
News
Food inflation: Seven imported wheat vessels arrive Nigeria
About 688,793 metric tonnes of bulk wheat have been scheduled for imports and to be supplied to food markets across the country by the end of October 2024.
This significant influx of wheat is expected to play a crucial role in reducing the overall cost of food items, making essential products more affordable for citizens.
The food items loaded into seven vessels of various sizes started berthing at four seaports along the nation’s border between Wednesday, October 23, and Wednesday, October 30, 2024, according to a document obtained from the Nigerian Port Authority.
The seaports are the Apapa and Tincan ports in Lagos State, Calabar Port in Cross Rivers State, and Rivers Port in Rivers State.
However, efforts to ascertain if the Federal Government was involved in the importation of any of the wheat vessels were unsuccessful, as the federal ministries of agriculture and finance, as well as the Nigerian Customs Service, did not respond to multiple inquiries by our correspondent.

Recall that on July 8, 2024, the government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria. The food commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
It said the programme was meant to help cushion the effects of various factors contributing to food scarcity and price hikes in the country.
The idea was to remove or significantly reduce import duties and value-added tax to encourage an inflow of food imports and drive down consumer prices.
However, the scheme has not achieved its objectives due to the bureaucratic process and the failure of the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish a list of importers qualified to participate in the process.
Responding to a question asked at an inter-ministerial press briefing on October 1, 2024, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the government had implemented a stop-gap measure to import wheat and corn.
He said the procured food items would soon arrive in Nigeria, emphasising that the importation measure was an interim measure so that it would not affect local food production.
He said, “In the meantime, there is a short-term measure to import food. The government has already ordered procured maize and wheat which is on its way.”
While the policy has not met expectations, data obtained by The PUNCH showed that imported food inflation increased by 8.97 per cent from the 806.0 average price index in July 2024 when the policy was announced and 878.3 in September.
On a year-to-date basis, this increase is a surge of 21.14 per cent from 692.6 in January 2024, indicating more reliance on foreign food products amid food supply shortages in the country.
The Central Bank of Nigeria also released N1.73tn for food item importation in six months to Nigerians for the importation of food items in the first and second quarters of 2024.
According to the NPA document, the first two vessels carrying 44,946 metric tonnes were meant to arrive at the Rivers port on Wednesday, October 23.
This is followed by another vessel carrying 18,800mt of wheat on Thursday, October 24 at the Calabar port.
On October 26, 2024, a vessel with a capacity of 37,450MT was scheduled to berth at the Tincan port in Lagos State.
The report showed that 37,644 metric tonnes of wheat was scheduled to arrive at Apapa port on Tuesday, October 29.
Similarly, the biggest shipment of 534,953MT was scheduled to arrive at Apapa port on Wednesday, October 30. On the same day, another 15,000MT vessels are scheduled to berth at the Calabar seaport.
Further findings showed that about five vessels had offloaded their content of bulk wheat at the Apapa, Tincan, and Calabar. The shipments arrived at the nation’s border between October 2 and October 18, 2024.
The document further noted that 19,264MT of feed corn was imported on Sunday, October 20. This means the seven vessels were scheduled to bring in 668,793 metric tonnes of wheat.
When contacted, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the service could not ascertain the owner of the imports until the vessels berth at seaports.
The Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Joel Oruche, didn’t respond to multiple inquiries on the matter.
Also, the finance ministry spokesperson, Mohammed Manga, didn’t respond when contacted on the development.
Commenting on the zero-tax policy, a former president of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, said the government announced the policy without putting measures in place for its safe implementation.
Elochukwu, speaking in an interview with ChannelsTV, said, “I have not seen anything remotely related to an importation under the duty-free window. My take is that the government just made the expression of an intention.
“In other words, something that will be heard by the masses and they are happy about it. But then the nitty-gritty of what needs to be done to implement it was not put in place.
“So even when it was announced in July, and then by August, we are now seeing a circular which has not been widely published. However, at the end of the day, I think that the right thing should have been to work out all this nitty gritty, including who will be qualified and the procedures to get it to start before making the announcement. Again, there is something about our system that is very awkward.
“We need to respond to the high prices of food stock. And so, for me, I think the right thing should have been, this intervention should last within some time, because whatever that is being imported is to intervene in a situation that is getting out of hand.”
Also, an economist, Adegboyega Adebajo, stated that the short-term measure has not met its goals because the necessary infrastructure for effective implementation is lacking.
He said, “We need to bear in mind that it was supposed to be a short-term, quick-stop measure. It was never intended to be long-term, but what we’ve experienced is a situation where you have a policy announcement and then there’s no infrastructure to carry that policy out in terms of effective implementation. One thing is that there are laws and there are parameters around which the government agencies involved will typically operate.
“These perhaps had not been thought through or taken care of before the announcement was made. And like you just said, there was a gap up till August before the letter was issued, but I guess again we have a situation where the agencies that ought to see that this policy is properly implemented were not quite ready for it. And it goes back to having to think through decisions before they’re announced.
“There are economic constraints here, okay, so if you’re importing, you’re going to require foreign exchange. Therefore, there’s going to be a significant demand for dollars. And the key thing is, who are the people to import? What sort of qualifications will there be in determining who imports?
“There are already people importing rice, there are people importing maize, and people are importing most of the food items already listed, but they do so for a profit. And the thing is, they can import, so perhaps it would have been much more ideal to be able to achieve economies of scale.” (PUNCH)
News
Butcher Stabs Colleague To Death Over Disagreement On Market Sanitation In Ogun
A 21-year-old butcher, identified as Selim Ayodele, has allegedly stabbed his 26-year-old colleague, Ibrahim Wasiu, to death following a disagreement over sweeping their workplace in Ogun State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, October 18, at a cow meat-selling outlet in the Alagbole area of the Akute/Ajuwon satellite towns in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, trouble started after the day’s business activities when the two colleagues disagreed over the cleaning of their sales outlet, with the argument allegedly escalating into a fatal confrontation.
The Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta on Friday, disclosing that the suspect had been arrested.
Babaseyi said the incident was reported at the Ajuwon Police Divisional Headquarters on Sunday night, prompting police operatives to commence an investigation.

He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the disagreement began after the two men had concluded their day’s work at the meat-selling outlet.
During the altercation, Ayodele allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed Wasiu in the left side of his chest before twisting the weapon.
The victim was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police spokesperson added that the suspect remained in custody as investigations continued ahead of his prosecution.
He further disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited in the morgue of a private hospital for an autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to prompt response to criminal incidents, thorough investigations and the prosecution of offenders in accordance with the law.
The police commissioner also urged residents to exercise restraint, resolve disagreements peacefully and promptly report criminal incidents to the appropriate authorities.
News
Why Pete Edochie wept in Ghana
FRED IWENJORA reports that very brave Okonkwo of “Things Fall Apart”, Ebubedike, the Ononenyi of Nteje, Anambra State, and Ibobo Oyi na Omambala shed tears uncontrollably during this tour especially when students and pupils of Knutsford University used his name for different forms of recitations and poetry.
One may ask why Pete Edochie traveled to Ghana?
This visit was for the launching of the Pete Edochie Legacy project, themed “Celebrating the Africa legend; The lion that needs not to roar”.
It is “a cultural initiative created to honor and celebrate one of Africa’s most revered figures” according to the Ghanaian project organisers.
The Legacy project includes a biographical book, a documentary series and international tour with Ghana serving as the launch pad.

The publishers, KPL publishers had noted that the contributions of the 79-year-old screen star to Africa cinema are very noteworthy.
At the end of it all, the star actor had, aside unveiling his autobiography in a gala event, paid courtesy calls to industry and policy makers in Ghana including the visit to Ghana’s Goldbod, the body regulating everything gold in Ghana. Organisers saw the visit as an important segment of the tour because a visit to Ghana may have been incomplete without seeing first hand the reason the country was called Gold Coast.
He had also met and greeted select fans and featured in a public lecture and colloquium in his honor before returning to Nigeria.
