Business
Of Insecurity And Economic Dev In Etche
Etche Local Government
Area of Rivers State is regarded as the food basket of the state.
This elevated status accorded the area is mainly due to its rich agricultural potentials-large expanse of fertile land suitable for the cultivation of various crops, energetic farmers, big markets, attracting traders from all parts of the state and neighbouring states, atmosphere of peace and love from the people known to be one of the most hospitable in the oil-rice Rivers State.
In a bid to enhance these enviable potentials, various administrations in the state sited agric projects in Etche land. The School-to-Land project, Risonpalm plantations, Delta Rubber Company and not excluding the avowed interest of the present administration led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi in developing farms across many clans in the area in partnership with an Israeli agro-allied company, are few examples.
Unfortunately however, insecurity in the area is dangerously upturning these socio-economic fortunes of the people as armed youths allegedly empowered by politicians are robbing and attacking innocent farmers, traders and investors.
Only recently, armed youths struck at Eketa market located at Igbodo, the traditional headquarters of Etche land. They scared away innocent traders and disposed some of their money, valuables and injured so many.
An Aba-based trader who is a regular articles seller in the market was disposed of his N480,000.00 with his wares also stolen.
An eye witness told The Tide correspondent that a lot of people lost their money and goods when the gun-totting youths struck.
“I have been patronizing the market for more than 25 years and I have never seen a thing like that, a trader who identified himself as Egeonu Mathew narrated adding that his colleague did not only lose all his sales for the day but had a broken head while running to save his life.
“So many people were also seriously injured by the heartless armed youths who took over the market for over 45 minutes,” he stated.
At Mba Market, over eighteen (18) armed youths also besieged the market in the similar manner as that of Eketa. The Tide gathered that poor traders were scared off when the robbers struck.
“It had never happened before. They came on motorcycles and shot severally into the air and as people ran for safety, they stole most of their goods and those they caught, were disposed of all the money on them,” said a trader who was her self a victim of the dangerous drama.
The fish-seller who identified herself as Charity Nwankwoala said, “the robbers stole some motorcycles belonging to traders and many people were wounded while many lost their money to the gang of young robbers.
Apart from operating in markets, the robbers who many see as political thugs also ambush traders on their way to the local markets. Many a times the traders have been robbed of the money with which to buy their stocks.
One of the victims, Mary Akpan told The Tide that they were robbed on a Monday morning, on their way to Obite market.
“The robbers numbering about twelve (12) intercepted our vehicles at Egwi/Nihi junction and robbed all of us in the vehicle. We were confused whether to proceed to the market or get back to Port Harcourt because we had no money to buy things. It was when we phoned some of our customers who promised to sell to us on credit (deferred payment) that we decided to proceed”, Akpan narrated.
“This is not my first experience. The operations of the robbers had forced some of our colleagues to stop coming to Etche markets for the fear of either losing their lives or valuebles to the heartless robbers”, she continued alleging that there was attempt to rape some of the ladies in one of such raids.
Investigations carried out by The Tide showed that vigilante groups providing security to some communities in Etche land have devised means of checking operations of the robbers.
The vigilante groups now escort vehicles carrying the traders to their various communities to ward off the incursions of the armed robbers.
A youngman who is one of the vigilante members confirmed the development. “We arrive early at Egwi Etche and wait for the traders and accompany them to our market every market days, said the man.
On regular basis, traders travelling to Aba in Abia State from Etche are robbed either on their way going or returning.
A transporter who plies Ulakwo/Odogwa/ Owasa road narrated his ordeals to The Tide. The driver who gave his name as Chimuanya Amakalam said, “on more than three occasions, I had been robbed with my passengers who are mainly provision store dealers. Each time the robbers subjected us to serious beating and disposed us of every thing on us.”
The driver said, “the road which is one of the easiest routes to Aba has become a traveler’s nightmare. Good number of the drivers who ply the route have since changed route, he said.
Another respondent, Chief Ebere Njoku, said he has decided to close his provision store business because, “it is either you are robbed on your way to the market or the robbers come to your store mainly in the day time to remove your money and take whatever things they wish to, from your store. So, when I discovered that I was no longer in any reasonable business, I closed down and relocated to Oyigbo where I am at present”.
The Okehi/Eberi Road which had separated the people of Etche local government from Omuma local Government was celebrated when some years ago, the government constructed the road and built a link bridge joining the two local government areas. However, the road later turned to be a death trap to those plying it because robbers operate on the route daily.
The situation became so worrisome that Etche ethnic Practising Journalists Association met with the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Nwogu and complained of the ugly experiences of people plying the route. The council boss who confirmed the situation disclosed that he was discussing with his counterparts in Etche Local Government Area on the possibility of establishing a police post at the bridge for better security on the road. So far, the police post is yet to be established.
The fear of deadly armed youths who daily kill and maim innocent indigenes of the area has become everybody’s concern. Farmers, fishermen, traders and innocent travelers have one ugly story or the other to tell about Etche land today. Some women had been reported raped at various parts of Etche by these robbers.
The police and other security agents in the area, are working hard and doing their best to provide better security but the situation remains dangerous for socio-economic life of the people.
Investigation revealed that a good number of Etche sons and daughters avoided going home during the past Christmas and New Year celebrations because of the insecurity in the area.
Even Okada ridders in the area operate with fear because the robbers daily snatch their motorbikes from them including their money.
Certainly, the situation would affect negatively the availability of adequate food supply more as the fear in the land would also affect farming operations which has just started, unless some serious security steps are taken to check the excesses of the armed youths.
