems face parallel pressures. Rising temperatures influence evapotranspiration rates, irrigation demand, and crop phenology. Research highlights the need for improved nutrient use efficiency, water management strategies, and crop adaptation to temperature extremes. Global projections indicate that average cereal yields must increase significantly in coming decades to meet population demand, yet climate variability introduces uncertainty in yield stability. In regions like Nigeria, where rain-fed agriculture dominates, variability in rainfall onset and distribution poses substantial risks to food security.
Climate change also intersects with land-use decisions. Intensification of agriculture to meet food demand can reduce pressure on forest frontiers if managed sustainably. However, poorly regulated expansion remains a primary driver of deforestation in many tropical regions. Studies underscore the importance of integrated land-use planning that aligns food production goals with forest conservation and climate mitigation objectives.
Emerging modelling approaches now link forestry and agriculture sectors to assess economic and land-use shifts under climate scenarios. Findings suggest that adaptive management such as altered crop varieties, modified forest rotation cycles, and strategic land allocation, can moderate aggregate economic impacts, though producer-level vulnerabilities remain significant.
Overall, current research emphasises three consistent themes: (1) climate impacts are already observable in forest and agricultural systems; (2) adaptive capacity depends on governance, technology, and institutional frameworks; and (3) mitigation and adaptation strategies must be considered together rather than in isolation.
For Nigeria and other forest-dependent economies, strengthening climate-smart land management and improving institutional coordination between forestry and agricultural sectors will be critical to long-term sustainability.
Key Research Insights
Climate change research in agriculture and forestry has grown exponentially since 2005.
Deforestation contributes roughly 10–12% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Elevated CO₂ may enhance plant growth, but gains are limited by water and nutrient constraints.
Rising temperatures increase evapotranspiration and irrigation demand.
Pest outbreaks and wildfire intensity are linked to warming trends.
Sustainable intensification can reduce forest conversion pressure if governance is effective.
As the global community accelerates toward a more integrated digital future, ITREALMS Media Group, through its flagship digital rights initiative, the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF), has officially announced the 2026 edition of its annual convening on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D).
The forum, scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together policymakers, tech innovators, and civil society under the theme: “Sustaining WSIS Vision with Multistakeholder Synergy in Nigeria.”
Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Lead Consulting Strategist/Group Executive Editor at ITREALMS Media
This year’s theme aligns with the recent UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/173, which reaffirms the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) vision. The 2026 NDSF aims to address the critical need for connecting all citizens, ensuring the affordability of digital technologies, and increasing investment in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to bridge the widening digital divide.
Speaking on the upcoming event, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Group Executive Editor and Lead Consulting Strategist at ITREALMS Media, emphasised that the stability of Nigeria’s digital economy depends on collaborative security.
“Building an inclusive, open, and secure digital space remains paramount,” Nweke stated. “Beyond connectivity, we must ensure that our digital ecosystem protects children online and remains resilient against global threats. The 2026 NDSF serves as a catalyst for the multistakeholder synergy required to achieve these goals.”
Key Highlights of NDSF 2026:
Focus on Emerging Tech: In-depth discourse on IPv6 adoption, Domain Name System (DNS) security, and the evolution of Digital Public Infrastructure.
Child Online Protection: Strategies for creating a safer internet for the younger generation. Strategic Collaboration: Continuing a long-standing partnership with the Nigerian.
Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, and Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Smart Infrastructure: Exploring how telecommunications and satellite technology can drive the “Smart Nigeria” agenda.
The forum will feature a keynote address titled “Sustaining the WSIS Vision via Telecoms: Driving Multistakeholder Synergy for Nigeria’s Future,” expected to be delivered by leadership from the nation’s top regulatory bodies.
Since its inception, NDSF, hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA), an ICANN-certified At-Large Structure, has been at the forefront of motivating public discourse on the business and technological benefits of advancing internet governance.
Members of the press, stakeholders in the ICT sector, and the general public are invited to join this milestone event to help shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.
A tense dispute over alleged unauthorised logging in New Ekuri Community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, has been resolved following legislative intervention, with Ezemac International (Nig.) Ltd. agreeing to a N15 million compensation and environmental restoration package.
The disagreement, which drew the attention of civil society organisations and environmental advocates, stemmed from claims by the community that the company entered its forest and commenced logging without its consent.
The situation escalated weeks ago when the Community Leader, Dr. Martins Egot, was arrested amid the standoff, a development that further heightened tensions in the forest-dependent settlement.
