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Food prices rise in August 2024- NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says prices of beans, eggs, bread, rice, yam, and other food items witnessed significant price increases in August 2024.
The NBS said this in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for August 2024 released in Abuja, yesterday.
The report said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 271.55 per cent from N692.95 recorded in August 2023 to N2,574.63 in August 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of brown beans increased by 5.31 per cent in August from the N2,444.81 recorded in July 2024.”
It said that the average price of medium-sized Agric eggs (12 pieces) increased by 121.92 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N1,031.55 recorded in August 2023 to N2,289.19 in August 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, the eggs increased by 5.48 per cent from the N2,170.17 recorded in July 2024.”
The report said that the average price of sliced bread increased by 113.16 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N684.85 in August 2023 to N1,459.85 in August 2024.
“On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 2.28 per cent from the N1,427.25 recorded in July 2024.”
In addition, the average price of 1kg of local rice rose by 148.41 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N737.11 recorded in August 2023 to N1,831.05 in August 2024
“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 3.65 per cent from N1,766.64 recorded in July 2024.”
Also, the report said that the average price of 1kg of a tuber of yam increased by 188.31 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N576.39 in August 2023 to N1,661.80 in August 2024.
“However, on a month-on-month basis, the price decreased by -7.82 per cent from the N1,802.84 recorded in July 2024.”
The NBS said the average price of 1kg of tomato also increased on a year-on-year basis by 171.72 per cent from N554.37 recorded in August 2023 to N1,506.35 in August 2024.
“However, on a month-on-month basis, the average price of 1kg of tomato declined by 11.07 per cent from N1,693.83 in July 2024 to N1,506.35 in August .”
On state profile analysis, the report showed that in August 2024, the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans was recorded in Akwa Ibom at N3,276.79, while the lowest was recorded in Adamawa at N1,710.92.
It said that Niger recorded the highest average price of medium size Agric eggs (12 pieces) at N2,996.92, while the lowest was in Jigawa at N1,786.01.
The NBS said that the highest average price of sliced bread was recorded in Rivers at N1,850, while the lowest price was recorded in Yobe at N908.81.
According to the report, Kogi recorded the highest average price of 1kg local rice (sold loose) at N2,680.29, while the lowest was reported in Benue at N1,206.84.
The report said the highest price of 1kg of tomato was recorded in Abuja at N2,2206.31, while the lowest price was recorded in Kaduna at N734.94.
Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of brown beans was highest in the South-South at N3,165.11, followed by the North-Central at N2,900.86.
“The lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N1,982.78.”
The North-Central and South-East recorded the highest average price of medium size agric eggs(12 pieces) at N2,789.15 and N2,438.06, respectively, while the lowest price was in the North-West at N1,963.65.
The report said that the South-South recorded the highest average price of sliced bread at N1,785.56, followed by the South-East at N1,635.73, while the North-East recorded the lowest price at N1,163.78.
The NBS said also that the South-West and the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice (sold loose) at N1,960.87 and N1,886.32 respectively.
“The North-West recorded the lowest price of 1kg of local rice (sold loose) at N1,591.21.”
The Tide source reports that in July, the Federal Government in a bid to address the incessant increase in food prices and ensure food security granted a 150-day duty-free import window for some food commodities.
The suspended duty tariffs and taxes will be on the importation of certain food items across the land and sea borders which include maize, cowpeas, wheat, and husked brown rice.
However, experts have suggested more sustainable measures such as addressing the issue of insecurity, foreign exchange and transportation costs to address the soaring food prices and ensure food security.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
