By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 32.70% in last month.The Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Adeyemi Adeniran in a statement said the headline inflation rate increased to 32.

70% relative to the Aug. headline inflation rate which stood at 32. 15%.According to him, the Sept. Headline inflation rate rose by 0. 55% compared to the Aug. Headline inflation rate.Similarly, on a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 5.98% points higher than the rate recorded in Sept. 2023, which was 26.72%. This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in September 2024 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., Sept. 2023).The latest report said the increase recorded in the Headline Index for Sept. was attributed to the rise in the average price of some items in the basket of goods and services at the divisional level compared to what these items recorded in Aug.According to the report, these increases affected Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (16.94%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuel (5.47%), Clothing & Footwear (2.50%), Transport (2.13%), Furnishings & Household Equipment & Maintenance (1.64%), Education (1.29%) and Health (0.98%). Others are Miscellaneous Goods & Services (0.54%), Restaurants & Hotels (0.40%), Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco & Kola (0.36%) as well as Recreation & Culture and Communication which stood at 0.22%, respectively.The month-on-month Headline inflation rate in Sept. stood at 2.52%, this shows an average increase of 0.30% on the general price level relative to Aug. (2.22%).The percentage change in the average CPI for the 12 months ending Sept. over the average CPI for the previous twelve months was 31.73%, showing an 8.83% increase compared to 22.90% recorded in Sept. 2023.The Food Sub-index inflation rate in Sept. was 37.77% on a year-on-year basis, 7.13% points higher than the rate recorded in Sept. 2023 (30.64%). The rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of the following items Guinea Corn, Rice, Maize Grains, Beans, etc (Bread and Cereals Class), Yam, Water Yam, Cassava Tuber, etc (Potatoes, Yam & Other Tubers Class), Beer (Local and Foreign) (Tobacco Class), Lipton, Milo, Bournvita, etc (Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Class) and Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil etc (Oil & Fats Class).Similarly, the Food inflation rate on a month-on-month basis, in Sept. was 2.64% which shows a 0.27% increase compared to the rate recorded in Aug. (2.37%).The rise can be attributed to the rate of increase in the average prices of Beer (Local and Foreign) (Tobacco Class), Vegetable Oil, Groundnut Oil, Palm Oil etc. (Oil & Fats Class), Beef, Gizzard, Dried Beef etc. (Meat Class), Lipton, Milo, Bournvita, etc (Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Class) and Milk, Egg etc. (Milk, cheese and Eggs Class).The average annual rate of Food inflation for the 12 months ending Sept. over the previous twelve-month average was 37.53%, higher by 11.88% points from the average annual rate of change recorded in Sept. 2023 (25.65%).“All items less farm produces and energy” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produces and energy stood at 27.43% in Sept. on a year-on-year basis; up by 5.59% when compared to the 21.84% recorded in Sept. 2023.”The highest increases were recorded in prices of the following items, Rents (Actual and Imputed Rentals for Housing Class), Bus Journey intercity, Journey by motorcycle, etc. (under Passenger Transport by Road Class), and Accommodation Service, Laboratory service, X-ray photography, Consultation Fee of a medical doctor, etc. (under Medical Services Class)”, statement added..On a month-on-month basis, the Core Inflation rate stood at 2.10% in Sept. This shows a decrease of 0.17% compared to 2.27% recorded in Aug.The average 12-month annual inflation rate was 25.64% for the twelve months ending Sept.; this was 6.09% points higher than the 19.55% recorded in Sept. 2023.The Urban consumers’ annual inflation rate in Sept. on a year-on-year basis was 35.13%. This indicated an increase of 6.46% points higher compared to the 28.68% recorded in Sept. 2023.Similarly, the Urban month-on-month inflation rate increased to 2.67% in Sept., showing a rise of 0.28% compared to Aug. (2.39%).The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 33.95% in Sept. This was 9.84% points higher compared to the 24.10% reported in Sept. 2023.Also, the rural areas’ Headline Inflation rate in Sept. was 30.49% on a year-on-year basis; this was 5.55% higher compared to the 24.94% recorded in Sept. 2023.On a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in Sept. was 2.39%, up by 0.33% points compared to Aug. (2.06%).The corresponding 12-month average for the Rural inflation rate in Sept. was 29.76%. This was 7.97% higher compared to the 21.79% recorded in Sept. 2023.The analyses of the states’ profiles shows that the all-item index for Sept., on a year-on-year basis was highest in Bauchi (44.83%), Sokoto (38.74%) and Jigawa (38.39%), while Delta (26.35%), Benue (26.90%) and Katsina (27.71%) recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis.On the other hand, on a month-on-month basis, Sept. recorded the highest increases in Sokoto (4.63%), Taraba (4.07%), Anambra (3.74%), while Kwara (1.14%), Cross River (1.78%) and Lagos (1.82%) recorded the slowest rise on Month-on-Month inflation.The analysis of the food index at state levels in Sept., on a year-on-year basis, recorded highest in Sokoto (50.47%), Gombe (44.09%), and Yobe (43.51%) while Kwara (32.45%), Rivers (32.80%) and Kogi (32.83%) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation on a year-on-year basis.On the other hand, on a month-on-month basis, Sept. Food inflation was highest in Sokoto (5.94%), Taraba (5.76%), and Bayelsa (4.44%), while Kwara (0.88%), Cross River (1.29%) and Kogi (1.45%) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation.

