Month: June 2024

A cross section of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says they can no longer fend for their families due to the rising cost of foodstuff .

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, said that eating beans and yam have become a luxury due to its high cost.

This, they said, had affected their domestic food time table, making it impossible to eat varieties.

Mrs Glory Ocholi, a mother, said that beans have become so expensive that it is difficult to buy in bulk as she usually does to help in her nutrition plan.

‘Before now, I used to buy 10 mudus of white beans for between N9, 000 to N10, 000, at N900 to N950 each.

‘While the red one was usually slightly above N100 or N200.

‘Currently, white beans cost N2,800 while red beans are sold for N3,000 to N3,500 , yam, Irish and sweet potatoes are also very expensive, it is only the rich that can afford them.

‘You cannot buy corn or sorghum, vegetables are a no-go area, so at the end o
f the day, our children are forced to eat whatever we can provide,” she said.

Ocholi said that buying foodstuff at a higher cost had forced her to take off meals like ‘akara’ and pap which used to be a Saturday morning meal in her home.

She appealed to both the government and Nigerian Food Products Suppliers and Manufacturers to find ways to address the situation.

Mr Habila Makama, said that he could no longer afford certain foods in his household due to the high prices.

‘I used to compliment yam with sweet or Irish potatoes when yam is not in season but now, I cannot afford any of them.

‘Sweet potatoes that used to be the cheapest are also expensive. Rice is the only available food now in spite of the cost.

‘We eat it every day of the week and probably exchange it with any available swallow with the soup you can afford,” he said.

A NAN correspondent who visited the Dutse-Alhaji market reported that five big tubers of yam now go for a negotiable price of N12, 000 to N14, 000.

At Karu market, corn an
d millet which previously sold for N850 and N900, is now being sold for N1, 300 per mudu.

NAN also reports that a bag of corn which was previously sold for N40, 000 and millet for N65, 000, are now being sold for N90, 000 per bag.

One of the traders in karu market, Mallam Bashiru Ahmed, said that prices of goods fluctuate daily and could increase by 20 per cent or more, within a week.

He said that traders sometimes go to the market to buy a bag of beans for N160, 000, but end up buying for between N180, 000 or N200, 000 due to price fluctuation.

Ahmed attributed the high cost to transportation of the goods from the northern states to the distribution units or towns, where other middle men or traders go to buy from.

‘The cost of transportation has contributed to the increase in cost of these foods and it has really affected our business.

‘We had to increase the price of grains to meet up with the expenses in logistics, and this is making our customers complain, thereby affecting patronage,” he said.

He
pleaded with the government to put in place measures that could salvage the cost of transportation and control market price for grains.

This, he said would stop distributors and sellers from inducing unnecessary price increase.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The United Nations (UN) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have urged young people not to allow themselves to be used to incite and deepen hatred in Nigeria.

The organisations gave the advice at the commemoration of the third International Day for Countering Hate Speech, jointly organised by NHRC and UN on Friday in Abuja.

The Executive-Secretary of NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, decried the impact of hate speeches in the society.

Ojukwu said hate speech had promoted discrimination; divisions; incited violence; and such impeded voters participation and access to elections.

Ojukwu said that in order to ensure peaceful, prosperous and united nations; Nigerians, particularly young people should reflect on things that would bind compatriots together, rather than separate them.

‘Young people are more invested in the future of Nigeria than any other group in our population, and should not allow themselves to be used as cannon fodders to incite and deepen hatred in the country.

‘Coincidentally, youths for
m the bedrock of our nation and this demographic dividend should at all times be mobilised for the social and economic development of our dear nation.

‘Sensitising and mobilising young people to combat hate speech is crucial in today’s world, where they are not only the target, but also influential voices in their communities,’ he said.

He promised to work closely with the UN system in Nigeria, youth leaders and other stakeholders to create relevant awareness to identify and counter hate speeches.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Fall, said that hate speech contradicted all the values and principles enshrined in international human rights law.

Fall, who was represented by Mr Phillippe Delanghe, added that it undermined efforts to achieve the aim of 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind.

‘Hate speeches often target the most vulnerable in our societies and minorities, if left unchecked, it can harm peace and development.

‘It lays the foundation f
or conflicts and tensions, undermine social cohesion and contribute to wide scale human rights violations and crime.

‘The devastating effect of hatred is not new. However, new technologies of communication has amplified the scale and impact of hate speech.

‘Social media and the internet are now the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Oghogho Musa, the President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), on Friday, pledged continuous support for wives of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Musa said this at the commemoration of the 2024 International Widows Day in Abuja.

She said the day was set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness on the plight of widows worldwide and to advocate for their rights and well-being.

Musa said that widows had historically been left unseen, unsupported and unmeasured in many societies, emphasising the need to support them.

She stressed the need to bring widows’ needs to the forefront and ensure their voices are heard.

