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DAILY TRUST
Monday, February 14, 2011
Business/Agric Agric commission should Price of onions soars in Jos - Survey manage marketing boards - Wodi By Abubakar Sadiq Isah HAVING lost confidence in the ministry of agriculture, the national president of Rice Farmers association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Alhaji Abubakar Wodi has called for the establishment of an Agriculture Commission to manage the planned marketing boards. The federal executive council had said penultimate week that it is reviving the agriculture marketing boards based on the recommendation of the central bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Wodi said the agriculture ministry is not working because government has politi-
cised it by bringing people who are inexperienced. He said if government is serious about commodity boards, the commodity associations like RIFAN would help in boosting agriculture in the country. "Presently, the federal ministry of agriculture is not organised and I said it before the senate committee on agric. What government need to do is to have Agric commission with its chairman and members comprising people that have experience in farming techniques from each crop section including having a member of the commission that will seat down crystallised it and come out with a programme," he added.
THE price of onions has risen in los forcing some consumers to prepare their meals without the vegetable. A market survey conducted by the News Agency "Nigeria (NAN) in some markets in los metropolis, showed that a small onion bulb which formerly sold for between NIO and N20, now costs between NSOand N60. The survey also showed that the price of a big bulb has increased to NIOO from NSO just as the price of a bag ofthe vegetable has jumped from N3,600 to N7,000. Mrs Alice Daniel, a resident of DadinKowa, told NAN that the increase in the price of onions had compelled her to fmd alternative spice for her food She said she had resorted to using locust beans which, according to her, serve a similar purpose. Mrs Esther Dalyop, a consumer at Terminus Market told NAN that onions had
become a vegetable for the rich, adding that she was now compelled to cook her food without the vegetable. "Sometimes it is difficult to see a bulb of onions; only the leaves and they are very expensive too," she said. Some traders attributed the price hike to scarcity. A1haji Yusuf Ibrahim, who sells onions at Katako Market, blamed the scarcity of onions on the 2010 flood disaster that ravaged Sokoto, Kebbi and ligawa states where onions are produced in large quantities. He said that the flood washed away many onion farms. Ibrahim added that the incessant crises in los also contributed to the scarcity ofthe vegetable. "SOME dealers are afraid of coming to los, but with the improvement in the security situation, I expect that more onions will be brought to the city," he said.
Sugarcane business booms in Kano SUGARCANE traders in Kano have been experiencing a sales boom since the onset of the hot weather, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. A NAN correspondent who visited the sugarcane market in Rijiyar Lemo and Bachirawa in Ungogo Local Government Area of the
state reports that dealers are making brisk business. A cross section of dealers told NAN that the development began since the turn of the season, with customers coming from neighbouring states ofJigawa and Katsina to purchase the commodity. Malam Mohammed Sani, the
chairman of the sugarcane dealers in the area, said the market, one of the biggest in the state, prOvides a lifeline to hundreds of youths engaged in sugarcane trade. "Though it is a seasonal enterprise, the business is indeed a good and profitable venture because I make a living out ofit, he said
Sani said he sold between 20 and 30 bundles of sugarcane daily and that the business attracted many retailers from within the state. Another dealer, Salisu Giginyu, identified another source of the commodity as Kiru and Kura Local Government Area, adding that between 20 and 30 trucks of
sugarcane were uploaded in the market daily. According to him, a bundle of sugarcane with 50 pieces costs NI,IOO while a bundle with 35 pieces sells for N900. Giginyu said he realised an average sum ofN I 0,000 from sugarcane sales daily.
DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS -•~m~1j.}';.J)J:iQMP!NC~~il IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NEXT OF KINS OF OFFICERS & MEN WHO DIED IN ACTIVE SERVICE The official and registered NOKs of officers and men of Armed Forces who died whilst still in active service (i.e. died on duty and not after retiring) within the following periods:-
are hereby requested 10 report at -
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CHAMS City, Plot 66, First Avenue Off ShehuShagari Way, by }'edcral Character Commission, Central Area, Ahuja
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At 11.00 am everyday, on the following daysNigerian Army - Wednesday, 16~ February, 2011 Nigerian Navy -Thursday, 17~ February, 2011 Nigerian Air Force -Tuesday, 22"" February, 2011
with the following documents--
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Letter of identification of Next of Kin from last nnit served by the deceased personnel Oliginal death certificate of deceased personnel Sufficienl proof of identity of the Next of Kin of the deceased personnel, Next Of Kin's Military ID card Next Of Kin's bank details - account no, sort code, cheque book or bank confinnation ofsavings account 4 passport photographs of Next OrKin
This exercise is to verify and capture biometric data ofNOKs for the payment of death-in-service benefits in respect of deceased personnel. NOKs should please make their transportation, fceding and accommodation arrangements as the exercise may last the whole day.
Chief of Administration for Chief of Defcl1cc Ston'