From when he landed at Kotoka International Airport Tuesday 29th September, 2026 till his departure from Ghana on Wednesday 7, October 2026, there was no dull moment.
Reception was top notch and indeed out of this world.
Ghanaians as well as Nigerians left businesses and trouped out to see “the president of African screen” according to Elizabeth Ama Tetteh, one of his numerous Ghanaian fans who noted that she had been resident in Enugu, Nigeria. It was indeed heartwarming to see Ghanaian as well as Igbo cultural groups on hand to welcome him to the old Gold Coast. Dispatch riders led his motorcade out of the airport.
On arrival, he first paid a courtesy visit to Eze Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Onyendu Ndi igbo, Ghana and sued for peace between Nigeria and Ghana. The respected Eze Ihenetu had organised a congregation of Igbo and Ghanaian leaders for a traditional cocktail reception.
According to the major propeller of the project Kelvin King Dawie of King Dawie Publishing Ltd (KPL) “When people ask why Pete Edochie, I tell them that no honor for Pete Edochie is too big. He has very much distinguished himself on the continent of Africa and beyond as a custodian of the cultural heritage of Africa and has been consistent in it for decades since mounting the stage at the tender age of 15. He is well known and received a lot of honors and awards globally including Nigeria’s national honor of merit; MON.
“We also looked at the way he has distinguished himself on stage and in communication which has warranted him receiving Honorary Doctorate in Literature and creative arts.
On this continent, Pete Edochie is one of a kind and he needs to be projected and celebrated as that icon of Africa who has held high the heritage of Africa for over six decades of his acting life.
King Dawie, an accountant, business strategist and social impact leader also hinted that “the project is in four phases, the autobiography, a 16-episode documentary to properly chronicle his life’s journey and then also the African youth mentorship initiative to help him pass on information to the next generation and an international tour. It took a lot of several efforts from several people too numerous to mention to set this ball rolling and hopefully achieving. We also remain very grateful to our star guest for accepting our proposal. ” However, there are major take-aways from these nine days Pete Edochie “Presidential visit” to Ghana.
Cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak
Years back, Africa viewers had voted Pete Edochie as their main choice in (AMVCA).
However, this Ghana visit is International cultural diplomacy at its highest African peak.
It seems first in history that a film star would make so much impression in another country that a book would be written and unveiled on him in that country.
It also reveals that Nigeria and Ghana have co-existed as West Africa’s beloved Anglophone countries despite hiccups occasioned by various ‘Ghana must go’ or ‘Nigeria must go’ agitations.
And to see both Nigerians and Ghanaians under one roof because of Pete Edochie, animosities may have been doused even if for a moment.
The unveiling of the autobiographical book; Titan of Africa, the story of Pete Edochie, published by KPL Publishers was a big attraction on its own and first of its kind for a Nigerian actor. The event which held at Kempiski Accra drew together distinguished Ghanaians with highlights including his meeting with Ghanaian legendary actress, broadcaster and musician Grace Omaboe, known to many as Maame Dokono. He also met with 102 years old Warrant Officer 1 and WW2 veteran, Pa Joseph Ashitey Hammond. Their tight hug meant that this meeting for the WW2 veteran was highly anticipated like the story of the nunc dimitis contained in the synoptics.
There are pointers to the huge respect that he commands in the so called Gold Coast and that Africa is so culturally connected in many ways.
Another take away from the tour was that the man Pete Edochie is very well blessed and his star never seems to dim as years roll by.
Despite that he is bound to the wheelchair and could barely walk or sits on the chair in his current films, fans continue to adore him from far and near. (Saturday Vanguard)
News
Four Shot as NDC Convoy Attacked in Ebonyi, Campaign Vehicle Burnt
Four people were reportedly shot when a convoy of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came under attack in Ebonyi State, with one of the campaign vehicles set ablaze.
The incident occurred during a campaign movement in the state, according to sources familiar with the development.
The identities and conditions of those injured were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
The motive for the attack remained unclear, while the attackers had yet to be identified.
Security agencies were expected to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and burning of the campaign vehicle.

Further details were awaited from the NDC, the Ebonyi State Government and the relevant security authorities.
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