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Nigeria’s unity important than ethnic bias, says MSS

Published

4 years ago

January 26, 2021

Muslim students have expressed concern over the growing spate of insecurity and the attendant tension and economic downturn in the country.

Amir (president) of the Muslim Students of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, Miftahudeen Thanni, in a statement stated this and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be more proactive and re-strategise his approach in tackling insecurity.

He said it was saddening that people were fanning the embers of disunity, ethnic and religious crisis in the country.

He lamented that students and their parents were being subjected to undue hardship and unpleasant psychological trauma.

According to him, the unity of Nigeria is more important than ethnic bias.

The student leader said, “No responsible government should allow lawlessness to reign. The activities of non-state actors in recent times are worrisome and must be nipped in the bud by the federal and state governments.

“For no reason should the government allow anybody to see themselves as being beyond the law – especially those fanning the embers of disunity through words or action.

“It all started with Bishop Kukah’s arrogant New Year message capable of inciting the people of the state against the government and preaching religious hatred, a thing that should have attracted a harsh sanction from the Federal Government.

“And down to the South, Sunday Igboho unilaterally issued a quit notice to some Fulani over alleged banditry, and kidnapping despite not being a state actor. In their reactions to this development, prominent groups and famous personalities threatened war.

“This resulted in tension and panic in the region. Though a majority of us did not witness the civil war, the memories of Modakeke crisis and the violence that followed the EndSARS crisis can’t be forgotten. We want peace. Peace is sacrosanct. The full weight of the law should take its course on people who attempt to disrupt peace in the nation.

“Without doubt, an ethnic crisis is brewing in the country and an urgent intervention needs to be made. According to psychologists, people are more sympathetic and emotionally attached to their tribes and could do anything to defend them.”

Miftahudeen, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to stem insecurity in the country and encourage farmers, urged him to protect the country against disunity.

He appealed to Nigerians not to take laws into their hands and avoid being instigated to commit crimes.

“We are aware of the grievances of many in the South-West against the activities of criminals and bandits. We appeal that a particular tribe should not be tagged and attacked. Instead, we should join hands with the government to fight crime collectively.

“Islam encourages peace and we want peace. All Nigerians should see ourselves as one regardless of tribe or profession. The unity of this country is paramount than ethnic bias. Both Fulani and Yoruba are Nigerians and we must see ourselves as one.

“We strongly appeal to the state governments concerned and our dear President to quickly swing into action and do the needful by arresting the situation headlong, thereby ensuring peaceful coexistence and forestall further breakdown of law and order. Apart from the fact that some people are profiting from this insecurity, the media should avoid sensational headlines capable of misleading the general populace into crisis.

“We sincerely appeal to all aggrieved parties to sue for peace so that the wrath of the law won’t be melted on them for any erring; as well as not to lose all we have laboured for and the labour of our heroes past should not be in vain.”

metro

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

Published

55 seconds ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ,UDHR, Article 25(1), everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, which includes access to food, clothing, and housing.

Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ,ICESCR, Article 11 emphasizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food.

Furthermore, the Covenant recognizes the fundamental right to be free from hunger and advocates for measures both individual and international to eliminate hunger.

It is widely acknowledged that inadequate food availability can lead to health issues, as food is as essential to health as air is to breathing.

The situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of healthcare, which are increasingly out of reach for many due to ongoing inflation.

Difficult situations

In Nigeria, harsh economic conditions are forcing households into difficult situations, with many going to bed hungry due to skyrocketing food prices. With Christmas just three days away, our correspondents visited local food markets in Lagos and Abuja to see how citizens are coping with the rising cost of goods and services.

In the locations, buyers and sellers expressed their frustrations over the increasing prices of food items.

At Agric Market in Ikorodu, Mummy Somto, lamented that she had never witnessed such high prices in her lifetime.

She noted that a chicken that cost N15,000 last year now sells for N35,000, with only older layers available for N15,000.

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“What will that do for my family? We have never seen it like this in Nigeria. I hope this hope is the hope,” she said.

At Mile 12 International Market, trucks filled with perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables were lined up for unloading while eager buyers waited nearby.

When asked about the high prices despite the abundance of food, truck owner Alhaji Shehu, explained that the situation arose from expenses related to diesel, farm security, police and military checkpoints before reaching Lagos.

He mentioned spending between N500,000 and N800,000 per truck, which inevitably raises prices.
“This is our business, and we are not pleased with the high costs either. If I sell my goods, I still need to buy what I don’t sell. It’s suffocating us. I also commend the buyers,” Shehu added.

