Reps considering energy drinks ban in Nigeria by Ogala Emmanuel

A motion seeking a legislative ban on the sale of energy drinks in Nigeria has gained a spot on the agenda paper of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

The motion is promoted by Yacoob Bush-Alebiosu, member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos. Mr. Bush-Alebiosu said the use – abuse – of energy drinks has endangered a generation of Nigerians guzzling the drinks despite its health hazards.

The motion is not popular with other members and failed a chance to be heard on December 13. Mr. Bush-Alebiosu promoted the motion alone.

He argued that several brands of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Power Horse, Vault, Red alert and Burn contain high levels of stimulants and ingredients with high health risks. He said health risks like kidney damages, seizures and strokes, high blood pressure, and heart and brain dysfunction may arise from the consumption of these drinks.

“The heart diseases caused by the consumption of these energy drinks, most especially among young people, is alarming, and threatening the health of the younger generations,” Mr. Bush-Alebiosu said.

The lawmaker is the first Nigerian government official to call for an outright ban on energy drinks. In 2008, the former director General National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dora Akunyili, warned the public about the hazards of energy drinks for the first time.

Mrs. Akunyili’s approach, which is still sustained at the agency, was to persuade consumers, especially pregnant women, off the products, citing its high level of sugar and caffeine.

In 2011, as the use of energy drinks grew amongst young adults in Nigeria, Mrs. Akunyili’s concerns was re-echoed by NAFDAC with a higher alert level.

During an advocacy workshop for pharmaceutical inspectors last year, NAFDAC’s Director of Inspection and Establishment, Hauwa Keri, advised the government to find a way of “arresting the situation” after she warned that “the future of the country is at stake.”

There are over 31 energy drinks sold in the open markets in Nigeria. Energy drinks are favourites for Muslim young adults observing the religious alcohol abstinence. It is also a favourite cocktail ingredient for alcohol drinking socialites in Nigeria. Often, cups of energy drinks are mixed with highly alcoholic drinks like Vodka and Whiskeys as enhancers.

According to Mr. Bush-Alebiosu, mixing these drinks with alcohol masks caffeine intoxication and increases the fatality of the drinks.

Although NAFDAC regularly swoop markets for fake and unregistered energy drinks, it is yet to raise the lethality quotient of the drinks.

Governments of Denmark, Germany, Norway and France have placed different level of bans on energy drinks.

Like most other heavily regulated consumables, Nigeria with its large population and weaker government agencies, is a flourishing market for energy drinks.

When next the motion comes up for hearing, the lawmaker hopes to persuade his colleagues to muster a strong voice that will coax Nigeria’s health Ministry to immediately ban sales, distribution and consumption of all brands of caffeinated energy drinks in all locations across Nigeria.

Kaduna gets new Deputy Governor by Sani Tukur

The Deputy governor nominee was the Chairman of the ruling PDP.
Kaduna State Governor, Muktar Yero, has nominated Nuhu Bajoga as the Deputy Governor of the state.
The State’s Commissioner of Information, Saidu Adamu, briefed newsmen on Monday after the governor met with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, officials and principal officers of the state House of Assembly.
Prior to the appointment, Mr. Bajoga was the Chairman of the ruling PDP, in the state.
The Commissioner of Information said Mr. Bajoga’s name has been submitted to the assembly for screening.
The post of Deputy Governor became vacant in the state after Patrick Yakowa, the former governor of the state, died in a crash penultimate Saturday

Armed SSS officers in 10 vehicles arrest editor, reporter in Kaduna raid. by Sani Tukur

The Nigerian SSS men wore quasi-military uniforms when they stormed the homes of the journalists.
In what appears a military-era Gestapo tactics, the State Security Service, SSS, stormed the house of two journalists who write for Al-Mizan, a Hausa language newspaper, and arrested them.

Witnesses said the security operatives came in about 10 cars and first stormed the house of Aliyu Saleh, a reporter who resides in Rigasa, Kaduna.
After rough-handling Mr. Saleh and his wife, the couple were arrested at about 4:00 a.m. from where they were conveyed to the next destination of the security agents.
The next stop for the men in guns was the house of the editor of the paper, Musa Awwal, who was also man-handled alongside his wife. When the police were through with harassing the couples, they left the two women and arrested the two journalists.
The journalists have been taken to an unknown destination.
Reasons for Gestapo attack.
PIt was gathered that the reason for the actions of the security agencies is the latest story written by Al-Mizan.
The story, with the headline, “Atrocities of JTF in Potiskum,” narrated how the Joint Task Force in Yobe State have been engaging in extra-judicial arrests and murder of innocent citizens.
The story narrated how 84 young men were arrested some weeks ago in Yobe by the JTF in Potiskum, and how the whereabouts of the men were unknown as at the time of publication of the story.
The story is said to have angered security agencies who felt the story would incite the local Hausa populace against security forces.
The Kaduna State Police Command also said claimed ignorance of the arrest.

Former RCCG pastor berates Adeboye for welcoming politicians in to their annual Holy Ghost congress

A former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Bankole Solomon, has condemned what he described as the politicization of the church's annual Holy Ghost congress.
Pastor Bankole, a lawyer and the Ogun State Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), expressed the position on Facebook.
Speaking later to SaharaReporters by telephone, he said his position was aimed at President Goodluck Jonathan's appearance at the congress as a tool for political manipulation of members of the popular church, and Christians at large, but was not an attack on the church and its leadership.
He described Holy Ghost congress as having become “a supermarket where all kinds of people like charlatans and political opportunists come shopping turning God to Father Xmas to give them end-of-year bonus.”
Mr. Solomon said he was very unhappy at the rate at which his famed church voluntarily surrenders its sacred podium to corrupt politicians when pastors working hard in the church are being denied the same access to the podium.
President Goodluck Jonathan, he said, was there “turning our once sacred altar to political podium talking deceitfully & indirectly campaigning for 2015.”
He questioned the basis for that decision, given that Mr. Jonathan is not a pastor.
The lawyer, who said he resigned from the ministry of the RCCG in 2010 for personal reasons, predicted in his post that members of the church would harass and harangue him for coming out clearly to condemn the way the church has been turned to a den of thieves.
SaharaReporters can confirm that that is already happening.  Mr. Bankole has been receiving threats, cursing and harassment from members across the world. Bankole however says he stands by his earlier position, but expressed surprise at the attacks.
 Below is Pastor Bankole's posting about the issue yesterday on his Facebook Wall:
 I know this post will attract a sharp condemnation because I worship in RCCG & I was once a pastor before I resigned voluntarily because of rights violations in the name of religion.
I resigned in   December 2010.
But am still worshiping in there as an ordinary member.
So, whatever. I have here is without prejudice.
Holy ghost congress of our great church is now a political congress where all shades of corrupt leaders will mount our altar to fool Nigerians on what they will do.
Holy Ghost congress is now a supermarket where all kinds of people like charlatans & political opportunist come shopping turning God to father Xmas to give them end of d year bonus.
Jonathan was even there turning our once sacred altar to political podium talking deceitfully & indirectly campaigning for 2015.
My question is this? On what ground was president Jonathan allowed to speak to people. Is he a pastor? Because d gathering is purely spiritual gathering & event. I've been a pastor in Redeemed for d past 10 years & I've not got any opportunity to sit on that altar not to talk of holding microphone. If because Jonathan is a president & he is recognized, it means some are more equal than others.
Immediately, I left camp on Saturday morning, I looked at the camp very well because I know that would be d last time I will set my foot to that Eagle square called Redeemed camp.