News

Kano govt unseals 10 warehouses accused of stockpiling food

Published

3 months ago

February 21, 2024

Kano govt unseals 10 warehouses accused of stockpiling food

On Tuesday, the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission said that the ten warehouses seized last week for alleged food hoarding had been unsealed.

The commission’s head, Muhyi Magaji, told our correspondent in a phone call that the warehouse owners had arrived and were instructed to open and sell to the public.

According to Magaji, as a result, food costs in Kano have begun to plummet.

He said, “The action taken by the commission has forced the dealers to bring the commodities to markets as well as reduce their prices.

“We visited a number of markets, including Dawanau International Grains Market, Singer Market and Kwari Market, among others.

“If you go to Shuwari market in Jigawa and Faskari and other markets in the neighboring states, you will see that the prices of grains have reduced compared to before.

“If you recall, during the operation, the owners of such warehouses were nowhere to be found but those opened were stacked full of commodities, including spaghetti, rice, sugar and other food items.

“The owners were issued a notice to report to the commission preparatory to facing charges before the court of law for their illegal activities.”

According to Muhuyi, the operation made a significant impact towards checking the increase in the prices of grains and other essential commodities in the state.

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He dismissed the claim by the Management of Dawanau International Grains Market that they were not hoarding foodstuff in order to create artificial scarcity.

Newstrends reports that grain dealers at the Dawanau International Grains Market recently announced a reduction in the prices of grains following a threat by the state anti-graft agency to prosecute shylock dealers who violated the agency’s order or found hoarding grains to maximize profits.

As a result of the threat, a bag of maize now sells for about N53,000, as against the old price of N60,000, while that of guinea corn now sells for N49,000, as against the former price of N55,000, depending on the quality.

Also a bag of millet, which used to go for N60,000, now costs N53,000 and that of beans now costs between N85,000 and N90,000, as against the old price of between N95,000 and N100,000, depending on quality.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano Area Command, said on Tuesday that it intercepted four trucks loaded with food items as part of renewed efforts to tackle smuggling.

The spokesman for the service, Saidu Nuradeen, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday in Kano.

Nurudeen said personnel of the NCS arrested the vehicles transporting a significant quantity of food items intended for illegal export along the Hadejia-Taura-Ringim axis in Jigawa State.

He listed the items to include 1,505 cartons of big and small-sized dried fish, 17 bags of local variety rice, and two bags of beans.

Nuradeen explained that the seizure underscored Customs relentless efforts to enforce the border closure policy aimed at safeguarding the nation’s economy as well as ensuring food security.

“Smuggling undermines legitimate trade channels, poses risks to public health and deprives the government of much-needed revenue.

“The NCS reiterates its unwavering commitment to combatting smuggling activities across all entry points into the country,” he said.

Kano govt unseals 10 warehouses accused of stockpiling food

News

Senate okays death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

12 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Senate okays death penalty for drug traffickers

The Senate on Thursday passed a bill that upgraded the maximum sentence of life imprisonment to the death penalty for drug traffickers in the country amidst controversy over the voice votes.

The death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers passed through the third reading, the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill.

The proposal was adopted when the Senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for clause-by-clause consideration of a report of the Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Senator Tahir Munguno.

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In a review of the penalty provisions of the amendment bill towards strengthening the operations of the agency, a proposed amendment to award a death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip and Sen. Peter Nwebonyi Under clause 11.

When the matter was put to a voice vote, it appeared the nays had it. However, when the question was put on a second vote, the Deputy Senate President ruled in favor of the i’s. A slight uproar ensued as some lawmakers were displeased.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole expressed his displeasure over what he considered a hasty consideration and passage of the amended clause.

The Deputy Senate President rejected an objection by Senator Oshiomhole to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late which is against the rules.

Senate okays death penalty for drug traffickers

News

ASUU rejects N35,000 wage award, insists on new salary

Published

19 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke

ASUU rejects N35,000 wage award, insists on new salary

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted on negotiating the salary of its members with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, thereby, rejecting the N35,000 wage award.

ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this in Ibadan on Thursday at the inauguration of the secretariat of the University of Ibadan (UI) branch of ASUU.

Osodeke stated that the union had agreed that whatever was legally sent to members’ accounts should be spent but not to be taken as the negotiated salary.

“We told them we should negotiate our wage, but they said we are giving you an award of N35,000; we have told them that it is not our own.

“We are still insisting that there has to be negotiated salary,” he said.

He identified the renegotiation of the existing agreement, payment of withheld salaries, earned academic allowance and release of the Needs Assessment Funds as some of the pending issues with the Federal Government.

While commending the UI ASUU branch for the edifice it built using the expertise of its members, Osodeke decried the use of external or foreign consultants to handle projects in the country.

He said the government should rather hire experts within the country, especially from within Nigerian universities as consultants.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership, Prof. Yemisi Bamgbose, had commended the union.

Adebowale said the secretariat would serve as a hub of intellectual discussion, collaboration and solidarity among the union members “as it continues to strive for a better future for our universities and our nation.”

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The UI ASUU Chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said the secretariat was built without donations from external people or bodies.

He commended members of the union who gave in cash and kind to see to its completion.

The inauguration had a session, titled, “Challenging NeoLiberal Narrative in Nigeria’s Education Sector: ASUU’s 2022 Strike and Matters Arising”.

Speaking on the theme, Akinwole, said the impact of neoliberalism on education was complex and multifaceted.

He noted that the lecture was appropriate “at this period in our nation’s march toward self-reliance and independence in the right sense of the word.

“Expectedly, the lecture beams light on the way forward in continued relevance for scholars and all concerned leaders of the progressive movement in Nigeria.”

A Professor of Botany, Odoje Biodiversity Centre, Ogbomoso, Prof. Omotoye Olorode, spoke on the foundationality of the neoliberal narrative as expressed in the Nigerian ruling class response to ASUU’s strike.

He said, “ASUU’s struggles arise out of the necessity to build a country in which every citizen shall be free, educated, well fed and healthy.

“We cannot abandon these struggles and yet be worthy of being called ‘intellectuals’.

“This is where we stand. This is where we ought to stand.”

NAN reports that the union’s building at Olajuwon Olayide Extension, Ajibode, University of Ibadan, has a secretariat building, scholars’ chalets as well as other modern facilities.

ASUU rejects N35,000 wage award, insists on new salary

News

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Published

12 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed concern over threats to his life by individuals he described as anti-Igbo. He revealed that there have been plans to either kill him or burn his house due to his leadership of Ndigbo.

Addressing a press conference in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu highlighted the dangers he faced, mentioning the death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor, and an attempt on another ex-leader’s life. He recounted receiving information about people hired to attack him but assured that he remained undeterred in his commitment to serving his people.

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Iwuanyanwu lamented being confronted by such threats despite his efforts to serve his people, citing his extensive career and scholarship schemes that benefited thousands of youths. He recalled the fate of late Prof. Joe Irukwu, who faced similar accusations of working against the interest of Igboland.

Despite the challenges, Iwuanyanwu reaffirmed his determination to serve Ndigbo and vowed not to yield to intimidation.