Subsidy removal: FCT residents urge FG to provide buses, rail transportation

Published

2 months ago

August 6, 2023

FG to provide buses, rail transportation

Some FCT residents on Sunday appealed to the Federal Government to provide buses and rail transportation in Abuja to ease the high cost of transportation for workers.

The residents, in an interviews said the removal of fuel subsidy had led to an increase in the prices of goods and services.

They, however, said this had brought untold hardship to Nigerians.

Mr Sunday Amos, a civil servant, said he found it difficult to go to work since the increase of fuel from N537 to N617.

“I have been forced to drop my car due to the high cost of fuel.

“Before the removal of fuel subsidy, I used to fill my tank confidently with 10,000. When fuel was increased from N190 to N537, it costed me N35,000 to fill my tank.

”Now that the fuel had increased again to N617, I am not sure I will fill the tank again till further notice.

“A lot of public car users have dropped their cars because the passengers they carry cannot make them to break even with the current market price,” he said.

According to Ngozi Eze, a civil servant and a business woman said that she had resorted to trekking to cut down the high transport fare.

” I trek even under the sun and rain to reduce transport fare because if I remove the transport fare from my salary, I will be left with nothing,” she said.

Mrs Joy Imuzeze, a resident of Dutse, said that it was now difficult for her to go to work because of the increase in transport fares without a commensurate increase in salary.

“Many workers are voluntarily resigning from their job because if they remove the transport fare from their salaries, they will have nothing to hold on to,” Imuzeze said.

Mr Emmanuel Odey, a public servant, said that there had been a behavioural adjustment in the company where he works, adding,” because the situation is telling on everybody including the employers.

”This situation may increase the already high rate of unemployment because employers are laying off staffers.

”If the government provides buses that can convey a lot of people from various areas of Abuja into the city centres, I think the situation will be better,” he said.

LASTMA, others combat Ilupeju industrial fire outbreak

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders at early hour on Saturday combated an industrial fire outbreak at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass.

Mr Taofiq Adebayo, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.

Adebayo stated that the industrial fire outbreak took place at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass beside Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ilupeju area of Lagos.

“The Traffic Officer of LASTMA, Mr Ayo Olaosebikan (Falcon) of Zone 21, confirmed that LASTMA rescue team arrived at the scene of the industrial fire outbreak around at 6:30a.m. before other emergency responders were contacted by LASTMA.

“Immediately we arrived at the scene of the industrial fire, we quickly informed other emergency responders particularly the Lagos State Fire, Rescue Services and the Nigerian Police.

“The causes of industrial fire could not be immediately ascertained, he said.
Olaosebikan noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the storage and factory section of the petrochemical company were seriously affected by the fire outbreak.

According to him, emergency responders on ground include Federal and State Fire Services, policemen and LASTMA Response Unit.

Olaosebikan said that neither injury nor death had been recorded.

Headline

NGO takes free medical outreach to Plateau community

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

GDG Wellness Initiative, an NGO, on Saturday offered free medical services to no fewer than 400 indigent persons in Gyel community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

Mr Gyang Dung-Gyang, founder of the initiative told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exercise was his little way of giving back to the society that made him.

He said that he was spurred by the plight of the people and the urgent need to reach out to them, in view of the current economic realities and its implications on their health.

Dung-Gyang said that he had been organising such outreaches annually, adding that the current hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had made this year’s outing unique.

“It’s my heart desire and passion to reach out to the vulnerable and the needy in the society.

“And it’s not just this, we have been able to give scholarship to some students, with some already graduates.

“Today, we have planned to treat a minimum of 400 persons but from the way it is going, it may exceed that number,” he stated.

The outreach Team Lead, Mr Pam Chong, listed some of the medical services to include testing and treatment of patients for aliments such as malaria, hepatitis B & C, high blood pressure, diabetes among others.

Chong, a pharmacist, told NAN that the medical team comprised of doctors, nurses, lab scientists and pharmacists.
He said cases that they were unable to handle would be referred to hospitals that could handle them.

The team lead said that they have sufficient drugs to treat over 400 patients.

Mr Ishaya Pam, Vice President, Gyel Development Association of Jos South LGA, lauded GDG Wellness for the gesture, which he believed would improve the health and wellbeing of the people.
Pam prayed God to bless the organisers of the outreach to continue to impact the lives of the less privileged.