The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government to restrain the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control from proceeding with its ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles, warning of catastrophic economic consequences.

In a statement issued by Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir, MAN described NAFDAC’s renewed enforcement action as detrimental to indigenous industrial operators and fundamentally inconsistent with earlier government directives.

The manufacturers’ body emphasized that NAFDAC’s recent move directly contradicts the House of Representatives resolution dated March 14, 2024, which specifically restrained the agency from implementing the punitive ban following comprehensive stakeholder consultations through a public hearing.

“Rather than abiding by the generally agreed resolution, NAFDAC bided its time and chose to rely on a resolution of the Senate that was devoid of the usual stakeholders’ engagement,” Ajayi-Kadir stated, noting that operators now face confusion over conflicting directives from different arms of government.

MAN warned that enforcing the ban would devastate Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threatening over ₦1.9 trillion in existing investments and triggering the retrenchment of more than 500,000 direct employees alongside approximately five million workers in the indirect value chain.

The association cautioned that the restriction would paradoxically undermine public health by creating market opportunities for illicit, substandard and unregulated products beyond the control of regulatory authorities.

“This is counterproductive as it will open up the market for illicit, sub-standard, and unregulated products. It will lead to an influx of imported alternatives, mostly smuggled. It will deny the government of revenues collectable from the companies,” Ajayi-Kadir declared.

The manufacturers’ group emphasized that alcohol served in sachets by local producers is manufactured under hygienic conditions and certified by regulatory agencies including NAFDAC itself, making the ban particularly contradictory.

MAN also challenged the untested assertion that sachet alcohol drives underage consumption, citing credible and empirical research that contradicts this claim. The industry has independently invested over ₦1 billion in nationwide media campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage abuse.

The association stressed that banning certified products would deny adult consumers with limited budgets access to regulated alcoholic beverages while simultaneously depriving the government of substantial tax revenues.

Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees have joined MAN in opposing the ban, demanding that NAFDAC provide empirical evidence that sachet alcoholic beverages are being consumed by children.

Labor unions have called for the suspension of NAFDAC Director-General Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, accusing her of siding with multinational companies to undermine local manufacturers.

However, NAFDAC has maintained its position, with Adeyeye insisting that enforcement is backed by law following the Senate’s unanimous resolution setting a December 2025 deadline that has now passed.

The NAFDAC chief argued that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets has made such products easily accessible, affordable and concealable, contributing to widespread misuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers.

“This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities,” Adeyeye stated, describing the ban as protective rather than punitive.

In contrast, civil society organization Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos seeking injunctive orders to prevent the Federal Government from interfering with NAFDAC’s statutory powers to enforce the ban.

SERAP argues that continued circulation of sachet alcohol violates the National Health Act 2014, the NAFDAC Act and international commitments under the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce Harmful Use of Alcohol.

The legal and economic battle over sachet alcohol highlights deeper tensions between public health regulation, economic survival and stakeholder consultation in Nigeria’s policymaking process, with no clear resolution in sight as multiple court cases and regulatory actions unfold simultaneously.

Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has revealed that Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy remains her top choice for a musical collaboration, describing the African Giant as her number one dream partnership.

The two-time Grammy nominee made this disclosure during a Billboard interview with Love Island USA star Chelley Bissainthe while discussing her 2026 Grammy nominations released in November 2025.

“Everybody knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with. I’ve collaborated with a lot of people, and I still want to collaborate with many more people,” the 23-year-old singer stated.

Ayra Starr, born Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, earned her latest Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance for her collaboration with Wizkid on “Gimme Dat,” released on April 25, 2025.

The track competes alongside heavyweights including Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love,” and South Africa’s Tyla for “PUSH 2 START.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Ayra Starr described the nomination as a moment of reassurance in her career. She revealed that “Gimme Dat” was originally intended as her solo single before Wizkid joined the project.

“I recorded this song maybe six or eight months before it actually came out. This was before Wizkid even jumped on it. It was supposed to be just my single,” the Mavin Records artist explained.

She added that when Wizkid came on board, the timing felt perfect. “When we got Wizkid on the track, I was like, ‘You know what? It’s time.’ It came together perfectly at the right time. It came out beautiful.”

Speaking on the growing global recognition of African music, Ayra Starr emphasized that the current moment reflects a broader cultural shift happening across the continent.

“I feel like it’s Africa’s time music-wise. We’ve always made amazing music, and the world is just catching up,” she declared, highlighting the increasing appreciation for Afrobeats and other African genres on international platforms.

Looking ahead, the singer revealed she is working on new music and expanding her creative portfolio beyond the recording booth. “One thing I’m doing this year is creating whatever I want to exist. I’m working on an album. I’m not done. By God’s grace — a book,” Ayra Starr disclosed.

The Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 1, 2026, where Ayra Starr will compete for her second career nomination after previously earning recognition for her work with the genre’s leading voices.

Burna Boy enters the 2026 ceremony with two nominations: Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for “No Sign of Weakness,” marking his seventh consecutive Grammy nomination and making him the first African artist to achieve such a streak.

The potential collaboration between Ayra Starr and Burna Boy has generated significant excitement among fans on social media, with many expressing hope that the two powerhouse voices will unite on a future project.

Ayra Starr has previously collaborated with several major artists including Wizkid, Giveon, Kelly Rowland, and Asake, demonstrating her versatility and appeal across different musical styles and markets.

Her rapid ascent in global music has been marked by chart-topping singles, sold-out international tours, and growing recognition as one of Afrobeats’ most promising young talents capable of carrying the genre into its next evolution.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are successfully rebuilding Nigeria’s international reputation and restoring global investor confidence that had eroded over years of policy inconsistency.

Speaking at the formal opening of Nigeria House during the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Shettima emphasized that the establishment of the country’s first sovereign pavilion at the prestigious gathering represents concrete evidence of Nigeria’s renewed seriousness about engaging the global economy.

“Nigeria House is a response to the lapses of the past. It reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all, it advertises both our readiness and our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose and place,” the Vice President stated.

Shettima explained that the tangible benefits of the Tinubu administration’s challenging but necessary reforms are beginning to materialize, pointing to macroeconomic indicators that demonstrate fundamental improvement in Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria’s economy expanded by approximately 3.9 percent in 2025, marking the fastest growth rate recorded in over a decade, driven primarily by a resilient non-oil sector that now accounts for roughly 96 percent of gross domestic product.

“Services, agriculture, finance, and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now make up nearly three-quarters of government collections, marking a structural shift away from oil dependence,” Shettima noted, adding that this diversification strategy positions Nigeria for sustainable long-term prosperity.

The Vice President revealed that inflation, which stood above 30 percent in late 2024, eased significantly by the conclusion of 2025, while external buffers improved with foreign reserves rising above 45 billion dollars and greater stability emerging in the foreign exchange market.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s decision to open up to the world more deliberately comes at a critical turning point in the country’s economic journey, with reform dividends becoming increasingly visible across multiple sectors.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole reinforced Shettima’s assessment, stating that Nigeria under the current administration is rebuilding trust, restoring credibility and positioning itself as a global center for wealth creation and strategic partnership.

The minister applauded the Vice President’s support in realizing the historic vision for Nigeria House Davos, describing the project as a demonstration of strong public-private partnership that reflects the rejuvenation of Nigeria’s economy and showcases national pride.

At a separate engagement, Shettima told participants at a high-level panel discussion titled “When Food Becomes Security” that Nigeria, renowned as the African giant, has awakened from its slumber under Tinubu’s dynamic and purposeful leadership.

The Vice President expressed optimism that with ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda reforms, the coming months will witness greater climate adaptation moving from pilot projects to reality, as well as a boom in intra-African trade far beyond the current 10.7 percent baseline.

Speaking at the inaugural convocation ceremony of the Professionals’ Certification Programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima revealed that foreigners now choose to participate in professional training courses in Nigeria, citing this trend as evidence that global confidence in the country is being restored.

“The ongoing reforms of President Tinubu’s administration are beginning to restore the confidence of the global community in Nigeria,” the Vice President stated, emphasizing that transparent procurement practices and institutional strengthening form critical pillars of the reform agenda.

Nigeria House Davos, according to Shettima, represents a deliberate action to consolidate the gains of Tinubu’s economic transformation efforts through high-level engagements targeted at attracting investments in the country’s non-oil sector.

The Vice President stressed that while government can open doors, create frameworks and de-risk environments, only private enterprise can animate growth, scale opportunity and translate policy into productivity, calling on the private sector to drive Nigeria’s economic renaissance.

Upon returning to Abuja from his week-long diplomatic and economic mission that included stops in Guinea-Conakry and Switzerland, Shettima declared that Nigeria has reclaimed a frontline seat in global and regional policy conversations.