Author: Ifeoma Aka

Garri, rice record 50% price increase in Enugu

Price

By Ifeoma Aka

Enugu, June 20, 2024 (NAN) The price of cassava flakes, popularly known as garri and rice have recorded more than 50 per cent increase in Enugu metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The NAN Correspondent, who conducted a market survey on Thursday in Enugu, observed that prices of foodstuffs such as garri and rice have increased by 50 per cent in the metropolis.

The survey showed that a cup of garri, which sold for ₦150 in April, now goes for ₦250 while a five litre paint bucket is sold for between ₦4,000 and N4, 300

Similarly, the current price of a bag of garri is sold for ₦45,000 as against N₦30,000 in April.

At the Garki Market, Enugu, the price of a 50-kg bag of foreign rice rose from between ₦70,000 and ₦75,000 to between ₦95,000 and ₦100,000, depending on the brand.

NAN reports that a 50kg bag of local rice is sold for between ₦80,000 to ₦85,000 depending on the brand.

Mrs Gladis Ugwu, a garri seller at the New Market, said that the only way to reduce the high cost of garri would be by securing farmlands and stopping exportation of the produce to other countries.

Ugwu said exportation of the commodity had affected the availability of the produce in the country.

Mr Arinze Ozor, a rice seller at Ogbere Main Market, said that the high cost of rice in the country would persist if the government failed to act urgently to address food insecurity.

Ozor said that the traffic of buyers of foodstuffs in his shop had reduced since prices of every item increased.

A buyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the high cost of living in the country to subsidy removal from petroleum products. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IFO/JPE

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

Implement public health laws, Enugu judge urges federal, state govts.

Health

By Ifeoma Aka

Enugu, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Justice Chinyere Ani of the Enugu State High Court has appealed to the federal and state governments to implement public health laws to protect the well-being of Nigerians.

She made the appeal on Tuesday in Enugu during the inauguration of the National Association of Health Educators and Practitioners (NAHE&P), Enugu State chapter.

Ani, the guest lecturer at the event, said “Nigeria does not need to enact new laws but should rather, implement the already enacted ones,” adding that the country has enough laws on public health.

She regretted that the right to health as enshrined in Section 260 of the 1999 Constitution is not justiciable, noting that Nigerians can only qualify with public health when the section is justiciable.

The judge cautioned against doing something that would endanger peoples’ health, including burying loved ones in a house where people are living, pointing out that Section 246 of the Criminal Code outlaws such act.

Ani urged the people to form the habit of burying their loved ones at the cemetery to avoid outbreak of disease, and challenged the association to educate the people effectively.

Earlier, the National President of NAHE&P, Prof. Raheem Adarama, revealed that the major thrust of the association is to empower individuals, communities and nations to take control of their health and well-being.

Adarama, who was represented by the Anambra President of the association, Chrysantus Onwurah, declared that health education is a fundamental human right.

According to Adarama, every individual deserves access to accurate information, resources, and support to make informed decisions about their health.

He said “as health educators and practitioners, we play a vital role in shaping the health landscape of our country.

“We are the catalysts for positive change, the champions of health promotion, and advocates for health equity.

“Our work has the power to transform lives, break down barriers and build a healthier future for all.”

In her remark, the Enugu State President of the association, Prof. Ngozi Ani, said that the group would embark on massive public health education to encourage  people to prevent themselves from contacting diseases.

Ani hinted that the association would partner hospitals and health institutions in the state to ensure that health education gets to the people in the rural communities.

She said that the association would be vibrant and active in carrying out its responsibilities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IFO/OJI/HA

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

South-East among highest in human trafficking — NAPTIP

Trafficking
By Ifeoma Aka
Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director General (DG) of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says the South-East ranks among the regions with the highest human trafficking infractions in the country.

Waziri-Azi said this on Monday at the opening of a one-day workshop organised in Enugu by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in partnership with NAPTIP.

He was represented at the eveny by the Director of Research and Programme Development in the agency, Mr Josiah Emerole.

The NAPTIP boss said that the essence of the workshop was to validate the report of the baseline carried out for the advocacy project by NAPTIP and ICMPD.

The ICMPD is an inter-governmental organisation with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, with 20 member states.

According to him, the project was carried out in the five states of Enugu, Edo, Delta, Benue and Ogun.

Waziri-Azi said that Enugu was chosen as one of the pilot states because of the high rate of human trafficking in the zone.

He described human trafficking as the second major crime in the world but regretted that “Nigerians see it as a minor crime.”

He encouraged stakeholders to pool resources and collectively fight the menace.

According to him, the fight against human trafficking is a collaborative one because anybody can be trafficked, both young and adult, in the name of making money.

“It is time to say no to sexual exploitation, use of children to make money and organ harvesting because those children are our future hope,” he said.

He urged people to take the campaign to their various communities for effective sensitisation.

In an opening remark, the Head of West Africa Region of ICMPD, Mr Mojisola Sodeinde, lauded the significant steps taken by spme people in the fight against human trafficking.

Sodeinde, represented by ICMPD’s Project Coordinator, Mrs Rhoda Dia-Johnson, thanked their partners from NAPTIP, government officials, educational leaders and members of civil societies at the event.

He said that their commitment was fundamental to the success of the school’s Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project.

“The necessity of this project cannot be overlooked, with over 75 per cent of trafficked victims in West Africa being minors, as the urgency of our mission is clear.

“Our collective goal is to embed a strong educational framework within our schools that will not only inform and protect our students but also empower them to be vigilant guardians of their own futures,” he said.

According to Sodeinde, ICMPD promotes innovative, comprehensive and sustainable migration policies to harmonise and make migration management more efficient.

