News
Prices of perishable items crash in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa
The prices of perishable items have recorded a fall in some major towns in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN’s checks at Perishable Items Market, Damaturu in Yobe, revealed that the prices have dropped by about 50 per cent.
A big basket of tomatoes sold at N120,000 between April and May now costs N40,000, while a small basket previously sold at N75,000 is now going for N18,000.
A bag of pepper sold at N170,000 in the same period now costs N82,000, while a bag of pepper goes for N70,000 as against N75,000 sold in July.
Similarly, a bag of Okro which was sold at N50,000 within the period under review, now goes for N25,000.
However, prices of onions have increased as a bag of the item which cost between N28,000 and N30,000 three to four months ago, now rose to N50,000.
The market’s Chairman, Alhaji Muazu Abbas, attributed the drop to the arrival of new items in the market.
“Prices of perishable items usually drop whenever harvests are made and new goods arrive in the market, but the prices rise when there is a shortage of goods,” he said.
However, the price of yam has skyrocketed at Bayan Tasha Market in the metropolis.
NAN checks revealed that two small tubers of yam sold at N1,500 in 2023, now cost N4,000, while three big tubers that went for N3,500 within the period, now go for N15,000.
When contacted, the Yam Sellers Leader in the market, Alhaji Habibu Mohammed, blamed the sharp rise on the shortage of supply of the items to the market.
He also blamed the hike on an increase in the cost of transporting the items to the market from Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states.
On his part, Alhaji Usman Ngari, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Yobe Chapter, expressed concern over the high cost of establishing food crop storage facilities.
“Storage facilities preserve crops and increase profit, especially in cultivation of perishable items.
“Unfortunately, establishing such factories is capital intensive and most of us do not have that kind of money,” he said.
Ngari called on the government at all levels to support farmers with capital to acquire storage facilities to boost their productivity and income levels.
In Borno, the prices of perishable goods are the same as Yobe, but the traders said they are still looking forward to more fall in prices in a few months when farmers will start harvesting tomatoes and other perishables in the state.
“The supplies we are getting now are from Kaduna and Kano,” Isa Mohammed, a dealer in Maiduguri vegetable market said.
Mustapha Usman, a grain dealer said the prices of grains produced in Borno like local rice, beans, maize, and millet have continued to remain high and could only come down when harvest commenced in October.
Also in Adamawa, while there was a fall in prices of perishables due to harvest, that of grains have continued to remain high.
Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, the Chairman of the Adamawa Chapter of the Nigeria Small Scale Industrialists, noted that a bag of 100kg of maize that used to sell for N60,000 last year by this time is now N90,000.
“That of white bean that sold for N75,000 is now N160,000.”
“We just have to wait and see what will happen when the harvest commences in a few weeks.”
(NAN)
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The exchange rate for the U.S. dollar to the Nigerian naira in the parallel market (commonly known as the black market) has been updated for Sunday, February 23, 2025. According to Bureau De Change (BDC) sources, the rates are as follows
Buying Rate: ₦1,520 per dollar
Selling Rate: ₦1,530 per dollar
It is important to note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not officially recognize black market rates and advises individuals to conduct foreign exchange transactions through licensed financial institutions.
CBN Official Exchange Rate
Highest Rate: ₦1,509
Lowest Rate: ₦1,491
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate has summoned Ahmad Isa, popularly known as the Ordinary President of Brekete Family, to appear before it on February 27, 2025. The summons is reportedly linked to a recent broadcast of the Brekete Family radio show, in which Senator Natasha spoke about her grievances with Isa.
The Senate’s directive has sparked debate, particularly over its warning that Isa could be deemed a criminal if he fails to comply. Critics argue that such a stance may be an attempt to stifle press freedom and curtail the activities of Brekete Family, a well-known platform for social justice and human rights advocacy in Nigeria.
Isa, whose work has earned him widespread recognition—including an honorary doctorate from the Federal University Lokoja—has built a strong following through his intervention in public grievances and human rights cases. Many Nigerians regard Brekete Family as a voice for the marginalized, providing a platform for citizens to seek redress on issues ranging from governance to social welfare.
The Senate’s move has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a necessary step to address concerns related to the broadcast, while others see it as an overreach that could undermine media independence and freedom of expression in the country. It remains to be seen how Isa will respond to the summons and what impact this development will have on his widely followed program.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A recently resurfaced official gazette from the Federal Military Government has confirmed that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was released and pardoned by Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon on August 12, 1966, ten days after his actual release on August 2,1966.
The document puts to rest claims by Radio Biafra that Lt. Colonel Emeka Ojukwu or Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi played any role in securing Awolowo’s freedom.
According to the document, upon his release from Calabar Prison, Awolowo was received in Lagos by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed, who personally drove him to Dodan Barracks to meet with Head of State Lt. Colonel Gowon. However, the journey from the airport proved challenging as a massive crowd, organized by Alhaja Asabi Abibat Mogaji, mother of Nigeria’s current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, flooded the streets to welcome the revered statesman.
The gazette also refutes any suggestion that the coup plotters of January 15, 1966, including Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Emmanuel Ifeajuna, attempted to release Awolowo. In fact, there is no record of them making any effort to contact or rescue him from detention. Some analysts argue that had Awolowo been politically active at the time, he might have been among those executed during the coup.
This revelation further solidifies Gowon’s role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape during a tumultuous period, while also challenging revisionist narratives surrounding Awolowo’s release
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