Bags of rice

Mrs. Bukky Osagie, a rice vendor at Mike 12, shared her concerns about escalating prices: “Last December, a bag of rice was between N65,000 and N70,000. Today, it’s from N95,000 depending on the brand. Traders are exhausted. People are buying half bags because they can’t afford full ones. They also need to buy additional items. How do people survive this trend? This has to stop if the government truly cares for its citizens.”

At Daleko Market, Mrs. Hannah, was seen pricing vegetable oil when she declared, “Whether the devil likes it or not, we will celebrate with our families and share love during this season. We will just have to adjust our spending according to our means.”

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As of the time of filing this report, a 25-liter container of vegetable oil was selling for between N86,000 and N95,000 depending on the brand.

Garri was priced at N56,000, while Ijebu Gaari was N58,000.

A carton of satchel tomatoes ranged from N8,800 to N9,200 while a pack of spaghetti cost N23,000.
70 grams of noodles were priced between N9,800 and N10,500. A roll of curry or thyme sold for N550 each, while small bulbs of onion reached as high as N200, making them almost unaffordable for many.

Christmas cheer

In Abuja, soaring food prices and steep transportation costs are casting a shadow over Christmas celebrations for many families.

The cost of essential holiday items, such as poultry, has surged, with chickens priced between ¦ 15,000 and ¦ 25,000, and turkeys reaching up to ¦ 130,000 in some markets.

Sunday Vanguard learned that rising feed prices, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions are driving these increases.

Additionally, a 50-kg bag of rice now costs between ¦ 94,000 and ¦ 125,000, a significant leap from previous months.

Transportation fares have also skyrocketed, with transport fare from Abuja to major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu increasing from 15 percent to 35 percent in the past month.

For instance, a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road, which previously cost ¦ 28,000–¦ 35,000, now ranges between ¦ 46,500 and ¦ 60,000.

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

VANGUARD

metro

Three Ogun varsity students die auto crash

Published

20 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Ogun State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola

Three Ogun varsity students die auto crash

The Police Command in Ogun State has confirmed the death of three university students in a single-vehicle accident on the Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye Road.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, revealed that the victims were suspected to be students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, involved an Opel car with registration number AAA-126 HE. The vehicle was reportedly driven by Adekunle Adebiyi, a resident of 5 Sunmibare Street, Awa Ijebu.

“The accident was caused by overspeeding, leading to the driver losing control and the vehicle flipping into the bush,” Odutola explained.

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She further disclosed that one male passenger, whose identity is yet to be confirmed but is believed to be an OOU student, died on the spot. His body was taken to the mortuary at General Hospital, Ijebu Ode.

“Two female students from Olabisi Onabanjo University — Dada Oluwanifesimi, 18, and Miracle Daniel, 19 — were rushed to Love and Care Hospital but sadly passed away while receiving treatment,” she added.

The vehicle involved in the crash has been recovered and is now in police custody.

Odutola assured the public that further updates on the tragic incident would be provided and advised motorists to adhere to traffic regulations, particularly during the festive season.

Three Ogun varsity students die auto crash

metro

Dangote, MRS agree to sell petrol at N935/litre nationwide

Published

26 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Dangote, MRS agree to sell petrol at N935/litre nationwide

Dangote Refinery has announced a partnership with MRS to make Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, available at ₦935 per litre nationwide through MRS retail outlets.

This development follows the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) recent move to lower petrol prices below ₦1,000 per litre.

In a statement shared on Saturday via X, the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, praised President Bola Tinubu for the positive impact of the naira-for-crude swap initiative on the Nigerian economy. He noted that the policy had contributed to a reduction in the cost of petroleum products.

“To provide succour to Nigerians, Dangote recently reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N970 to N899.50 at its Refinery loading gantry and provided generous credit terms to marketers.

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“To ensure that this price reduction gets to the end consumer, we have signed a partnership with MRS to sell petrol from its retail outlets nationwide at N935 per litre,” the statement read.

Dangote further revealed that the new pricing had already been implemented in Lagos and would be extended nationwide starting Monday.

He urged other oil marketers, including NNPC Retail, to collaborate to ensure Nigerians benefit from affordable and high-quality petrol.

“The Dangote Refinery is for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. We will therefore continue to work with various value chain players to deliver high-quality petrol at cheaper prices,” Dangote stated.

“Our aim is for all Nigerians to have ready access to high-quality petroleum products that are good for their vehicles, good for their health, and good for their pockets.”

The naira-for-crude initiative was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in September under President Tinubu’s administration. The policy, which came into effect on October 1, has eased demand for the dollar and helped stabilize the naira, contributing to the reduction in fuel prices.