Timber extraction in Ekuri forest
Concerned about the environmental and security implications of the impasse, the community and its supporters petitioned the Cross River State House of Assembly and other relevant authorities, calling for urgent intervention.
Their appeal prompted mediation by the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry, chaired by Bette Obi, alongside the lawmaker representing Akamkpa State Constituency, Ntufam Okon Owuna.
Following negotiations, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 16, 2026, outlining terms for compensation, cessation of logging and ecological restoration.
Under the agreement, Ezemac International (Nig.) Ltd. is to pay N8 million as compensation for timber already felled within the community forest.
An additional N2 million will cover legal and dispute-related expenses incurred by the community during the crisis.
The company also committed N5 million specifically for environmental restoration, bringing the total financial settlement to N15 million.
Crucially, the MoU stipulates that all payments must be completed before the company can evacuate already cut logs or operate any machinery within the forest area.
The agreement further affirms the recognition of New Ekuri as the lawful custodian of its forest, reinforcing the principle that no external entity can operate there without the community’s express approval.
As part of the settlement, the company has provided binding assurances that no further tree felling will occur and that its presence in the forest is strictly limited to evacuating previously cut wood.
It is also required to withdraw fully from the forest immediately after evacuation, while any future logging activity would depend on a fresh agreement sanctioned by the community.
Beyond compensation, the MoU provides for structured environmental restoration, including the raising and planting of 10,000 tree seedlings funded by the N5 million allocation.
The reforestation initiative will be carried out by the community’s Ecoguards, with technical supervision and coordination by the Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-Africa), while access roads opened during logging are to be ecologically restored to prevent erosion and unauthorised entry.
Community leaders described the resolution as a triumph of peaceful advocacy and institutional engagement, noting that despite heightened emotions during the crisis, youths in the area exercised restraint and avoided violence.
Observers say the outcome underscores the growing influence of host communities in forest governance matters and signals the importance of dialogue, legislative oversight and environmental accountability in managing resource-related conflicts in Cross River State.
On UN World Wildlife Day on Monday, March 3, 2026, the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) Foundation announced its inaugural 2026 cohort of EPI Youth Ambassadors, 16 exceptional young leaders dedicated to advancing elephant conservation and inspiring action in communities around the world.
Representing a diverse and globally connected network, the cohort includes nine ambassadors from Kenya, four from Nigeria, one from Zimbabwe, one from The Gambia, and one from Switzerland. The appointment of EPIF Youth Ambassadors will take place annually on World Wildlife Day.
One of the Nigerians is Mr. Nsikak Ekere in the Abuja office of EnviroNews.
EPI Foundation Youth Ambassadors
Tadiwanashe Mupunga, a student from Zimbabwe, said he is particularly interested in using digital tools to promote awareness around elephant protection, and Sarafina Sironka from Kenya said she aims to drive lasting change for wildlife and the communities that depend on healthy ecosystems.
“At a time when elephants continue to face significant threats from illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict, meaningful youth participation in conservation has never been more important,” said the EPI Foundation’s Chair of Trustees, Sharon Ikeazor.
“Through their creativity, digital innovation, and peer-to-peer engagement, our Youth Ambassadors can play a critical role in shaping attitudes, influencing behaviour, and driving long-term change for wildlife and the environment,” added the Foundation’s CEO, John E Scanlon, AO.
EPI Youth Ambassadors will advocate for elephant protection within their networks; participate in EPI awareness campaigns, including digital storytelling, videos, and films; and mobilise their peers to support or lead conservation initiatives at local, national, and global levels. This volunteer role also offers ambassadors a meaningful leadership opportunity, providing orientation on elephant conservation and advocacy, access to EPI campaign materials and toolkits, opportunities to collaborate with fellow ambassadors across regions, and recognition for their contributions and impact.
Rachel Cao and Lareina Li, both studying in Beijing, China, were the first EPI Foundation Youth Ambassadors in 2024. They have successfully raised awareness of elephants, and wildlife conservation amongst their peers, and helped raise funds for the EPI Foundation. Through this initiative, the EPI Foundation reaffirms its commitment to amplifying young voices and building a global movement for elephant protection.
Nigeria can harness her gas resources for industrialisation if it achieves stable regulatory enforcement, fair pricing and infrastructure ownership models in the sector, Managing Director Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Ralph Gbobo, said in Lagos recently.
