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NUJ decries resurgence of harassment, extortion by revenue touts in Anambra
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Wednesday, decried the resurgence of touts in different forms, harassing and extorting citizens and visitors for different levies within Anambra.
The Chairman of NUJ Anambra State Chapter, Dr Emeka Odogwu, revealed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on how these illegal revenue collectors dehumanise residents and visitors in the state.
Odogwu noted that there was a need for a digitised revenue collection methodology or refined approach to avoid painting the government bad.
He appreciated security agencies for their efforts in addressing the touting menace and other security challenges in the state, adding there was the need to deploy non-uniformed officers to monitor the activities hoodlums to curb criminal activities associated with them.
According to him, however, “I frown at the resurgence of cult-related killings in some cities in the state and call on the commissioner of police and state director of DSS to rise to the occasion.
“We are commending the state government’s efforts in enhancing the aesthetics of the state by demolishing shanties and similar structures, but we appeal to the government to carry out these demolitions with a human face.
“This can be done by ensuring that the goods and property of the occupants are not destroyed recklessly or punitively in the process as well as providing an alternative for the displaced traders,” he said.
The chairman noted that one of the primary duties of journalists as members of the “4th estate of the realm” was to continue to advocate for the downtrodden in the society for a better society.
“The role of journalists as moral barometers and conscience of the society should never be compromised or traded not minding whose ox is gored. The watchdog roles must go on unhindered.
“On this premise, I am raising an alarm on the dilapidated state of Basden Memorial Special School in Isulo, Orumba North local government area (LGA) and calling on government and public-spirited individuals to assist the school bounce back.
“As a body, we passionately appeal to Anambra Governor’s Wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, and other well-meaning individuals to support special schools in the state, particularly the Basden Memorial Special School, Isulo,” he added.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of a woman in an accident at Okpoko Market on the Asaba-Onitsha Road.
The Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the accident to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said that the woman was hit while she was crossing the road.
He said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a commercial tow truck with registration number XA550BMA.
“Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the truck was towing a vehicle in an uncontrollable speed along the axis.
“The vehicle that was being towed got detached from the tow truck.
“It hit and killed a female adult, who was said to be crossing the road, while the tow truck continued its movement.
“FRSC rescue team came to the scene and took the woman to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where she was confirmed dead and her body deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
While sympathising with the family of the dead, the sector commander urged motorists, especially tow truck drivers, to exercise a high level of professionalism.
He also urged the drivers to always use standard equipment and avoid speeding.
The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said the state government’s maize palliative to members of the association made a positive impact on the sector.
Iyiola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
“We received about 150,000 tons of maize in February from the Lagos State government as palliative to cushion the effect of high feed prices.
“The major benefit of the palliative is that it actually cushioned the cost of production for most poultry farmers in the state.
“The palliative was beneficial as it made the cost of some poultry produce, especially eggs to drop,” Iyiola said.
He noted that prior to the palliative, a crate of egg was sold between N3,500 and N3,700 at the farm gate, but after the palliative, it now sells between N3,200 and N3,400.
According to the PAN chair, retailers and middlemen who sell from N3,800 to N4,200 do that for their personal gain.
“We have urged our members to sell their eggs at reasonable prices following the receipt of the palliative from the government.
“We appreciate the Lagos State government for the palliative but we also urge the federal government to do likewise, to further reduce the cost of production in the sector.
“This will consequently lead to drop in the prices of all poultry produce across board,” he said.
He said the palliative was shared among financial members of the association at no extra cost.
“As an association we shared the grains equally across PAN’s eight zones in the state equally. We also mandated each zone not the sell even a grain of the maize.
“We, however, considered new poultry farmers who wanted to the join the association as beneficiaries of the palliative,” said Iyiola.
He noted that through the palliative, more poultry farmers were recruited into the association.
“The maize was shared only to poultry farmers and not feed millers, it is the major component of poultry feed formulation,” he said.
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