All contractors doing business with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been urged to register with the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA).

Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director (NDDC) made the call at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the establishment of the chambers on Monday in Asaba.

Represented by Mr Onoriode Omo-Udoyo, a Director in the commission, Ogbuku, said that registration with NDCCITMA had become a requirement to do business with the NDDC.

He said that the essence was to enable contractors to participate and benefit from the prospects of chamber of commerce.

The managing director also urged small and medium enterprise operators and other business owners that required financial supports from the commission to register with NDCCITMA.

Ogbuku said that the commission had entered into a memorandum of understanding with the chamber of commerce to ensure a strategic and fruitful collaboration.

“This collaboration is a partway to prosperity for the people of the Niger Delta region. NDCCITMA is to be used to provide support for businesses in the region.

“As a commission, we are committed to ensuring that development is brought to the people of the region through genuine processes and structures.

“One of the numerous ways we have designed is the use of chambers as a tool for development, we know the impact it can create in business growth,” he said.

On his part, the Delta Acting Governor, Monday Onyeme, commended the commission for the vision behind the establishment NDCCITMA, saying that it would drive business activities in the region.

Represented by Mr sonny Ekadeyan, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Onyeme said that the initiative would have positive impacts on businesses in the region

“I greatly value your engagement and support to build a shared vision of partnership for development in the region.

“I believe that this initiative will help states in the region to address issues of common interest, and to foster a more dynamic and equitable arrangement for regional prosperity,” he said.

Earlier, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Mr Victor Anti, said that the sensitisation exercise would be taken to all NDDC states.

Represented by a Director in the commission, Dr Godwin Nosiri, Anti said that the workshop was organised to raise awareness about the establishment of NDCCITMA.

“It is also to raise awareness about the need to explore the vast opportunities that the chambers presents to the Niger Delta region,” he said.The workshop attracted participants from the business community in the state. NAN

From  Attah Ede, Makurdi, with Agency Reports

More than 300 households in Makurdi, the Benue State capital were displaced yesterday following heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flooding in several parts of the city.

The flooding affected residents in flood-prone areas who had not relocated to government-designated camps, despite warnings.

Areas severely impacted by the floods included Gyado Villa, Wadata, Wurukum, Achussa, and parts of North Bank, all within the Makurdi metropolis.

When our correspondent visited some of the affected areas, residents were seen salvaging personal belongings from homes inundated by the floodwaters.

One of the displaced residents, Terhemba Pine, a landlord in the Achussa area shared his ordeal.

Pine explained that he had not relocated his family to a nearby government shelter, believing that the rains would subside.

He lamented the loss of valuable items, including food supplies and important office documents.

“In my area, around 100 people have been affected. The rain started at 1:00am and continued until midday today [Monday].

“My children couldn’t attend school because they were unable to cross the flooded roads,” Pine said.

The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. James Iorpuu, confirmed that the agency was prepared to assist those affected by the flooding.

Iorpuu noted that many residents in flood-prone areas, particularly in the Gaadi and Wadata regions had already moved to government-designated camps in Wadata and along Gboko Road.

“As I speak, a technical committee on rapid response to flooding, set up by Governor Alia is on the ground in Wadata and Gaadi, distributing food and non-food items, including mattresses, to the affected victims,” Iorpuu said.

He urged all residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to the safety of the camps to avoid further losses.

“The technical team is currently assessing the extent of the damage, but it is too early to determine the exact number of people affected by this most recent flood,” Iorpuu added.

SEMA, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has been conducting awareness campaigns in flood-prone local government areas to prepare residents for the annual rainy season, which often leads to the flooding of farmlands and homes.

The floods also wreaked havoc in Kogi State where more than 200 communities were displaced.

Apparently overwhelmed by the disaster, the Kogi Government yesterday called on the Federal Government and international donor agencies to come to the aid of the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, made the for assistance at Koton Karfe during an inspection visit to communities affected within Kogi local government area.

NAN quoted Fanwo as saying that the distress call became imperative because the floods had caused a major humanitarian crisis in the state.

“Close to two million people are currently homeless in the 200 communities affected by flood in Kogi.

“As a government, we feel the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) cannot afford to wait any longer since the state is already overwhelmed. We are in a dire emergency situation at the moment and this is sad.

“The flood disaster here is devastating and over 200 communities have already been submerged and close to two million people displaced.

“As we speak, nine of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state are affected which is almost 50 per cent of the number of local government areas.

“We have opened about 68 IDP camps but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure have been destroyed completely.

“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any life because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan.

“We are expending huge resources daily but it is inadequate. We call on the Federal Government, International Donor Agencies, NGOs and philanthropists to come to our aid,” Fanwo was quoted as saying.

According to the commissioner, the state government had earlier set up a Flood Disaster Response Team under the leadership of the state’s Deputy Governor.

Fanwo, however, assured the victims of government’s support in the face of the natural disaster.

According to NAN, Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, Ibaji are some of the affected local government areas.