Tag Archives: Ebonyi State

Bag of Rice Crashes to N8,000 in Ebonyi State

Posted on by
Reply

A 50kg bag of rice is now selling for N8,000 in Ebonyi state, eastern Nigeria.This contrasts markedly with the over N20,000 price tag for imported rice.

The cheering news was reported by spokesman of Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okoroafor  in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday..

Okoroafor is the Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN.

He spoke at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers.

“We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme;   50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,”.

He said that the Anchor Borrowers Programme   for the promotion of Agriculture will make the country  begin exportation of rice by 2017.

According to him, farmers in Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Cross River states, among others, have already keyed into the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation.

He said the country would achieve self-sustenance in rice production if the momentum was sustained, adding that the country should commence exportation of locally produced rice by 2017.

Okorafor said Kebbi State had already harvested one million tons of rice, adding that Ebonyi’s harvest had outstripped the  production target for the year.

“The development is encouraging and by the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is between six and seven million tons but have surplus to export.

“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier.

He further said: “What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths.

Read More:

http://dailytimes.ng/bag-rice-crashes-n8000-ebonyi-state/

Umahi vows to sign death warrants of persons convicted of kidnap, robbery, others.

Posted on by
Reply

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has vowed to sign the death warrants of persons convicted of kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other crimes in the state.

Umahi made the pronouncement when he visited the 20km rice field disputed by the Onweonweya and Mkpumekweoku communities in Izzi Local Government Area.

Umahi remarked that in keeping with the government’s prison decongestion programme, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and related cases must pass through the entire judicial process.

Umahi said: “We will not pardon such convicts whether they have repented or not, as our red biro will come out to sign anything for a man convicted of these crimes.

“We can only encourage their speedy trials but if they are found guilty, we will beg God and sign for such lives if the courts say so.

“When one experiences the kidnap of a relation, the person will understand the trauma people pass through on such occasions.

“We can show mercy for other crimes but they must be based on merit.”

Umahi urged the people of Mkpumekweoku to be calm in the face of provocation, noting that the government would not entertain reprisal attacks.

He said: “We must bring the perpetrators of this act to book and I trust the commissioner of police to ensure that this is achieved.

“We have to live in peace and take advantage of our programmes to keep busy but not to make trouble.”

Umahi thanked the Commissioner of Police and his officers for their prompt intervention, urging them to ensure adequate security in the affected areas.

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Richard Idike, thanked the governor for the visit, noting that it shows his passion for the people’s wellbeing.

Idike said: “The dead were hacked to death and covered with grasses on the disputed land.

“The dispute has spanned more than 30 years with all efforts to settle it by stakeholders proving abortive.”

Mercy Aloh, an indigene of Onweonweya community, called for sustained security presence in the area as many people were afraid to return home.

Three people died as a result of the crisis with several houses burnt and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

Bird Flu: Ministry Destroys 1,500 Birds, Feeds In Ebonyi

Posted on by
2

The Ebonyi Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Monday at Ugwuachara in Abakaliki destroyed 1,500 birds, to prevent further spread of the Avian Influenza, popularly known as Bird Flu, to other farms in the state.

 

 

The state Commissioner, Mr Uchenna Orji, who made this known to newsmen, said that the ministry swung into action in order de-contaminate the affected farm.

 

 

“We have destroyed 1,500 birds and the feeds, to avoid further spread to other poultry farms.

 

 

“We went into action following the test results which revealed that the birds had been attacked by the Avian Influenza.’’

 

 

He said that the ministry had declared a state of emergency in the poultry industry, to alert members of the public and poultry farms owners to report cases of affected birds.

 

 

He added that the ministry would place surveillance on neighboring communities and poultry farms, to avoid any spread of the disease.

 

 

“Ebonyi is an agrarian state with crops, fish farming and poultry among others, and the ministry is alive to its duties, responsive and responsible to ensure that farmers in the state are protected from disease attacks.

 

 

“We shall mount further surveillance on other farms and maintain appropriate records and documentation.”

 

 

Also speaking, Mr Idiom Okoro, the state Director of Veterinary Services, said multiple death of the birds purchased from a neighbouring state during the yuletide raised suspicion of Bird Flu attack.

 

 

He urged poultry farmers to report cases of multiple deaths promptly and assured them of compensation by the Federal ministry of Agriculture. and Rural Development.

He identified some Bird Flu symptoms as respiratory problems, weakness and multiple deaths.

 

 

In her remark, Dr Rita Okoro, the Avian Influenza Control Project Desk officer in the state, said the destruction of the birds would go long way to help in checking the spread.

 

 

She complained that poultry farmers often denied the project access to their farms to check any possible outbreaks.

 

“We hope to be empowered to have access to poultry farms to be able to do our job; people have this misconception that we are trying to ruin their business.

 

 

“It is in their best interest to report outbreaks to stop further spread.”

She, therefore, advised poultry farmers to report to the relevant authorities suspected cases or symptoms for immediate action.

 

 

 

(NAN)

Auto crash: Youths In Ebonyi Protest Death Of Colleagues

Posted on by
1

Youths in Ebonyi, weekend, staged a peaceful protest over the death of 10 youths in an auto-crash, while on their way to witness the Appeal Court judgment on Ebonyi State governorship election.
The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions, stormed the Government House, Abakaliki to register their protest.
In his speech, leader of the youths and Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Elder Samuel Igwe said: “No doubt, every mortal will die definitely one day, but a situation where these youths had to be sacrificed on the altar of political desperation is unacceptable to Ebonyians.
“Anybody can go to the court to challenge whatever he feels aggrieved about but that has to be done following due process with evidences for justification, and not to sacrifice our youths.
“We suspect that some political desperados know what or who is behind these sad deaths of our youths who are future leaders of our dear state.
“We suspect foul-play in this matter as it concerns the enemies of the incumbent administration.”
He called on Governor David Umahi to set up a panel of inquiry to unravel the causes of the untimely death of the youths.
Addressing the youths, the Chief of Staff Government House, Chief Emmanuel Offor said, the state government was unhappy over the death of the youths.

 

He alleged that some misguided and desperate politicians in the state were using the youths as sacrifice to actualize their ambition.

 

Credit : Vanguard