According to her, the day serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by widows and the need to address their unique social, economic, health and legal issues.

‘Widows particularly in developing countries, often experience discrimination, social isolation and economic hardship following the death of their husbands.

‘They may face obstacles in inheriti
ng property, accessing education and healthcare and participating in the workforce.

‘Many widows and their children are trapped in a cycle of poverty, vulnerability and marginalization,” she said.

Musa said that the day was earmarked to honour the strength of women, their resilience and courage.

‘We acknowledge the pain and the loss you have endured, but we also celebrate your determination and your refusal to be defined by grief.

‘We recognise that your journey is not easy, that there are days when the darkness feels overwhelming but we want to remind you that you are not alone.

‘You have your loved ones and you have a global community such as DEPOWA that stands with you in solidarity,’ she said.

The DEPOWA president recalled that the association had over the years, impacted positively on wives of fallen heroes, youths and less privileged through empowerments, sponsorships, donations and trainings.

She said some wives of fallen heroes and youths recently were trained at the DEPOWA Skills Acquisition
Centre, on bag making, ICT, production of household items, hair making, tying of gele, tailoring and culinary.

According to her, the essence of the programmes is to assist them to be financially independent, confident to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.

She reiterated the commitment of DEPOWA towards assisting the wives of fallen heroes to ensure they were not marginalised, stigmatised but celebrated and empowered.

Earlier, Dr Juliette Ango, a Consultant, Public Health Physician, said that part of the problems associated with widows included health issues, poverty, violence and finances.

Ango called for empowerment of widows and regular medical screening to check their health status.

According to her, it is so sad to say that women are known to take care of others and do forget to take care of themselves, especially their blood pressure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured medical outreach for widows and empowerment lectures on health, finance and manag
ing widowhood.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The International Labour Organisation has urged journalists to create awareness to combat the menace of child labour in the country.

Dr Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, said this at a three-day Communication Training Workshop for Media Practitioners on Friday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is on elimination of child labour.

The training was organised by ILO, funded by the U.S. Department of Labour through the Action against Child Labour in Agriculture in West Africa (ACLAWA) project, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Phala, represented by Dr Agatha Kolawole, Project Coordinator of ILO’s ACLAWA, said child labour had cast a long shadow across Nigerian communities, particularly within the agricultural sector.

According to her, this is driven by poverty; families often rely on children to contribute to the family’s well-being and survival.

‘Children often have to work under hazardous conditions, sacrif
icing their education, health and childhood for meager wages.

‘This not only violates their fundamental rights but also hinders their potential and perpetuates cycles of vulnerability, ‘she said

She said that the 2021 Global Child Labour report released by ILO and UNICEF, indicated a global increase of child labour prevalence by 8.4 million to reach a staggering 160 million.

She said globally, the agriculture sector accounts for 70 per cent of child labourers.

According to her, nearly 28 per cent of children aged five to 11 years and 35 per cent aged 12 to 14 years in child labour are out of school.

Phala said that the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) launched the Nigeria Child labour survey report conducted in 2022 which corroborates the global trend.

She said the media plays a pivotal role in combating child labour by raising awareness and mobilising public opinion against this pervasive issue.

‘Through investigative journalism, documentaries and news reports, the media sheds light on the often hid
den and harsh realities faced by child labourers around the world.

‘By bringing these stories to the forefront, the media educates the public and policymakers about the scale and severity of child labour, thereby creating a sense of urgency and a call to action.

‘This heightened awareness is crucial for fostering a societal consensus that child labour is unacceptable and must be eradicated,’she said.

She said media coverage can pressure governments and corporations to implement and enforce stricter laws and policies to protect children from exploitation

Phala added that in addition to raising awareness, the media serves as a platform for advocacy and education, empowering communities to take a stand against child labour.

She commended the U.S. Department of Labour for funding the ACLAWA project.

Mrs Tessy Odoh, Head, Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Unit, Inspectorate Department, Ministry of Labour and Employment said the training was apt.

Odoh said that the Federal gov
ernment had put in place some policies to mitigate the menace of child labour.

She said that Nigeria had ratified and domesticated the ILO conventions 182, 138, 29, among others.

Mr Christian Appolos, a journalist with the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, who spoke to NAN, said the training had boosts his knowledge on the issues of child labour.

‘I see the training as a targeted effort to the campaign for the eradication of Child Labour,’he said.

Other journalists who participated in the workshop pledged their continued commitments to doing reports on child labour.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), says that there were plans to launch e-learning platform, to fasttrack training of more civil servants for quality service delivery.

Yemi-Esan made the disclosure at a public lecture on Thursday in Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.

According to her, this unprecedented resource will ensure that we are able, significantly, to increase the number of civil servants, who can undertake induction and Structured Mandatory Assessment- Based Programme (SMAT-P) module.

She also said that civil servants could also undertake other specialist trainings at the same time.

‘The objective of the e-learning platform is to train many more civil servants at the same time. We have modules that would ensure that civil servants are well trained,’ she explained.

According to her, the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) initiative also contains modules that can enable civil servants train themselves, to gain m
ore knowledge on the new Performance Management System (PMS), while preparing for any promotion examination.

The HOS said the government was fully prepared to reposition the nation’s civil service to global standards, adding that it could only be achieved through training and retraining of officers.

‘This entails equipping of the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and thrive in an increasingly complex world of work.

‘In this light, the Nigerian Civil Service, in collaboration with its partners, and stakeholders and the most prominent is the AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation, has invested massively in the training, retraining of the workforce,’ she said.

Yemi-Esan also said the Federal Government would identify mentors among the civil servants, and strategically deploy 500 civil servants to various sectors of the service.

According to her, this is to make them the future leaders, service wise by the end of 2025.

‘Previously, the absence of structured and targeted training programmes
for civil servants in the Nigerian civil service was a major challenge.

‘Training across the MDAs was carried out without considering the actual competencies lacking in the service,’ she said.

She emphasised the need for continuous self development by the public officers, as Nigeria was focusing on the reposition of the sector.

Also, Prof. Peter Okebukola, the Guest Speaker, who described the present crop of civil servants as ‘the best in the African continent’, commended Yemi-Esan for her efforts.

Okebukola spoke on the topic, ‘Education Fit For The 21st Century: Preparing Nigerian Public Servants to Address Global Challenges While Fostering Employee Engagement, Retention and Satisfaction’.

According to him, if Nigeria fails to plan well 25 years from now (2050), It might not meet with the required global standard in terms of quality service delivery on expected mandates.

‘So this lecture is about painting the scenarios of the future of Nigerian civil service by 2050, ‘ he said.

Okebukola advised the
government to engage the civil servants in ICT training, so as to fill the gaps in service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the week is, ‘Educate an African Fit For The 21st Century: Building resilient systems for Increased Access To Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Adekambi Adeyinka, a Masters student at the University of Calabar, has captured stunning footages of the world’s rarest great ape, the Cross River gorillas, in the Afi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Adeyinka of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, disclosed this in Calabar while reacting to the need to protect the rare apes on the list of endangered species due to human activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the extraordinary sightings marked the first successful photos since three graduate students at UniCal began studying this elusive subspecies in 2023.

NAN reports that the study was part of the Cross River Gorilla initiative.

The Cross River Gorilla, known as Gorilla gorilla diehli, is a critically endangered subspecies of the western gorilla.

It was named a new species in 1904 by Paul Matschie, a mammalian taxonomist working at the Humboldt University Zoological Museum in Berlin, but its populations were not systematically surveyed until 1987.[3][4]

It is the most western and northe
rn form of gorilla, and is restricted to the forested hills and mountains of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region at the headwaters of Cross River.

Estimates from 2014 suggest that fewer than 250 mature Cross River gorillas remain, making them the world’s rarest great ape.

Adeyinka said that the sighting was more than just a visual success and underscored the importance of community involvement and innovative research in conservation.

‘By working closely with local communities, we are not only gathering crucial data but also fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to protect these incredible great apes and their habitat,’ he said.

Dr Joseph Onoja, Director General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) expressed hope that the initiative would contribute to the realisation of their strategic pillar of saving species in peril.

Onoja said the University of Calabar in 2022 commenced a five Year Community Conservation Graduate Student Scholarship Programme for the Conservation of Cross River Gorilla.

H
e said the initiative was funded by the Wilder Institute – Calgary Zoo and implemented by NCF in partnership with the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR), Ghana.

‘The programme which involves supporting graduate research projects in Nigeria, including scholarships for one Ph.D. student and four master’s students in UniCal for five years.

‘This collaborative initiative extends beyond borders to allow an exchange programme for knowledge sharing that creates successful community conservation initiatives,’ he said.

Mr Emmanuel Owan, the Head of NCF Calabar office, disclosed that the foundation was putting in place measures to ensure that the gorillas are put in their natural habitat for their safety and continued existence.

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Prof. Francis Bisong, Secretary, Cross River Gorilla Conservation Project Committee, said Adeyinka’s result was promising as it demonstrated the power of collaboration to save the severely endangered Cross River goril
las.

Bisong said the capture of two silverback gorillas on trial cameras in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary emphasised the need for innovative technology, collaborative and community engagement to safeguard the species and its environment.

‘These findings highlight the sanctuary’s vital role in gorilla protection and the need for more research and collaboration to conserve Cross River gorillas and the region’s rich biodiversity.

‘I urge the scientific community, conservation organisations, and stakeholders at all levels to support and extend this essential effort to protect one of the world’s rarest and most fragile species,’ he said.

Dr Mary Liao, Conservation Manager, Wilder Institute, said the images captured by the camera traps were an incredible glimpse into the life of the elusive and magnificent creatures.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria