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Author: Idris Olukoya

  • Prioritise agribusiness for national devt., NGO urges states, FG

    Agribusiness
    By Idris Olukoya
    Epe (Lagos State), June 26, 2024 (NAN) An NGO, Concerned Nation Builders Initiative, has urged the federal and state governments to prioritise agribusiness for national development.
    National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Ladi Kassim, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe on Wednesday.
    Kassim described agribusiness as a good strategy for economic development, wealth and job creation as well as a huge source of foreign exchange earnings.
    According to him, agribusinesses are organisations and entities involved in one or more stages of production of crops and livestock.
    He highlighted agribusiness activities to include: manufacture or distribution of agricultural supplies and equipment, such as machinery, feeds and fertilisers.
    He said that agribusiness might sell items to farmers for production, provide services to other agricultural businesses or be engaged in the marketing, transportation, processing and distribution of agricultural products.
    Kassim said that government should provide conducive environment and incentives for the private sector to engage profitably in agriculture.
    This, according to him, is the best time for the country to move into agriculture, as there are challenges in the oil and gas sector.
    “As you can see, the country is experiencing inadequate food supply; our youths are unemployed and there are inadequate raw materials for industrialisation, among other challenges.
    “Attention should, therefore, be given to agriculture at the highest political level, while farming should be treated as a sustainable business for the country,” he said.
    Kassim advised state governments to develop agricultural initiative programmes for the overall benefits of the citizens.
    “Agriculture is an important factor in the development of any state, while food security is very key, particularly in this era of economic challenges,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    SIO/DE/WAS
    Edited by Dorcas Jonah and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • Cholera: Heed government’s directive, health officer advises Lagos residents

     

    Cholera

    By Idris Olukoya

    Lagos State, June 23, 2024 (NAN) Mr Akeem Olaewe, Director, Environmental Health in the Lagos State Ministry of  Environment and Water Resources, has urged residents of the state to heed the directive, control and prevention measures by government to curtail the spread of cholera.

    Olaewe said this while addressing newsmen on Sunday, during the decontamination and fumigation of hostels in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention is in preparation toward the NYSC 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 Orientation Course.

    He said that the government through the Ministry had embarked on sensitisation and public awareness campaign across the state.

    He said that residents had been alerted and urged to be wary of the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state.

    He urged everyone to embrace wholesome hygienic practices.

    Olaewe said that all practices such as open defecation, drinking untreated water from unclean sources, improper disposal of refuse and washing of hands without soap must be stopped.

    According to him, this is because cholera only thrives in unhygienic conditions.

    He appealed to members of the public to ensure that proper toilet facilities are provided in residences and when people are outdoor, public or mobile toilets toilets must be used.

    Olaewe also urged residents to properly bag and dispose of their refuse through Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) approved PSP operators, to prevent flies from feasting on the wastes.

    He listed some of the measures put in place for public awareness and campaign on cholera prevention to include door to door sensitisation around neighbourhoods and estates by environmental health officers.

    Others are public awareness campaigns to markets, schools, NYSC camps, public places, police barracks, and motor parks among others.

    The environmental health officer said that awareness campaigns are also being stepped up in the mass media through jingles in English, Yoruba and Pidgin, to drive the message to the hinterlands.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    SIO/ISHO/FAA

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    Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Folasade Adeniran

  • Hotel business receives boost in Epe — association

    Hotel
    By Idris Olukoya
    Epe (Lagos State), June 19, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Hotel Association, Epe Branch, says hotel business in Epe and Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos State received a boost, recording good sales in the just concluded Eid el-Kabir.

    Mr Deji Alade, the president of the association, Epe Branch on Wednesday, said that hundreds of visitors and Muslim faithful were on tour of the area for the festival.

    He explained that members of the association had a busy time as patronage of their hotels peaked during the period.

    “Virtually, all our hotels which experienced low patronage before Eid el-Kabir, were booked,” he said.

    He said that some visitors and guests had booked their accommodation two days before the Eid el-Kabir while others checked in on the day.

    Alade described Lekki-Epe as the state’s tourists’ destination, noting that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State had transformed the coastal city of Epe with good road.

    He also noted that industries that “are springing up in the area, such as Dangote’s refinery, the Fourth Mainland Bridge, seaports and the coastal Lagos Lagoon has raised the tourism potential of the area”.

    A member of the association, Mr Tunde Allison, also confirmed that hotels in the area enjoyed high patronage.

    According to him, many intending lodgers did not get rooms as the hotel rooms were fully booked.

    Also, Mr Segun Balogun, an hotelier, said that there was a boost in the sector.

    “I never believe we will record good sales because of the economic hardship but in spite of that, the patronage during the celebration was overwhelming.

