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Prices Of New Yam Soar In Enugu

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New yams are now common sight in most markets in Enugu but
their prices are beyond the reach of the common man.

A survey conducted on Friday showed that the new yams, which
sold between N300 and N500 depending on the size, were being displayed
alongside the old yams being procured from the North.

At Ogbete main market, Mrs Nonyelum Ugoji, a yam seller,
said that the new yams were still expensive because they are not in large quantity
as many yam farming communities were yet to harvest their yams.

“This one you see in the market is being procured from
Ogbaru LGA and Anambra East and West, all in Anambra state.

“By the time yams from Abakaliki and other parts of the
South East start coming, it will reduce the cost; moreover, many communities
are using it to celebrate their New Yam festival now.

Mr Chijioke Offia, who sells yam at Kenyatta market, said
that in spite of the abundance of the new yam, people preferred to buy the old
yam, saying it was sweater than the new yams.

Some customers, at both markets, had mixed feelings over the
product as Mrs Promise Igwe said that her family had yet to eat new yam because
the yams are still very soft and watery.

“We do not eat new yam till October when it may have dried
up the excess water it has. By then it will be strong and sweet to be cooked,
boiled or pounded.’’

Mr Chukwudi Aghadinuno said until their traditional ruler
performed the new yam festival, titled men are forbidden to eat new yam.

“In my community, it is believed that if you do not thank
the gods for their protection and celebrate the new yam considered as “king” of
all crops, at next planting season, the gods will not bless the farms with
bumper harvest.’’

Mrs Ndidi Okenwa said that she had no preference over the
new or old yam but purchased any one available and affordable that would
satisfy her family.

Meanwhile prices of different species of tomatoes have
reduced against what it was sold last month.

The survey revealed that the specie bought from Gboko, Benue
state sold between N2,000 and N2,500 as against N3,500 and N4,000 it sold last
month.

Mrs Chinenye Ogbodo who sells tomatoes at Ogbete, said that
the specie from Gombe sold for N3,000 as against N4,700 while UTC goes for N4,000
as against N8,000 they were sold previously.

“During August, we use to have different types of tomatoes
flooding the market but some of them lasts for only three months but the UTC
lasts longer, taste better and is preferred more by consumers.’’

Traders complain of low patronage by customers but some
attributed it to the rainy season and annual August meeting embarked upon by
women to their villages.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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