Links

The Presidency says the prices of food items in the country are dropping as a result of the agricultural reforms of the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ).

The President ’ s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity , Mr Garba Shehu , made this known while featuring on Channels Television ’ s Sunrise Daily programme.

Speaking also on the TV programme, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics , University of Abuja, Dr Ahmed Adamu , faulted the timing of the policy because of the inflation already in the economy .

Adamu said , “ It is also a wrong time because we have not built the right infrastructure and not supplied the right agriculture facilities and we have not built the entire agriculture value chain . We are also facing insecurity and a lot of farmers have been displaced from their farms and they cannot produce much. And now the government is discouraging cheap importation from other countries . It is going to create a lot of food scarcity in the country.

“ Now we are seeing a high rise in the prices of food items in the country and this measure is going to increase the prices of food items further at a time when we just came out of COVID- 19 lockdown . ”

The scholar stressed that Nigerians should not be punished for the failure and inability of government and policy – makers to protect the naira, adding that the government ’ s decision is “ a recipe for hyperinflation ” .

According to him , consumers are rational and so the government needs to ask itself why the people prefer foreign food items over locally produced ones .

“ They ( consumers ) know why they go for foreign food items – maybe because of quality, quantity or price. Instead of you ( the government ) to force Nigerians to buy things that they are not ready to buy, why don ’ t you make the local products become attractive to Nigerians by enhancing its quality , quantity and competitive price. These are things that we need to set in place before we force people because this actually is an aggressive measure , ” Adamu added .

Reacting , Shehu said Nigeria ’ s land borders were closed not only to curb the importation of rice and other food products but to also curb the proliferation of small arms smuggled into the country to feed inter -communal crisis and banditry , amongst others.

The President ’ s spokesperson said , “ To say the cost of food items is connected to the closure of the borders is absolutely wrong . And to say that the prices of food ain’ t coming down, I think the scholar has detached himself from the market because we sat through the meeting of the National Food Security Council and we heard presentations by experts – people who had surveyed the markets .

“ As of yesterday (Thursday ), in the morning of the meeting, go and check the index in markets. For instance in Kano, millets that had gone up to N24 , 000 has now gone down to N12 , 000 , N13 , 000 . Rice that had been N25 , 000 is now N 20 , 000 . Corn , maize is now N 18 , 000 for the old stock and N14 , 000 , N15 , 000 for the new stock .

Bakers have vowed to react to price increase in baking ingredients by increasing the prices of bread .

The Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria and the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria gave this warning at a press conference in Lagos .

The President , PBAN , Tosan Jemide , complained that businesses had been comatose due to the incessant increase in the prices of baking ingredients .

He noted that in the last six months, the prices of flour , sugar and other baking ingredients had skyrocketed without a corresponding increase in the prices of bread by member bakeries .

Jemide said , “ We have been busy helping them remain profitable while our businesses suffer , because we are more in tune with the purchasing power of the consumer and are deeply concerned about food security .

“ PBAN and AMBCN shall no longer take seat and watch such blatant increases in prices going forward. We shall react with equal price increases or stiff resistance . ”

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , boasted that his regime has recorded what he called “notable achievements” in five years .

Specifically on agriculture , he said the sector has continued to grow despite the impact of COVID – 19 because of his regime ’ s targeted policies.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke at a meeting of the National Food Security Council held at the Presidential Villa , Abuja .

The statement was titled “Despite COVID- 19 , we ’ ve been able to avert food crisis , says President Buhari . ”

Adesina quoted the President as saying that the COVID – 19 pandemic exposed the level of preparedness of nations to shocks of food security .

According to him , Buhari explained that the Federal Government’ s wisdom in promoting self – sufficiency over the years helped significantly in averting a food crisis .

The President , “The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems.

“ It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries .

“ In the last five years , we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6 . 1 per cent in Q 2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus , the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies. ’’

“ I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric – business sector .

“ I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come , ” the President said .

“ To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro -rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads .

“ We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries , ’’ he added .

Punch

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , boasted that his regime has recorded what he called “notable achievements” in five years .

Specifically on agriculture , he said the sector has continued to grow despite the impact of COVID – 19 because of his regime ’ s targeted policies.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke at a meeting of the National Food Security Council held at the Presidential Villa , Abuja .

The statement was titled “Despite COVID- 19 , we ’ ve been able to avert food crisis , says President Buhari . ”

Adesina quoted the President as saying that the COVID – 19 pandemic exposed the level of preparedness of nations to shocks of food security .

According to him , Buhari explained that the Federal Government’ s wisdom in promoting self – sufficiency over the years helped significantly in averting a food crisis .

The President , “The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems.

“ It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries .

“ In the last five years , we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6 . 1 per cent in Q 2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus , the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies. ’’

“ I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric – business sector .

“ I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come , ” the President said .

“ To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro -rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads .

“ We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries , ’’ he added .

Punch

The National Association of Nigerian Students said it was set to hit the streets except the Federal Government reversed the increase in the pump price of fuel and electricity tariff .

The organisation threatened to embark on a nationwide protest on Monday September 14 , 2020 , if urgent steps were not taken to reverse the new prices .

NANS President , Danielson Akpan, who made this known during a press briefing in Abuja, called on the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd ) , to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians .

Akpan said , “ Nigerians are bewildered that having been under months of lockdown and restrictive measures , welcoming them back to normal life with increases in prices of essential commodities is a burden too harsh for the citizens to bear .

“ It is no longer news that the Federal Government in a swooping total deregulation and subsidy removal policy announced another increase in the pump price of PMS . It is also a known fact that prior to that , the Federal Government also approved increases in electricity tariff while banks regrettably reduced interests on customer savings .

“ The effects of these increases amidst earlier increments made in Value Added Tax and multiple taxations on goods and services have started causing unbearable consequences , thereby compounding the obvious imbalances in the economic and social life of Nigerians , most of whom are dependent on (unstable ) electricity supply and PMS to do businesses and make ends meet .

“ Precisely on Monday , September 14 2020 , Nigerian students shall be making a loud statement in a mass protest across the six geopolitical zones , and the Federal Capital Territory to demand outright reversal of the insensitive price hikes. ”

Punch

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested protesters expressing their displeasure over the recent increase in petroleum price and electricity tariff .

The protesters were arrested around the Ojuelegba area of Lagos .

Newsmen gathered that apart from the protesters who were arrested , gadgets of journalists were seized .

One of the leaders of the protesters , Hassan Soweto, said 18 persons were arrested , including four journalists .

“ We have just been arrested alongside several members of the Socialist Party of Nigeria and journalists for protesting this morning against fuel price hike , electricity tariff , and deregistration of SPN . I am typing this message at the back of a police van taking us to Area C, Police Command , Lagos , ” Soweto , who is the National Youth Leader of SPN , said .

In a statement , the National Organising Secretary of SPN , Dimeji Macaulay , identified some of those arrested as Dagga Tolar, Ayo Ademiluyi , Chinedu Bosah , Lexan Ali , Fidel Davynovich , Oluwole Engels , Soweto , and eight others.

He said , “We condemn this attack as part of the continuous descent of the country into a brutish state of military repression . It is completely unacceptable , and we enjoin all Nigerians interested in preserving this country’ s hard- earned democracy to condemn this emboldened descent into a civilian – military dictatorship.

“ We demand a public apology from the police for this ridiculous and unprofessional action taking against our comrades , and we ask that proper disciplinary measures be taken on those security officers involved .

“ It’ s important for you to note that Demonstrations and protests are a global phenomenon and are a part of the development of any society. ”

Punch/Vanguard

As tertiary institutions reopen next Monday in Lagos State, the state government says final – year students will go back to the classrooms before students on other levels.

Tokunbo Wahab , Special Adviser on Education to Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu , made this known while featuring on Channels Television ’ s Sunrise Daily programme.

Schools in the country had been shut in March as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease .

But the Federal Government announced the resumption of graduating pupils last month to write this year’ s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17 , 2020 , through September 12 , 2020 .

Sanwo- Olu had subsequently announced the reopening of schools in the state starting with tertiary institutions on September 14 , 2020 .

“ I am pleased to announce that our tertiary institutions will be allowed to reopen from September 14 , 2020 , all our tertiary institutions, ” the governor had said , adding that secondary and primary schools would resume a week after .

Speaking , Wahab explained that the government had put in place necessary facilities and processes to ensure a safe reopening of classrooms in the state .
He also emphasised that the students in the state will resume in phases .

The governor’ s aide said , “ Basically, we are at a point where scientifically we ’ ve been proven to have flattened the curve. And it invariably means that we are not as exposed as we used to be some five, four , three months back . So , consequently , we have to find a way to bring our lives back to normal . And in doing that , education is very critical to whatever we are going to do .

“ In the past few weeks , we ’ ve been putting in place measures and facilities that will enable our children come back to school .

“ Even at that , what we seek to do from next week is to start a phased reopening of our tertiary institutions.

“ On the 14 th we have announced that our tertiary institutions are going to open to our students for the first time after six months. ”

Wahab said the students have been having their lectures online all along and “they are going to come on campus to have their revision one – on -one and then they can now have their exams and their projects . ”

Continuing , he said , “ For our tertiary ( institutions) from on the 14 th , we are going to start with the final – year students across our tertiary institutions. With those final – year students , we are sure that they are older , they are more mature , and they are going to meet up with the protocol as put in place by the institutions based on the regulations of the NCDC ( Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ) .

“ After we have phased them out , maybe after their exams , then , those in the penultimate year will come on campus . So , we are not going to put all our students on campus at the same time.

