Banking

NBC Reacts to Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C Warning

Published

8 years ago

16/03/2017

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

Management of the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has assured its consumers and members of the public of its unwavering commitment to product quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

This followed reports in the media concerning the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks, citing a Lagos High Court order, which directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to force the company to put a warning on its bottles that taking either Fanta or Sprite with Vitamin C was dangerous for human consumption.

One of its customers, Dr Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo, along with his firm, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited, had in 2007 sued the NBC and NAFDAC after the UK authorities seized products of the NBC shipped to the country because it did not meet its requirements.

Since the February 15, 2017 judgement of a Lagos High Court, there had been fears among consumers of Fanta and Sprite.

But the NBC, which produces the soft drinks, says consumers have nothing to fear because the benzoic acid levels were within the Nigerian regulatory limits.

The firm, in a statement signed by its Director of Legal, Public Affairs and Communications, Mrs Sade Morgan, emphasised that, “The UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg/kg. Both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg/kg which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg/kg when combined with ascorbic acid and 300 mg/kg without ascorbic acid and also lower than the 600 mg/kg international limit set by CODEX.”

According to the statement, the Lagos High Court dismissed all claims against the NBC and held that the company had not breached its duty of care to consumers and that there was no proven case of negligence against it.

NBC explained that, “Both benzoic acid and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by international food safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world.

“These two ingredients are also used in combination in some of these products within levels which may differ from one country to another as approved by the respective national food and drug regulators and in line with the range prescribed by CODEX.

“The permissible ingredient levels set by countries for their food and beverage products are influenced by a number of factors such as climate, an example being the UK, a temperate region, requiring lower preservative levels unlike tropical countries.

“Given the fact that the benzoic and ascorbic acid levels in Fanta as well as the benzoic acid level in Sprite produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators and the international level set by CODEX, there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C.

“The wrong perception emanating from the media reports that our Fanta and Sprite beverages which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, is not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country.”

It however said it has appealed the court order that directed NAFDAC to mandate NBC to include a warning on its bottles of Fanta and Sprite that its contents cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same become poisonous if taken with Vitamin C, saying the “order was premised on the fact that the products contain the preservative, benzoic acid.”

Banking

874 Stanbic IBTC Bank Customers to Win N130m in Reward4Saving Promo Season 4

Published

2 days ago

04/04/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

About N130 million has been set aside by Stanbic IBTC Bank for 874 of its lucky customers in the Reward4Saving Promo season 4.

This year’s campaign, which was launched recently, has more cash prizes, providing customers even more chances to save and win big.

The promotion encourages Nigerians to develop a savings culture and reward their loyalty. Simply fund your new or existing savings or @ease wallet with a minimum of N10,000 for at least 30 days. The more multiples of N10,000 they save, the higher of their chances of winning.

To participate, eligible individuals must maintain a minimum balance of N10,000 in their Stanbic IBTC Bank Savings Accounts or @ease Wallet for at least 30 days to be automatically entered into the promotion.

Non-account holders are encouraged to open Stanbic IBTC Bank Savings Accounts and maintain a balance of N10,000 to participate. Winners will be selected through a transparent random draw process and receive exciting cash prizes ranging from N100,000 to N5 million.

To lend credence to the transparency of the winners’ selection process in the Reward4Saving Promo, the draws are usually supervised by representatives from National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

The promo has won The Most Transparent Consumer Promotion Award, two years in a row at the Industry Awards.

The financial services provider in Nigeria said it created this campaign to reinforce its commitment to fostering a strong savings culture among Nigerians.

“We are committed to empowering our customers to achieve their financial goals.

“The Reward4Saving Promo is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our loyal customers and encouraging them to develop a savings culture,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Wole Adeniyi, stated.

Banking

No Plans to Introduce N5000, N10000 Naira Notes—CBN

Published

3 days ago

03/04/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed a widespread circular claiming the country has introduced two new large denominations— N5,000 and N10,000 notes.

The apex bank described the circular as “fake” in a statement via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter).

The alleged circular said the new notes were set for circulation from May 1.

Business Post gathered that the notes were generated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) showing the late Obafemi Awolowo, who is originally on the N100 note, on the N5,000 note and the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, originally on the N500 note, on the N10,000 version.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially announced the introduction of two new denominations – N5,000 and N10,000 banknotes; as part of ongoing efforts to streamline cash transactions and improve liquidity management,” the viral circular widely shared online and falsely attributed to the CBN, stated.

The document further alleged that one Deputy CBN Governor, Mr Ibrahim Tahir Jr, justified the move as a way to reduce cash-handling costs while offering Nigerians more efficient options for larger transactions.

However, the apex bank refuted the claims, urging the public to verify information through its official website.

“The content is not from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Kindly note that the official website of the CBN is cbn.gov.ng,” the CBN stated, emphasising its commitment to transparency and accurate communication.

In 2022, the apex bank announced the redesign of the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes with the new notes entering circulation on December 15, 2022. This initiative aimed to address issues such as currency counterfeiting, the prevalence of currency outside the banking system, and to promote a cashless economy.

According to the CBN, under then Governor Godwin Emefiele, said the redesigned banknotes feature enhanced security measures and updated designs to improve their durability and aesthetic appeal.

The CBN emphasized that introducing new designs aligns with global practices, where national currencies are periodically redesigned to combat counterfeiting and enhance security.

The old versions of these denominations remained legal tender and circulated alongside the new notes until January 31, 2023, after which they were phased out.

Banking

Sterling Bank Waives Bank Transfer Fees for Customers

Published

3 days ago

02/04/2025

Aduragbemi Omiyale

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A tier-2 financial institution, Sterling Bank, has confirmed the introduction of a zero-transfer-fee policy for customers with immediate effect.

The bank has urged others in the banking industry to emulate this initiative, saying customers should not be overburdened with bank transfer charges.

“We believe access to your own money shouldn’t come with a penalty.

“This is more than a financial decision, it’s a values-based one. It reflects our commitment to making banking fair, inclusive, and truly customer focused.

“We’re not yet the biggest bank in Nigeria, but we’ve been the boldest.

“Sterling fearlessly believes in the future of Nigeria, and this is us backing Nigerians with more than words,” the Growth Executive Leading the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate at Sterling Bank, Obinna Ukachukwu, stated.

Recall that on April Fool’s Day, Sterling Bank announced waiving bank transfer fees for customers and many thought it was just a marketing prank.

But in a statement today, the lender reaffirmed that it introduced this policy to set a new benchmark for customer-focused banking in Nigeria by championing the cancellation of bank transfer charges.

With this move, Sterling becomes the first major Nigerian bank to take a definitive stand against the long-standing practice of charging customers for everyday digital transfers, an issue that has grown increasingly contentious as digital banking adoption deepens.

Under the new policy, Sterling Bank customers will enjoy free transfers for all local transactions conducted via the bank’s mobile app. This translates into significant savings, particularly for individuals and new small business owners who make frequent daily transfers.

This customer-first orientation is not new for the bank. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company stood out by providing supplementary payments to healthcare workers in public hospitals—at a time when few others were willing or able to offer additional support.

The bank’s latest move has been met with widespread public approval, sparking positive reactions across social media and placing pressure on industry peers to follow suit.

“We’re proud to lead this change. We hope it inspires others to think differently about what customers truly need from their banks, not just in services, but in values,” Ukachukwu added.

Sterling Bank’s zero-fee policy is part of a broader strategy to transform the customer experience and deliver transparent, ethical banking solutions at scale.