Metro
Consumers slam sachet water producers, retailers as price skyrockets in Abia
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Residents of Umuahia and other parts of Abia State have expressed outrage over the astronomical increase in price of sachet water, popularly known as pure water.
Findings by DAILY POST showed that the price of sachet water has gone up to N50 per one.
But two weeks ago, the commodity was sold at 2 sachets for N50, meaning that the dealers have increased the retail price by 100% percent.
Also, a bag which contains 20 sachets now goes for between N400 and N450 when compared to N300 it was sold two weeks ago by the retailers.
Findings also showed that the price increment began after a two-day strike recently embarked upon by members of Table and Sachet water Producers Association in Abia State.
Arising from the meeting, the members increased the price to N350 per bag from the previous N250, while retail shops sold to the final consumers at N50 per sachet.
Some residents of the State, who spoke to DAILY POST on the development, said they now drink directly from boreholes and other public sources to quench taste.
However, the residents who acknowledged the health implications of drinking from other sources, appealed to both the producers and the Abia State government to immediately do something about the problem.
A public health expert, Dr Terry Omemma, who spoke to DAILY POST on the development, said something must be done to reduce the price of drinking water to enable the poor consumers access to it.
He also warned that consuming unclean water could lead to an outbreak of major water-borne diseases.
But defending their decision to increase the price of sachet water, the members of Association of Table and Sachet water Producers in Abia State, blamed their decision on the rising cost of production materials.
The members, who spoke through Peter Nwakanma (Chairman), said they would reduce the price if the cost of production materials came down in the market.
They rather blamed retailers for selling at N50 per sachet to the public despite buying a bag at N350.
They warned the public against drinking water not approved by NAFDAC, saying that doing that could expose them to deadly diseases.
But a shop owner, Mr Onumba Kalu countered Nwakanma, saying, “they increased the price, why are they blaming the retailers?”
Metro
Danger averted as police rescued six kids from collapsed building
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The Lagos State Police Command has rescued six children from a building within an estate in the Ejigbo area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.
He said that on Tuesday at about 12p.m., the police received information that six children were staying alone in a building.
‘The case was transferred from the Ejigbo Police Station to the Gender Unit in Ikeja after reports indicated that the children were left alone in a residential house.
“The children, aged between seven and 13 years, have been rescued and are currently in a protective shelter through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development,’ he said.
Hundeyin said initial findings revealed that their mother was currently abroad for medical treatment and had left them in the care of a caregiver.
The spokesperson added that efforts were underway to contact their mother, and investigations were ongoing to gather more details about the case.
NAN
Metro
Fire engulfs MTN office in Oyo
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An MTN booster station at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State was reportedly engulfed in flames on Saturday.
The fire, attributed to an electrical surge, erupted within the Faculty of Nursing.
According to reports, the incident took place in the early morning hours, around 4 a.m., and resulted in significant damage to the Mikano electrical generator, the control board, and other telecommunications devices at the booster station.
The state capital, Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde, and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande confirmed the incident.
He said, “The state Fire Service’s prompt response doused the fire at the MTN booster station beside the Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan.
“The fire personnel, led by ACFS Olubunmi, were promptly deployed to the scene and arrived on time.
“On arrival, we met the Mikano electrical generator and board on fire. We quickly joined hands with the university’s fire marshals, and the fire was extinguished completely. The fire was caused by an electrical surge”, he explained.
Metro
Insecurity! Gunmen invade church, slash pastor’s 2 fingers
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Heavily armed gunmen reportedly stormed Elyon Paradise Ministry Church, shooting Pastor Divine Omodia and abducting six members of the congregation in Asagba Ogwashi, near Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, Aniocha south local government area of Delta State.
The attack, which took place on February 21, 2025, at approximately 10:30pm., saw the assailants round up the church premises before shooting the pastor and severing two of his fingers, causing severe blood loss.
One of the Pastors, Pastor Steve Victor Onuchukwu, who spoke revealed that since the attack, the kidnappers have not contacted the church or the victims’ families to demand ransom.
“The matter has been reported to the police, but so far, no tangible results have been achieved,” Onuchukwu stated.
“One security agency assured me they are working around the clock to secure the victims’ release, but we have no concrete updates yet.”
Concerns continue to mount over Pastor Omodia’s condition, as he remains in critical care at an undisclosed hospital.
According to Onuchukwu, medical personnel are making efforts to stabilize him.
“We rushed him to the hospital immediately, and he is currently in the operating theatre, where doctors are doing everything possible to save his life,” he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted for a statement, Delta State Police Command spokesperson Bright Edafe claimed no official report of the incident had been made to law enforcement.
“I am not aware of any such report because nobody has informed us about it,” Edafe stated.
The attack has heightened concerns over security in the region, with residents and church members demanding swift action to locate the kidnapped victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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