“ For our secondary, from on the 21 st , they are also going to have a phased resumption. ”

Punch

The Debt Management Office has released Nigeria ’ s total public debt stock as of June 30 , 2020 , and put the country’ s entire debt at N31 trn , indicating an increase of N2 . 38 trn within a space of three months.

Nigeria ’ s total public debt stock includes the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 states , and the Federal Capital Territory.

Just as the country’ s public debt stock , the DMO also released reports on Nigeria ’ s Actual External Debt Service Payments in Second Quarter , 2020 , as well as Nigeria ’ s External Debt Stock as of June 30 , 2020 .

For the country’ s public debt stock as of June 30 , 2020 , the DMO said , “The data shows that in naira terms, the total public debt stock which comprises the debt stock of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the FCT stood at N31 . 009 trn or $ 85 . 897bn .

“ The corresponding figures for March 31 , 2020 , were N28 . 628 trn or $ 79 . 303bn . ”

The debt office explained that the increase in the debt stock by N2 . 381 trn or $ 6 . 593 bn was accounted for by the $ 3 . 36 bn budget support loan from the International Monetary Fund , new domestic borrowing to finance the revised 2020 Appropriation Act.

It said this includes the issuance of the N162 . 557 bn Sukuk , and promissory notes issued to settle claims of exporters.

The debt office added , “ The DMO expects the public debt stock to grow as the balance of the new domestic borrowing is raised and expected disbursements are made by the World Bank, African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank which were arranged to finance the 2020 Budget .

“ Recall that the 2020 Appropriation Act had to be revised in the face of the adverse and severe impact of COVID- 19 on government ’ s revenues and increased expenditure needs on health and economic stimulus , among others. ”

It stated that additional promissory notes were expected to be issued in the course of the year .

This , it said , and new borrowings by state governments , were also expected to increase the public debt stock .

The Federal Government has directed the Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to “ immediately” commence the use of consultants and doctors on the National Youth Service Corps to provide routine services.

The government also directed that locum staff should “ be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services ’ disruption when applicable and affordable ”.

The Minister of Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire , gave the directive in a statement issued in Abuja .

He was reacting to the nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors over the non -payment of their COVID- 19 hazard allowance and other demands.

He said , “ lt is with deep concern that l view the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors which commenced yesterday ( Tuesday ) September 7 , 2020 .

“ We must remember that the primary duty of doctors and all health workers is to save lives . Embarking on a strike in this time that the country is battling with the COVlD- 19 pandemic is ill -timed and ill- advised.

“ lt is a critical time in which all well -meaning medical professionals should close ranks and confront the common enemy , which is the COVlD- I 9 pandemic threatening mankind .

“ This is therefore one strike too many . Besides , most of the demands have been met and others, though, difficult , are at an advanced stage of implementation . A little patience would have made a big difference .

“ The Federal Ministry of Health finds it necessary to ensure measures are put in place to mitigate the effect of this strike on the generality of our populace by directing the CMDs / MDs of our federal tertiary hospitals to immediately do the following : COVlD- 19 treatment outlets should continue to function as before .

“ Emergency services should continue to run as before . Routine services should be maintained with Consultants , NYSC Doctors. Locum staffers to be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services disruption when applicable and affordable.

“ I call on the NARD to return to work and engage the Federal Government in completing the ongoing due process of implementing the MoU between NARD and government .

“ I wish to assure the general public that measures have been put in place to ensure that they continue to access services at all our federal tertiary hospitals across the country. ”

Punch

Students , workers , and civil society groups hit the streets of Ibadan , the Oyo State capital , to express displeasure at the hike in the price of petrol as well as the increase of electricity tariff .

The protesters , who carried placards with different inscriptions to convey their disapproval , while chanting anti -government songs , gathered at the Awolowo Junction area of the state capital .

The protesters condemned the policies of the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , describing the recent increment in the prices of electricity and fuel as wicked and one that lacked sound judgment .

The Chairman , Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students , Mayowa Opakunle , told newsmen that students in the state totally reject the increases .

Opakunle said , “We are out on the streets to register our grievances and show our displeasure at the wicked policies and unjust treatment of Nigerians by the Federal Government.

“ We say no to fuel price hike and electricity tariff increment at this period when many people have lost their jobs, many have not even been paid salaries for the past six months.

“ Prices of food , other goods and services have continued to increase while salaries are either being slashed into half for so many while others don ’ t even get at all.

“ But despite these hardships , the government has continued to increase prices of commodities . The consistent show of ineptitude and cluelessness on the part of the President and his cabinet is worrisome . ”

In the same vein, students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Students staged a protest in Osogbo , Osun State capital , against the recent increase in pump price and electricity tariff .

Some of the protesters put on the orange # RevolutionNow Movement beret .

They took off from Freedom Park , Osogbo , and moved through MDS road to Olaiya Junction , chanting anti -government songs .

Punch