NEWS
Price of Charcoal Skyrockets in Kano
Some residents of Kano, who depend on charcoal for cooking and other energy needs, have expressed deep worry over the sharp rise in its price in the city.The people made the complaint in an interview in Kano on Friday.They said that the price had gone beyond the reach of the ordinary person.A housewife, Mrs Aisha Isa, said that a big bag of the commodity, which sold for N4,000, now goes for N6,500.
She said that it had become extremely difficult to find N50 charcoal anywhere in the city, pointing out that the cheapest quantity sales for N150. Another resident, Mrs Agnes John, also bemoaned the development, arguing that the commodity “is gradually becoming unaffordable to the common man”.John urged the government to subsidise cooking gas so that it would be affordable to many Nigerians.Mr Baba Jibril said he enjoyed using charcoal to cook and iron his clothes because it is smoke-free and cheap.“But now its price is beyond my reach as a bag sales between N6,500 and N7,000.“I am contemplating reverting to firewood but it is also expensive,” Jibril said.A food vendor at Tarauni, Hauwa Adamu, said that the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas “has suddenly made charcoal popular”.A charcoal dealer on France Road in Sabon-gari, Rabiu Abdullahi, attributed the price hike to the high cost of transportation.He said that although the price of the commodity rose from N4,500 to N6,700 per sack, the demand was on the increase.Abdullahi attributed the patronage to the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas.“A family can spend between N16,000 and N20,000 worth of kerosene per month, whereas a bag of charcoal can last for at least two months, no matter how often it is used,’’ he said.Another trader at Dakata, Nura Garba, also linked the current price rise to the high transportation cost and insecurity.He said that most families buy the commodity in large quantities due to the high cost of kerosene and other energy sources.“We have continued to experience good and profitable business for sometime now.“Due to the increase in demand, we now sell more than two bags on a daily basis,” he said. (NAN)
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)
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