Speaking at the Energy Week of the Lagos Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Gbobo said investors need “a stable, fast and transparent implementation” of rules while a fair pricing regime could be achieved with “the right incentives to grow pipeline gas” which would also attract more investments.
Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Ralph Gbobo, during the panel section
On infrastructure ownership models, he called for the completion of ongoing projects and ensuring the reliability of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System through “clear service standards.”
He said government could also encourage investments in gas distribution through “demand aggregation.”
“We need to create a friendly business environment and a clear plan (e.g., industrial parks or designated zones) so demand is clustered. That makes it easier for a distributor to get a license, invest, and build shared infrastructure that serves many industries – not just one or two.”
Gbobo added: “Public–private partnership is crucial. Government backing helps planning and delivery. This model can also support industrial parks and other ways to aggregate demand.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Abuja inaugurated the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour (REHCCAT), a national initiative aimed at promoting climate resilience and sustainable development across Nigeria.
Speaking at the State House Conference Centre, Tinubu urged governors, organised private sector actors, and other stakeholders to lead Nigeria’s climate transition, transforming awareness into practical action at all levels.
Represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, the President said climate change was not only a risk but also an opportunity for innovation, growth, and national development.
Dignitaries at the launch of the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour (REHCCAT)
“Today we inaugurate a movement, the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour.
“It is a national call to action, a call to innovation, opportunity, and sustainable development for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
He highlighted the impacts of climate change across the country: droughts affecting northern farmers, coastal erosion and flooding in the south, business disruptions, energy supply challenges, and the future of Nigerian youth.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria stood at a defining moment as the global transition to low-carbon development accelerated.
“Capital is shifting, markets are evolving, and technology is transforming industries. Nigeria intends to lead tomorrow,” he said.
He explained that the tour would take climate awareness beyond conference halls into communities, engaging governors, traditional rulers, students, innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, and financial institutions nationwide.
“Through this tour, we will identify bankable projects, unlock local solutions, strengthen climate finance capacity, and mobilise partnerships between the public and private sectors,” he added.
The President emphasised that nationally determined contributions were commitments to reduce emissions, enhance resilience, and safeguard communities.
“Commitments must be matched with action, supported by investment, and this tour bridges that gap,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to take ownership of the climate transition, stressing that their ideas, technology, and entrepreneurship would shape the nation’s future while aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Climate resilience is national security. Leadership is not a budget; it is a result we must accept with confidence. Nigeria chooses leadership over hesitation,” Tinubu said.
Also, Lawal, represented by the Director of Forestry, Halima Bawa, highlighted the urgency of confronting climate change, noting its effects, including desert encroachment, flooding, coastal erosion, and erratic rainfall affecting farmers.
Lawal lauded the Climate Change Act 2021 for establishing a legal framework for coordinated climate governance, carbon budgeting, and a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2060, institutionalising climate action across sectors.
He stressed the need for climate governance to extend beyond federal initiatives, urging implementation at subnational and grassroots levels to ensure meaningful impact in communities.
Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Yussuf Kelani, said the tour represented a national movement grounded in leadership, collaboration, and commitment to Nigeria’s environmental and economic security.
Kelani, Chairman of the REHCCAT Committee, said the initiative sought to democratise climate knowledge, aligned federal and state-level action with Nigeria’s NDCs, and mobilise partnerships, green jobs, and climate finance.
“REHCCAT will proceed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, beginning with two strategic states per zone, and convene high-level policy dialogues with governors, commissioners, state legislatures, youth, women, farmers, artisans, and community leaders.”
Guest Speaker, Prof. Babajide Alo, emphasised that climate resilience required locally led adaptation, community empowerment, and capacity-building to actively manage climate risks and implement sustainable solutions.
“Securing Nigeria’s climate future requires revisiting priorities and lifestyles, embracing responsible consumption, reducing carbon footprints, and embedding sustainable development in every sector,” Alo said, calling for action at all levels.
Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council, Mr. Francis Nwaochei, has called for resilience, strategic coordination and disciplined execution to reposition Nigeria as a dominant force in the global oil market.
Nwaochei made the call ahead of the 2026 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF), scheduled to hold on April 9 at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Tower in Abuja.
The 2026 edition has the theme “Beyond the Three Million Barrels Target: Harmonising Digitalisation, Capital and Policy Frameworks for Intelligent Operations and Asset Optimisation”.
