NEWS
Acute Petrol Scarcity Hits Umuahia, Aba
Acute scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit, commonly called petrol, has hit Umuahia and Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia.
The development has resulted in a sharp increase in the price of the commodity in service stations belonging to independent marketers.
Reporters who monitored the situation in the two cities, reports that the commodity now sells at between N190 and N220 per liter.
Major marketers, however, sell at the official pump price of N162, where the commodity is available.
Meanwhile, transport fares in Aba have shot up by about 100 per cent.
A short distance trip in the metropolis by bus, which hitherto cost N50 per passenger, now costs N100.
From Osisioma, on the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, to any part of the metropolis, fares went up from N100 to N150.
Also, from Asannetu Market on the Aba end of the expressway into the metropolis by tricycle, popularly called Keke, the fare, which cost N300 before now, costs N500 per commuter.
Unsuspecting commuters, who came out on Tuesday morning to go to their respective places of work, expressed shock over the development.
Some of them decried the situation in an interview with reporters, saying it would add to the economic hardship in the country.
Mrs Onyinyechi Amarawuchi described the hike as unexpected and coming at a time many families were struggling to provide food on the table.
“This is unfair and government should intervene to restore normalcy in the supply of petrol to the state to put an end to the development.
Amarawuchi feared that the fare increase could have a consequential effect on the price of food items.
“You know the price of commodities in the country, especially food items, has a direct link with the cost of transportation.
“Bearing this in mind, government must strive to keep the cost of transportation in check to save the poor from abject poverty,” she said.
A tricycle operator, Eugene Ohalete, said he bought the commodity at N220 per liter, hence the hike in his fare.
“I hiked my fare because filling stations increased the price of petrol and I cannot buy fuel for N220 or N250 and collect N50 as fare per commuter.
“How do you want me to service my tricycle, pay the owner, who gave it to me on hire purchase and still feed my family, if I do not increase my fare?
“I don’t know why fuel prices went up. They cannot increase fuel price and expect transport fare to remain the same,” Ohalete said.
Many commuters in the city, who could not afford the sharp fare increase, resorted to walking long distances to their destinations.
NAN reports that the scenario is not different in Umuahia, the state capital.
There were long vehicular queues in a few major marketers service outlets selling the commodity at the official pump price.
Some motorists said the scarcity and hike in the price of the commodity could heighten inflation rate and also worsen the economic difficulties in the area.
They, therefore, appealed to the government and relevant agencies and groups involved in the supply of petrol to take urgent measures to bring the situation under control.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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