Niger Delta
Fish Scarcity Hits Asaba, Environs
Indication that the price of food items may increase in Delta as the Christmas approaches has heightened as fish scarcity has hit Asaba, the state capital.
The price of the commodity has already reacted to the development, jumping from N8,200 per carton to N9,700.
The situation has also pushed up the prices of frozen chicken and turkey with a carton of chicken selling now at N7,500 as against previous rate of N6,800.
The turkey specie now goes for N8,500, up from N7,500 for a carton.
Some of the fish sellers, who spoke with newmen in an interview, said that they had never experienced such scarcity in the last 10 years.
The leader of fish sellers in Asaba main market, Mrs Nneli Ibiagulu, suspected hoarding as reason for the scarcity, which was first noticed last week.
She said that cold room operators might have decided to hoard the commodity due to prevailing speculations that fish price would be increased in January.
Ibiagulu said that the fish dealers were speculating that ships had stopped bringing fish into the country.
She said that in her more than 10 years in the business, “I have never experienced this type of fish scarcity”.
“Our distributors in the last one week have been telling us that there are no fish at the wharf where they normally bring them from,” Ibiagulu said.
She said that the little quantity of fish currently being sold in the city were bought in from Onitsha but at an exorbitant rate.
She added that the situation had adversely affected them.
“On a normal day, when the price was stable, I sell as much as seven cartons in a day, but with the present scarcity and price increase, I hardly sell one carton now,” Ibiagulu added.
Some fish consumers in the town decried the scarcity of the commodity and blamed it on businessmen engaged in “great profiteering”.
Mr Jibem Simtua, who said he eats only fish in his meals, said that the scarcity of the item was artificial and called for government intervention.
Another fish consumer, Mr Etim Nsa, said he had resorted to eating lots of vegetables and snails in place of fish, disclosing that he does not eat meat.
Meanwhile, a cold room operator at the Ogbeogonogo market in Asaba, who preferred anonymity, said that there had been scarcity of fish for sometime.
He said that he had not had stock for few months now, adding that he hoped that the market situation would improve and fish made available for consumers.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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