L-R: Chima Okorie, Communication & Protocol Chair; Hassannah Salami, SPE Lagos Secretary; Effa Agbor, Vice Council Chair; Francis Nwaochei, Council Chair; and Priscilla Enwere, OLEF Chairperson
It will focus on moving Nigeria’s production drive from aspiration to implementation.
He said geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions had exposed vulnerabilities in global energy systems while creating leadership opportunities for resource-rich nations like Nigeria.
“Global instability underscores the importance of disciplined planning in our petroleum industry. But it also presents Nigeria with a unique opportunity to lead,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s ambition to exceed three million barrels per day is achievable, but only through innovation, disciplined capital deployment and smarter institutional coordination.
“Easy production is no longer an option. Only intelligent operations will deliver sustainable growth,” he added.
Nwaochei noted that crude oil output directly affects public revenue, foreign exchange stability, infrastructure financing and overall economic confidence, stressing that production levels ultimately influence the cost of living.
He said surpassing the three-million-barrel threshold was fundamental to strengthening fiscal stability, supporting domestic refining, unlocking gas resources for power and industry, and reinforcing Nigeria’s credibility as a dependable global supplier.
However, he cautioned that ambition without structural alignment would falter.
“When approval processes are slow or mandates overlap, investment momentum weakens. Unclear fiscal terms deter capital.
“Real progress depends on aligning digital innovation and funding with efficient and transparent policies,” he said.
Nwaochei explained that OLEF 2026 would centre on three pillars: financing, policy alignment and asset optimisation – with discussions expected to address implementation of Nigeria’s petroleum industry framework, fiscal stability and investor confidence.
He added that the forum would also examine ways to strengthen indigenous operators through improved access to financing and technology partnerships, as well as unlock value from idle wellbores.
The chairman highlighted the transformation underway in the downstream segment, driven by the emergence of the Dangote Refinery and a growing network of modular refineries.
He said expanded domestic refining capacity could reshape fuel supply dynamics, employment levels, pricing structures and foreign exchange management, but stressed that investments in pipelines, storage and gas-to-liquids projects remained critical.
Nwaochei reaffirmed the council’s commitment to facilitating technical dialogue and providing data-driven insights to support informed decision-making.
“Unlike ceremonial conferences, OLEF 2026 is structured as a working forum designed to produce concrete recommendations capable of shaping regulatory reviews, investment strategies and national planning.
“Nigeria’s energy future must be competitive, resilient and sustainable. We must balance innovation with strong regulation, investment with stability, and ambition with disciplined execution,” Nwaochei said.
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, says the ban on alcohol in small pack sizes remains the best solution to tackle the menace of underage drinking.
Adeyeye said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to mark the commencement of enforcement of the ban on sachet alcoholic drinks nationwide.
The enforcement would be carried out by the NAFDAC, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
The NAFDAC boss said restricting access to sachets and small volume bottles, which could be easily concealed, would limit children’s access to alcohol.
According to her, alcohol is one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths.
Adeyeye said several studies showed a rapid increase in alcohol availability, production, importation and consumption across age groups in recent decades.
She added that the availability and easy access to alcohol had been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors.
Adeyeye recalled that, in 2018, the Association of Food and Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DBAN), which are part of NAFDAC council, reported NAFDAC management to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“In 2018, AFBTE and DBAN took NAFDAC to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that we were trying to reduce the concentration of alcohol in sachets. By that time, it was like 50 per cent in the sachet.
“DBAN and AFBTE said that their businesses would be destroyed. That was 2018. The then Prof. Pate, the Minister of Health, gave these trade groups five years to reorganise their business.
“On Feb.1, 2024, five years after, we started enforcement because our mandate is to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use. Of seven regulated products, alcohol is part of food.
“They resisted us and they took us to the Committee on NAFDAC at the National Assembly, who told us to suspend what we were doing in 2024. It went back and forth throughout 2024. We couldn’t do what we were supposed to do.
“In December 2024, the then Minister, Prof. Pate, said we should give an extra one year and we gave it,” she said.
The NAFDAC director-general said after the agency started enforcement following the order by the Senate, the trade groups also sought for another extension.
“However, in 2018, when this moratorium was given, we were also told to do a survey to even see the impact on our children. We did our survey in NAFDAC.
“The results were not pleasing to the disciplinary group. They said they want an independent survey. So, we had an independent survey. It was conducted in 2021 during the pandemic,” she said.
Adeyeye said the overall objective of the research was to undertake a national survey of consumers and retailers of alcohol, beverages and wines to determine the extent of alcohol abuse among the underage.
