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Ekiti Govt warns pig farmers against African swine fever

Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, has warned pig farmers to beware of the African swine fever. The commissioner said the disease could cause an increase in the mortality rate of pigs, and adversely affect piggery businesses. Boluwade, who gave the warning in an advisory made available to farmers and
Ekiti Govt warns pig farmers against African swine fever

Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, has warned pig farmers to beware of the African swine fever.

The commissioner said the disease could cause an increase in the mortality rate of pigs, and adversely affect piggery businesses.

Boluwade, who gave the warning in an advisory made available to farmers and stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, charged farmers to take preventive measures early enough to deal with the highly contagious viral disease.

According to him, such preventive measures include farmers stepping up the biosecurity measures on the farms, increasing plane nutrition to step up immunity, increasing the level of farm sanitation, and limiting visits to other farms.

Other measures to prevent the African swine fever, according to the commissioner, are slaughtering and processing of mature pigs to reduce the risk, awareness creation and strict warnings to farm attendants and workers and restriction of human and vehicular movements in and out of farms.

Boluwade further advised piggery farmers to also put in place a secured perimeter fence on farm premises and stopping the exchange or reuse of feed bags.

The commissioner emphasized the need for farmers to heed the warning in order to further consolidate the efforts being made by the Governor Biodun Oyebanji led administration to reduce hunger and ensure food security in Ekiti State.

Ekiti Govt warns pig farmers against African swine fever

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• November 3, 2024
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‘We can no longer feed’ – FCT residents cry out

Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, say they are finding it difficult to feed due to the high cost of food items. The residents also lamented further increase in transportation fares following the hike in the petrol pump price. They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja. According
‘We can no longer feed’ – FCT residents cry out

Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, say they are finding it difficult to feed due to the high cost of food items.

The residents also lamented further increase in transportation fares following the hike in the petrol pump price.

They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to them, the increased fuel price had left residents grappling with the harsh realities of rising living costs.

The residents said their once manageable budget had spiralled into a daily struggle, primarily due to soaring food prices and transportation fares.

They appealed to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to take immediate action in addressing these issues.

Mrs Maryam Abu, a mother of three, said she often sat at her kitchen table these days with frustration, staring at an empty pot.

“Last year, I could buy a bag of rice for N50,000 and now, it is more than N100,000. How can I feed my children?

“With my husband’s salary barely keeping pace with inflation, I often have to choose between meals and essential household items,’’ she said.

For Mrs Ekaite Obot, a civil servant and a mother of four, the situation is no any better as she said she had not been able to drive to work or church for the past five months.

“For over five months now, I have not moved my car from the garage because I can no longer afford to fuel or maintain the vehicle.

“The times are really tough for my family. All the family expenses have been on me since my husband was relieved of his job as a sales representative.

“I struggle to pay school fees, get household items and feed the family and with this increasing cost of items , I do not think we can continue to survive on my mini income,’’ Obot said.

Another civil servant, Mrs Mary Umeh, while decrying the increased cost of living, said her saving grace was the contribution (adashi) she was doing at work with some colleagues.

“We have several platforms where we contribute money monthly and at the end of the year, we use the money to buy various household items.

“It is almost Christmas now and I do not have any savings, but I am not worried because I know that we will soon use our adashi money to buy some household items.

“I am sure my family will be able to manage the items and I will just need little money to buy other things for the Christmas celebration,’’ she said.

Similarly, Mr Albert Nwakama, a trader, decried his inability to fend for his family due to low sales of his fairly-used clothing business, popularly known as “okrika” or second hand wears.

Nwakama said he used to open new bail of wears every two to three weeks, but in the past six months, he could barely sell a bail of womens’ wears.

“I have not witnessed anything like this since I began this okrika business nine years ago. Many customers who used to buy my goods have stopped coming to my shop.

“Even some of those who used to give me money in advance to enable me open new bails now come to me to borrow money so they can feed their families.

“People are struggling to eat and care for their families and buying of new clothing is no longer a priority for families, thus, leaving people like me at a dilemma ,’’he said.

Mrs Nneka Azubuike, a teacher, said the increased cost of living in the country had turned her into a corporate beggar.

According to Azubuike, every kid from a well to do family in the class that I teach has become my friend because of my selfish reasons.

She said she paid more attention to pupils from wealthy homes because at the end of the day, their parents tend to appreciate her for her good deeds every now and then.

“I am aware this is unprofessional, but I have to take care of my child because I am a single mom. My salary is not enough to care for our needs.

“Also, I taught that with the Dangote refinery, fuel price will reduce and transportation will become affordable in the country, but the reverse is obviously the case.

“The government really needs to find a way to address this transportation issue because it is affecting every sector of the economy, especially food prices,’’ she said.

For a commuter like Ibrahim Idris, the surge in transportation fares was eating eating deep into his budget for other household necessities.

“I used to spend about N400 for commuting to the office every day, but now I pay between N900 and N1,000.

“I am finding it extremely difficult to keep up. I have cut down on most things, yet it is always difficult for me to get to work five times in a week,’’ he said.

Mr Sule Adams, a vendor, said his formerly booming business had now slowed as many families were now tightening their belts.

“We are having a noticeable decline in customers, and some who come to patronise us always want discounts, which we normally oblige them because we want to make sales.

“Most customers, who used to buy goods in large quantities and store in their homes, now buy less quantity. because of the increased cost.

“It is hard for us too; we have to pay for our supplies, and if people are not buying from us, we suffer because we have families also to take care of,’’ Adams said.

Also, Ms Christabel Nicholas, a small business owner, said she was facing an uphill battle as she had to choose between raising prices, displeasing customers, or absorbing the high costs.

“I have had to increase my prices due to the high cost of the items in the market, but my regulars are complaining. It is really a tough decision.

“We need government intervention to overcome this situation because Nigerians are sick, hungry, suffering and dying,’’ she said.

‘We can no longer feed’ – FCT residents cry out

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• November 3, 2024
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Flooding: Doctors reach out to 2,500 hard-hit Madagali residents

Reacting to pressing health needs of residents of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State affected by recent floods, 70 doctors have reached out to identified 2,500 ailing people with medical services. The doctors are members of the Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association who, in partnership with the State Government, stepped forward
Flooding: Doctors reach out to 2,500 hard-hit Madagali residents

Reacting to pressing health needs of residents of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State affected by recent floods, 70 doctors have reached out to identified 2,500 ailing people with medical services.

The doctors are members of the Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association who, in partnership with the State Government, stepped forward to address the health emergency.

The medical and surgical outreach aims to support the 2,500 vulnerable individuals said to be the survivors of floods who have been facing ‘unimaginable’ hardships.

The 70 medical and surgical experts, accompanied by military escorts in view of persisting threats of Boko Haram attacks, made the journey to Gulak, headquarters of Madagali LGA where the team provided vital medical services, including general consultations, treatments for ailments, and distribution of medications.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Mohammed, said his members were conducting the free medical outreach as a way of giving back and ensuring that especially the neglecte receive essential medical care.

The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the outreach, Dr Sajoh Njidda, said effects of insurgency had deeply impacted Madagali communities before floods worsened the situation, hence the choice of the place for the medical intervention.

The Madagali Council Chairman, Simon Sashi; and the District Head of Gulak, Bello Ijadi, appreciated the NMA and the Adamawa State Government for the health care initiative.

Daily Post reports that unprecedented downpours in parts of the Madagali LGA in August caused floods that affected at least 11 residential communities, leading to deaths first confirmed to be six people but later feared to be as many as 11.

The rains which poured intermittently for at least nine hours caused the rampaging floods that were by the early hours of August 21 said to have displaced at least 2,000 people who ended up in hastily arranged IDP camps.

Flooding: Doctors reach out to 2,500 hard-hit Madagali residents