“It also functions as a service exchange mechanism for governments and organisations.

“ICMPD does this by using a holistic three-pillar approach – research, capacity building and migration dialogues, funded by the European Union under the framework of the project Support to free movement of persons and migration in West Africa (FMM),” he said

Sodeinde said that the FMM West Africa project is co-funded by the European Union and ECOWAS and being implemented by IOM, ICMPD and ILO.

“Within this context, ICMPD supports NAPTIP to strengthen the agency’s capacity in the areas of training and public education.

“Through this action, human trafficking concepts are infused into the school curricula at primary and secondary school levels.

“This innovation was achieved in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.

He said that ICMPD and NAPTIP recently collaborated with the National Commission for Colleges of Education to infuse trafficking concepts into teacher training curricula for NCE teachers, while updating the NCE minimum standards to include awareness on the issues of trafficking.

“Today, we embark on a crucial journey starting with the selection of 50 schools in Enugu that will become the pillars of our project, where young minds will be nurtured to recognise, resist, and report the dangers of human trafficking.

“Our activities will include indepth discussions and collaborations to finalise the schools’ selection and review and validate our baseline report.

“This report is not just a document; it is a blueprint that will guide our strategies and actions in the coming year.

“As we move forward, let us remember that the essence of our work is to safeguard our future, a future where every child can pursue education without fear, and every community can thrive free from the chains of exploitation,” Sodeinde said.

Also contributing, the Commissioner for Education in Enugu State, Prof. Leonard Mbah, represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Patrick Ochi, promised to take the sensitisation to secondary schools, where clubs would be formed to educate students on the dangers of the crime.

Also, the Chairman, South-East Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Samuel Asadu, urged the organisation to partner celebrities to achieve speedy awareness. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IFO/KOO/USO
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Sam Oditah

Enugu APC vows to sue state government over demolition

Demolition
By Ifeoma Aka
Enugu, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State says it will sue the state government for alleged demolition and destruction of people’s property and sources of livelihood.

It also alleged extortion of the residents by the government through multiple taxes.

The state Chairman of the party, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, said made the allegations  on Wednesday in Enugu while conducting newsmen round some demolished buildings  in Enugu.

Agballah said that the government’s demolition of Holy Ghost/Railway/Okpara Avenue axis, Abakpa Market, Gariki Market in Enugu, and Ogige Main Market in Nsukka was not in the interest of Enugu people.

The APC chairman alleged that the government did not provide alternative places or pay commensurate compensation to the affected people.

“The demolition of Holy Ghost/Railway/Okpara Avenue axis Enugu, Gariki Market and Abakpa Market also in Enugu and the Ogige Market in Nsukka has led to untold hardship on the affected families.

“This is due to loss of revenues and jobs and deteriorating living conditions characterised by increased poverty, social unrest, increased crime and loss of goods and services.

“Gov. Mbah must not demolish other areas, parks and markets marked for demolition.

“The government must carry out a cost-benefit analysis before embarking on demolition, if indeed, it is for the people,” Agballah said.

According to him, the demolition violated the constitutional rights of the people to own property.

On the alleged multiple taxes, Agballah said, “What is called tax in Enugu state has become extortion, ranging from land rent, property tax,  sales tax, income tax, rates and levies.

However, when contacted, the Enugu State Commissioner for information, Mr Aka Eze Aka, said that those affected by the demolition were fully compensated by the government before the exercise.

Aka said that the essence of the demolition was to enable building of modern motor parks to eliminate hoodlums, who had taken over some motor parks in the state.

“We will not be distracted by those who are angry because of our numerous achievements in just one year,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IFO/NNO/IGO
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Edited by Nick Nicholas/Ijeoma Popoola

Strike

By Reporters

Enugu, June 3, 2024 (NAN) There is total compliance in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states as Organized Labour paralyzed activities to ensure enforcement of the nationwide strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who monitored the situation reports that the State and Federal secretariat, Nigeria Television of Authority (NTA), Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB) and others were under lock and keys.

NAN reports that the team went to Ministry of lands end chased out workers who were there before locking the gate .

Meanwhile at Parkline Hospital Enugu the gates were open but they were on skeletal services.

The team, according to the NLC Chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo had shut down the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and the passengers were chased away in compliance with the nationwide strike.

Nwigbo said that said there was also nationwide power outage by National Union of Electricity Workers.

NAN reports that both federal and state government agencies in the state were under lock and keys.

He advised workers to stay at home to ensure the success of the strike to enable the government yield to Labour’s demands.

It was a similar situation in Anambra as banks and government offices in state were closed for business and social activities.

NAN Correspondent who monitored the level of compliance in Awka in Monday, said that workers and major business centres complied with the directives.

NAN reports that the Enugu-Onitsha Roads and other links to the State roads, record few human and vehicular movements.

Major Motor parks and markets witnessed few activities due to the strike and the Monday sit at home.

The Anambra State Police Command reiterates the command’s commitment calls for caution in enforcement to prevent a breach of public safety and peace.

The Command said it understood the right of organised labour to engage in such actions to advocate for the interests of all workers, it however, noted the importance of adherence to the existing laws governing such activities.

The command said it had deployed Police Operatives to different strategic areas, tasked with the responsibility against any miscreants using the opportunity to cause any breach of public safety and peace in the State.

The Command encouraged the good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses and be law-abiding, vigilant and security conscious.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, urged members of the public requesting for security service to call the police on 07039194332 or report any security-related incident to the police.

Ikenga advised the public that the police ‘NPF rescue me app’ is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
JOY/IFOGOM/MNA

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Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Maureen Atuonwu