She said about 2,000 respondents were sampled across the six geopolitical zones, adding that the result was damning to the country.
Adeyeye said findings showed that 54.3 per cent of minors and underage obtained alcohol by themselves from various sources, while 49.9 per cent patronised retailers selling sachets and pet bottles.
The NAFDAC boss, who said 50 per cent of children drink alcohol, said findings further suggest that minors and underage also access alcoholic drinks from friends and relatives, as well as from social guardians.
“Of those who procure drinks for themselves, 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage procure drinks in sachets because it is easy to conceal.
“Whether you are a good parent or a bad parent, it doesn’t really matter. These sachets are easy to conceal and that is what NAFDAC has banned.
“The survey data revealed that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54 per cent of underage drink alcohol occasionally, while 44.3 per cent and 38.3 per cent of adults drink alcohol occasionally and daily respectively.
“So, they even drink it more than adults because it is easy to conceal. Additionally, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underage children consume alcoholic beverages.
“And 11.3 per cent of minors and 9.4 per cent of underage consume alcohol at least once a week. As young as nine years old in this survey consume alcohol,” she said.
According to her, most minors and underage buy alcohol for themselves. It’s about N50 to buy a sachet of alcohol. Some people have been made rich, but some children are losing their livelihoods and future.
“Some children are potential patients for liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, mental instability.
On the pattern of alcohol consumption and abuse by minors and underage, the survey findings revealed that about 11.7 per cent of underage children are ever engaged in binge drinking.
“This is mostly reported in Gombe. In terms of the most use of alcohol, it is Lagos and Rivers states.”
Adeyeye said NAFDAC expressed concern following its mandate aimed to ensure protection of public health, including children.
Speaking on its impact on health and brain development, she said alcohol could damage the hippocampus, memory centre in the brain and prefrontal cortex leading to permanent issues with learning, memory and impulse control.
According to her, underage drinking is linked to liver and kidney damage.Hypertension, disrupted hormone growth and increased cancer risk later in life.
This, she said, also increases risk of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
“Youth who begins drinking before age 15, the minors and underage in our study are 41 per cent more likely to become dependent on alcohol. And this study also shows that they graduate to start taking cocaine and other narcotics.
“It also has behavioural consequences as violence remains a major factor in youth suicides, homicides and motor vehicle crashes or accidents.
“Risky behaviour is strongly linked to unprotected sexual activity, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases,” she said.
According to her, it also contributes to academic problem because drinking often leads to lower grades, missed classes and impaired cognitive function.
“In our country, it is responsible for banditry. It is responsible for kidnapping. You cannot be in your right mind and point a gun at somebody. It starts from alcohol and then goes on to hard drugs.
“Because of all these, the Senate made its resolutions on Nov. 6, 2025, and were communicated to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on December 1, 2025.
“The resolutions urge NAFDAC not to grant further extension to the moratorium and to ensure immediate strict enforcement of the ban on such alcohol and alcohol in small bottles.
“It urges the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support NAFDAC on the ban on such alcohol and alcohol in smaller volumes.
“It urges the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to release its national alcohol policy that includes prohibition of alcohol in sachets and small volume less than 200 mls.
“It urges the National Orientation Agency and NAFDAC to collaborate and intensify nationwide sensitisation of dangers of alcohol in sachets and small volume bottles,” she said.
Earlier, the Director, Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, said the commission would subject offenders in the food and drug sector to the offences and penalties based on the extant laws.
“So, by tomorrow, when we begin full enforcement, and which we must, we will not be asked questions as to why we are subjecting offenders to a certain kind of penalties and sanctions. Our sanctions are quite severe.
“By the time we begin implementation, and which we are commencing immediately, Nigerians would know,” Ijagwu said.
The Director-General of NOA, Malam Lanre Onilu, said the Federal Government, through NAFDAC, had banned the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and in PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, effective from Jan. 1, 2026.
According to Onilu, this decision is a deliberate public health intervention aimed at reducing underage access to cheap, high-concentration alcohol and curbing the alarming pattern of harmful consumption across our communities.
“This is why this collaboration is important. NAFDAC safeguards public health through regulation. FCCPC protects consumer rights and ensures responsible market practices.
“The National Orientation Agency mobilises citizens for behavioural change and national consciousness. Together, we are aligning regulation, consumer protection and public enlightenment to ensure that this policy achieves its intended impact,” he said.