Unconfirmed report indicates that some of the robbers come in from the neighbouring local government areas and even states to operate freely in Etche land.
There is need for the chiefs and Traditional rulers in Etche to step up collaboration with security agents in the areas to contain the problem, since majority of these youths themselves are from Etche communities.
The churches, women groups and opinion leaders in Etche also have serous roles to play in any serious effort to return the area to its past state as one of the most peaceful local government areas and the food basket of Rivers State.
Chris Oluoh
Business
Food Vendors, Others Relocate To New Site At PH Airport
The raging controversy between the Port Harcourt International Airport Management and restaurants/canteen operators and theirallies over relocation has been brought under control, as the operators have commenced relocation to their structures at the new site.
Recall that there had been serious feud over a directive by the Manager of the airport, Mr. Michael Area, for food vendors and their allies to relocate to the new site.
They insisted that the new site was too distant and hence, would negatively affect patronage from customers, with possible loss.
They further also insisted that it wouldcost them much money to put up another structure, given the economic situation in the country, since the airport management did not build any structure for them, apart from providing the empty land they have to also pay for.
The situation had led to flexing of muscles, which made the Airport Manager to order for sealing of all shops, resulting in scarcity of food, as airport users could not find a place to eat, apart from the only Genesis fast food spot available.
As at last Friday, The Tide observed that most of the food vendors had transferred their structures to the new place, and had started doing business there already.
Meanwhile, customers have started settling down at the new location as they were seen patronising shops for foods and drinks, in spite of the distance.
Few of the remaining structures at the old site, The Tide further gathered, will also be removed as quickly as possible, and the owners are making efforts to get funds for the job to be done.
One of them, Mrs Aka Love explained that she was going to relocate to the new place before the end of March.
Currently, business activities at the old site have come to null, as the place which was usually a beehive of food, drinks and relaxation, has completely winded down.
By: Corlins Walter
Business
MOWCA Strengthens Maritime Crime Prevention
Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has stepped up interaction with the United States Government to lift restrictions placed on some member countries allegedly implicated in illicit shipping activities.
Adalikwu, who led a delegation from the MOWCA Secretariat to the US Embassy in Abidjan for a first leg of the strategic consultation aimed at promoting seamless participation of MOWCA countries in international trade within the global maritime space, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the best ethical and lawful maritime practices.
Addressing the U.S Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, H.E Mrs Jessica Davis Ba, the MOWCA SG stated the organisation’s interest in promoting the International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) code which aims at enhancing security of vessels and their ports of call.
He expressed the commitment of MOWCA in promoting environmentally friendly, safe and cost effective shipping without any encumbrance that may limit the economic potential of member countries.
Dr Adalikwu recalled that at the instance of the U.S. Department of State invitation, MOWCA participated in the 2023 Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC) Conference in Larnaca, Cyprus, on February 28–March 1, 2023, and a virtual meeting held on June 6 2023, with Mrs Jennifer Chalmers, Officer in change of Counterproliferation Initiative.
He recalled The U.S. DOS willingness to support MOWCA’s effort for preventive maritime security through the establishment of the Center for Information and Communication (CINFOCOM) with the aim to ensure a maritime situational awareness domain within MOWCA’s member states’ waters.
He added that MOWCA under his watch is committed to training and retraining of maritime practitioners and experts to enhance the human capital capabilities of member states.
The CINFOCOM will help prevent transnational crimes committed at sea like sanctions evasion by North Korea and other state actors, who exploit poor enforcement due diligence by ship open registries to circumvent United Nations and U.S. trade restrictions.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Business
Nigeria’s Public Debt Hits N97.3trn – DMO
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has hinted that Nigeria’s public debt increased by 10.7 per cent from N87.87 trillion in the third quarter of last year, to N97.34 trillion as at December 31, 2023.
DMO, in an update data released last Friday, said the increase in the debt stock was largely due to new domestic borrowing by the Federal Government to part finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.
The office noted that the N97.3 trillion public debt comprises of domestic debt of N59.12 trillion and external debt of N38.22 trillion. The sum of $3.5 billion was used to service external debt during the review period.
“Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock as at December 31, 2023 was N97.34trillion or $108.229 billion. This amount comprises the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the 36 States Governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“There was an increase of N9.43 trillion over the comparative figure for September, 2023, which was largely due to new domestic borrowing by the FGN to part finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.
“At N59.12 trillion, total domestic debt accounted for 61 percent of the total public debt stock, while external debt at N38.22 trillion accounted for the balance of 39 percent.
“Consistent with the debt management strategy, Nigeria’s external debt stock was skewed in favour of loans from multilateral (49.77 percent) and bilateral lenders (14.02 percent) or total of 63.79 percent which are mostly concessional and semi-concessional.
“Whilst the DMO continues to employ best practice in public debt management, the recent and on-going efforts of the fiscal authorities to shore up revenue will support debt sustainability”, DMO stated.
By: Corlins Walter
-
Politics4 days ago
Port Harcourt Ring Road Remains Our Signature Project – Fubara
-
Focus4 days ago
The Belligerent Rantings Of Tony Okocha
-
News2 days ago
SERAP Calls For Legal Framework For Human Rights
-
Politics2 days ago
Soludo’s Performance Assessment, APGA Tackles LP Chieftain
-
Oil & Energy4 days ago
Savannah To Take Over Stubb Creek Field in Nigeria
-
News4 days ago
IYC Debunks Report Of Planned Attack On Military Across N’Delta
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
RISA Boss Okays Fubara’s Human Capital Development Initiative
-
Nation2 days ago
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu