NEWS
Flood Destroys Anambra Multi-billion Naira Farm, 25,000 Birds Die
Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
A devastating flood incident in Anambra has resulted in the closure of a multi-billion naira automated farm and the loss of over 25,000 birds. The Matuuci Farms Limited, situated in the Agbobo Umuoga Ossomala community within the Ogbaru region of Anambra, had to halt its operations due to extensive property damage.
The flood disaster, which wreaked havoc on the property, led to the demise of more than 25,000 birds in the poultry section.
Additionally, the farm’s potato fields, fish ponds, and other crop sections bore the brunt of the catastrophe.The proprietor of Matuuci Farms Limited, Dr. Patrick Sule-Ugboma, conducted a tour of the impacted facilities for journalists on Wednesday.
He revealed that approximately 400 employees have been instructed to cease their work.Ogbaru, a community located along the River Niger coastline, frequently contends with flooding, making the situation all too familiar for residents. Sule-Ugboma lamented the substantial financial losses his company has incurred due to the flood’s destructive force. The farm, spanning 20 hectares, witnessed substantial losses not only in poultry but also in fish and other valuable properties.
“We have lost more than 25,000 poultry birds, fish in our ponds worth several million naira, and numerous other properties worth several million naira were destroyed by the flood,” Sule-Ugboma remarked.
Furthermore, Sule-Ugboma highlighted that the flood has compromised certain bridges along the Onitsha-Ndoni road, particularly drawing attention to the Umunnakwo bridge. It’s noteworthy that the collapse of the same Umunnakwo Bridge in the previous year led to a tragic boat mishap that resulted in multiple fatalities.
Sule-Ugboma underscored the peril faced by residents and travelers due to the collapse of bridges on the Ogbaru-Ndoni road. This predicament has forced people to rely on makeshift wooden boats for river crossings.
Seizing the opportunity, he urgently called upon both the Anambra State Government, under Governor Charles Soludo’s leadership, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to intervene and assist the beleaguered Ogbaru communities.
“I am calling on Governor Charles Soludo to look into the plights of our people especially with the menace of perennial flooding hitting Ogbaru communities again. I also call on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to consider the construction of the Onitsha-Ndoni road now in a deplorable state,” he appealed.
Sule-Ugboma said he was disappointed over the insufficient efforts by successive state and federal governments to provide adequate road infrastructure in Ogbaru, Delta, Imo, and Rivers regions, despite these areas playing a pivotal role in agriculture and contributing substantially to the national economy.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of Ogbaru communities as well as communities in Delta, Imo, and Rivers, and inspite of their contributions to our economy, the people have been subjected to undue neglect by successive state and Federal Governments,” Sule-Ugboma concluded.
NEWS
Life Doesn’t End in your Communities, NYSC D-G Tells Corps Members
The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmad, has advised corps members to stop thinking of relocating back to their communities, emphasising that life does not end there.
Report says that Ahmad spoke when he visited the NYSC temporary orientation camp on Friday in Kaduna.
Addressing corps members of the 2024 batch ‘C stream ‘I’ currently on the mandatory three-week orientation course, he urged the corps members to find home anywhere they were posted to, emphasising the importance of adapting to new environments.
Ahmad emphasised that the corps members must find a sense of belonging wherever they were posted, stating that such mindset was crucial for a successful service year.
According to him, embracing new experiences and being open to change can lead to personal growth and development.
He urged the corps members to focus on making a positive impact in their host communities.
The director-general encouraged them to be proactive and seek opportunities to contribute to the development of their host communities.
He urged them to respect the cultures and traditions of their host communities, advising, ”remain peaceful and resilient as you add value to the community you are posted to.
”I am sure many of you will choose to remain here after your service. You should also take security seriously.
“Your security is our concern, but no one can secure you more than yourself.”
Ahmad underscored the importance of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development of the scheme.
He urged the corps members to take advantage of the programme to become not just self-reliant, but job and wealth creators after their service year.
“Skills acquisition is designed to make you independent, self-reliant and productive.
”The Federal government is out to ensure that youths are supported and empowered so they can stand on their own.
“Thousands of your predecessors who maximised the opportunity are now independent,”Ahmad said.
The director-general however warned the corps members on unauthorised and night travels, indecent dressing, among other acts that may project the scheme in bad light.
(NAN)
NEWS
Protect TETFUND from Abrogation Under Proposed Tax Bill–ASUU urges NASS
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to protect the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND) from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Osodeke said that the proposed bill was worrisome and also posed potential danger to the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND).
“ASUU has observed with keen interest the ongoing debate on the review of the tax system in the country under a proposed bill tagged, Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.
“This is currently before the National Assembly. Arising from the tax bill is the proposed abrogation of the education tax.
“ASUU is alarmed by this dangerous and unpatriotic aspect of the proposed new tax regime,” he said.
According to Osodeke, the bill proposed that education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFund’s programmes should be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“TETFund will also receive 66.7 per cent in 2027, 2028 and 2029 years of assessment but zero per cent in 2030 year of assessment and thereafter,”he said.
He said that the far-reaching consequence of the new tax system is that from 2030, all funds generated from the development levy would be passed to NELFUND.
He said that ASUU found the development not only worrisome but also inimical to the national development objective due to the potential danger to the survival of TETFund.
Osodeke said that TETFund has been viewed as the backbone for infrastructural development, postgraduate training and research capacity building in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions in the
last 15 years.
He said that ASUU had resolved not to stand by and watch the denigration or obliteration of TETfund which represents a positive testament to its constructive engagements with Nigerian governments since 1992.
“It is our considered view that abrogating the TETFund Act 2011, by design or default, will be a great disservice not just to education but to Nigeria as a nation.
“As a result, ASUU is urging members of the National Assembly to do all within their capacity to protect TETFund from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, ”he said.(NAN)
NEWS
Gunmen Kill 1 at Benin Nightclub
The police in Edo have confirmed the killing of a guest at the popular Raptor Club and Lounge, Stadium Road, Benin.
The victim was shot dead by gunmen in the early hours of Friday, while his female passenger sustained gunshot injuries.
SP Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, said that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
According to him, the police received a distress call at 3 a.
m. that there were gunshots at Raptop Club.He said the operatives of the command on reaching the scene went after the hoodlums, who escaped and abandoned a pump action gun and two expended empty shells.
Yamu explained that efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.
NReport says that the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m., has left the management and patrons of the nightclub in shock.
A source told newsmen that the deceased, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot inside his white Lexus Jeep vehicle, while the female passenger was hit by stray bullets on her lap.
The incident left the club with some damages, including shattered show glasses and a destroyed glass door.
Policemen were seen at the scene of the incident, as the deceased’s vehicle was towed away. (NAN)