    “All our rooms were booked since two days before the celebration until after it. It was a huge success,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    SIO/KAY
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    Edited by Kayode Olaitan

  • President Tinubu’s economic reforms tough but good – LG chairman

    President Tinubu’s economic reforms tough but good – LG chairman

    Reform

    By Idris Olukoya

    Epe (Lagos State), June 12, 2024 (NAN) Ms Surah Animashaun, Chairman, Epe Local Government, on Wednesday expressed optimism about President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

    Animashaun, who spoke during the Democracy Day celebration in Epe, said she had no doubt in the present administration’s economic reform initiatives due to their sincerity of purpose.

    “President Tinubu means well for Nigerians, but there is no gain without pain.

    “The hardship we are currently experiencing is temporary, It will fade away with time.

    “There is no developed country that did not pass through tough times, this is our tough time and it will end soonest,” she said.

    Animashaun commended President Tinubu for a job well done, so far.

    “President Tinubu’s economic decisions looks tough but they are must-take decisions for the betterment of our dear country and our unborn generations.

    “This present administration’s decision on fuel subsidy removal, dollar fluctuation, rising cost of commodities, among other challenges faced during this tenure will normalise soonest,” she said.

    The council chairman prayed for the repose of all the departed souls, who fought fearlessly for democracy to come alive in Nigeria.

    “Without these our heroes and heroines, we won’t have been enjoying a  democratic system of government in Nigeria.

    “I pray for their souls to rest in peace,” she said.

    Animashaun lauded President Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech, saying that it addressed the issues of the economic and strategic approach to solving the current situation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

    SIO/COF
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    Edited by Christiana Fadare

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Epe residents lament high cost of livestock

    Eid-el-Kabir: Epe residents lament high cost of livestock

    Livestock

    By Idris Olukoya

    Epe (Lagos State), June 6, 2024 (NAN) As Nigerians prepare for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the residents of Epe in Lagos State are lamenting the high cost of livestock.

    Eid el Kabir is a Muslim observance tentatively slated for June 17 in the calendar.
    It is meant to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah’s command.
    A check by NAN on Thursday, shows that while livestock sellers are decrying low patronage, customers on the other hand say the cost of livestock is exorbitant.

    Though the livestock are available at the popular ram markets at Oke-Oyinbo and T-Junction in Epe respectively, sellers are complaining of low patronage.

    Mr Jide Jinadu, a buyer at Oke-Oyinbo Cattle Market, expressed his displeasure over what he termed “the ridiculous prices of ram” this year amidst economic hardship.

    Jinadu said that in 2023, Muslims had by this time started buying rams to keep at  home for the Sallah celebration, adding that, however, the reverse was the case this year.

    “There are lots of livestock available for sale but because of high cost, there is low turnout of buyers.

    “I wish as Sallah draws closer, the sellers may reduce their prices,” he said.

    Another buyer, Dimeji Ogundeji, was optimistic that there would be a reduction in cost of ram, when more rams flood the markets in days to come.

    “The competition is low for now. By the time more livestock dealers bring more rams to the community, I believe the prices will fall,” he said.

    Yet another customer, Mr Jimoh Alao, said that the size of a cow that sold for N250,000 last year, now sells for as much as N450,000.

    “I came to the market to buy one cow and two rams. But unfortunately, the money I have can only afford one cow.

    “I pray something urgent can be done to regulate the prices of livestock in the market,” he said.

    Mrs Yemisi Taiwo, a buyer, expressed her disappointment at the high price of rams at Oke-Oyinbo livestock market, saying that the market, had been highly recommended to her because of its relative cheap prices.

    “A friend of mine recommended this market to me that livestock are relatively cheaper here but on getting here, it is another ball game entirely.

    “As you can see the size of the ram I have just purchased for N280, 000, the same size sold for N170,000 last year.

    The Chairman, Cattle Dealers Association at Oke-Oyinbo Market, Alhaji Ibrahim Gazu, attributed the high cost of livestock to the current economic hardship in the country.

    According to him, the small, average and big rams this year are selling at N250,000, N300,000 and N400,000 respectively, as against N120,000, N165,000 and N195,000 they sold for the previous year.

    He attributed the hike in prices of ram to the hike in fuel price, global security challenges and change of government.

    “We also buy the livestock from the farmers in the North. The amount we buy them determines the amount we sell and vice versa.

    “We incur lots of expenses and we have to add it to the price of the rams. Transportation cost and others are not friendly too,” he said.

    He said that a cow that used to sell for N230, 000, now sold for between N350, 000 and N470, 000.

    He added that many of the livestock are brought from Niger Republic.

    “People are complaining of the hike in price, but they must understand that we didn’t buy them cheap.

    “So, there is nothing we can do but pray that things improve in the coming days,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

    SIO/COF
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    Edited by Christiana Fadare