South East
Residents Resort To Cassava As Abakaliki Rice Price Soars
In the face of the soaring price
of Abakaliki rice, which was hitherto the saving grace for the poor, Ebonyi State residents may have devised another means of survival.
Investigations show that a bushel of Abakaliki rice that used to be sold at N3,600 now goes for N10, 700, a situation that has left the people of the state with no other option than to seek alternative means of survival, hence the timely intervention of cassava.
Cassava, a major staple food in Nigeria and widely consumed daily by more than 100 million people in the country, comes in different species; the white, purple, and yellow species, among others.
But the most common is the white one. However, the yellow type, which is very scarce unlike the white, contains vitamin A.
As part of efforts to re-introduce the cultivation of cassava as credible alternative to the rising price of rice and other food stuffs, the member representing Ohaozara/Ivo/Onicha Federal Constituency known as Ohanivo, Mr Linus Okorie recently mobilized over 3,000 farmers across the constituency on a three-day enlightenment and empowerment campaign on the importance of Vitamin A fortified cassava and maize.
Addressing the farmers at Ishiagu, the headquarters of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the programme’s technical partner and Country Manager of HarvestPlus in Nigeria, Dr. Paul Ilona, told the rural farmers that though the cassava stems he brought came from Oyo State, after the programme, the cassava stems would henceforth be sourced from Ebonyi State.
“The organiser of this programme wants us to live well. Vitamin A is crucial to our living. The important thing is to eat nutritional food,” he explained.
He also disclosed the uses of the Vitamin A cassava in making chips, biscuits, bread, flour, foo foo, tea, among others, adding that the use of crude implements for farming would soon be over in Ebonyi State as they would be replaced with mechanical tools.
“A farmer is a businessman and should be conscious of that,” he said.
Ilona also taught them basic techniques of farming and planting the cassava for bumper harvest, such as spaces to give while planting, how to sow the stems and maintain it till maturity and encouraged them to embrace business farming since every farm crop has value-added bye products, whether in cassava, maize, rice or palm produce.
Earlier in his address, the initiator of the programme, Hon. Okorie, said that most Nigerians did not get enough micronutrients, such as vitamin A, zinc and iron required to lead healthy productive lives from the foods they eat, noting that micronutrient deficiencies could lower IQ, which could cause stunting and blindness in children, lower resistance to disease in both children and adults and increase risks for both mothers and infants during childbirth.
“It is estimated that about one million of the three million child deaths that occur each year as a result of under nutrition are due to hidden hunger. Biofortified crops, which have been bred to have higher amounts of micronutrients, can help provide these needed vitamins and minerals. They can be effective in reducing hidden hunger, as part of a strategy that includes dietary diversification, supplementation, and commercial fortification, among others.
“The white cassava that we have is not very nutritious and research has discovered that it is best to fortify basic crops that are consumed every day, such as cassava, maize, potato and yam. So, instead of buying Vitamin A for eyes, for growth, for healthy living, why don’t you put it in the crops and they are working with IITA, Roots Crops Research Institute, Umudike, and coordinated with HarvestPlus International. First are cassava and maize; others are coming,” he said.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.