Business
Xmas: Prices Of Foodstuff Stable In Warri
Head of Service, Barr. Samuel LongJohn (left) in a handshake with a retiree after the presentation of refrigerator at a sendforth party for retired staff of his office.
Few days to Christmas, the
price of rice, vegetable oil and spices have remained stable in Warri, Delta, a survey conducted by The Tide has shown.
The survey showed that though the price of these food items was stable in major markets in the commercial city that of onions, tomatoes and pepper witnessed marginal increase.
In Ogbe-Ijoh Market, a 50kg bag of rice cost between N8,000 and N10, 000, depending on the brand.
A rice dealer, Mrs Joy Harrison, said a 50kg bag of Mama Gold rice was still sold for N10, 200 while the same quantity of Royal Umbrella rice remained N10, 000.
Harrison added that a 50kg bag of Ade rice cost N8,000 while Mama Africa and Stallion brands sold for N8,700 per 50kg bag. The dealer, however, decried low patronage.
‘’Customers are not coming, people are not buying as if we are not in a festive season; this is because there is no money in circulation,’’ she said.
In Dugbaleh Market in Udu, the prices of various brands of rice were the same, but transaction was low.
Mrs Augusta Osayande, a dealer on vegetable oil in the market, said four litres of Favour vegetable oil sold for N1, 000 while the same quantity of Ginos sold for N1, 500.
Osayande told newsmen that the same quantity of Kings, Turkey and UAC Power brands of vegetable oil was also sold for N1,500.
She told the survey that the price of these food items did not change despite the fact that Christmas was around the corner.
Mr Dafe Ideh, the Chairman, Onion Sellers Association in Igbudu Market, told newsmen that there was slight increase in the price of the commodity.
He said that a bag of onions cost between N33,000 and N35,000, as against the previous price of N30,000.
He said that the cost of transporting a bag of onion from the northern part of the country to Warri had risen from N1,400 to N2,200.
Ideh attributed the increase to the security challenges in the North-East which, he said, had affected the production of onions.
‘’Most of the people cultivating onions in the north have been displaced while some even lost their lives to the Boko Haram insurgency,’’ he said.
A tomato seller in the market, Mr Tanko Zakari, said the price of a basket of tomatoes ranged between N4,500 to N7,000, depending on the size. Zakari told newsmen that the cost of a basket of the commodity cost between N3,000 and N4,000.
He said a bag of pepper cost between N6,000 and N8,000 as against N5,000 and N6,000 in 2013, depending on type.
He also attributed the increase in the price of tomato to the insecurity in the North-East and cost of transportation.
“A lot of farmers are afraid to cultivate tomatoes because of the insecurity and the outcome of the 2015 elections.
‘’I tell you tomatoes will be expensive next year because there is less cultivation this year.
‘’My customers also complained that there is no money in circulation and that has led to the low patronage we are experiencing,’’ he said.
Zakari urged government to find a lasting solution to the lingering security challenges in the country.
Mrs Margaret Maxwell, a tomato retailer, said sales were low as some of her customers complained of delay in payment of December salary.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.