Sunday, 15 December 2013

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Hunger Strike Ahead! As FG bans fish importation!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:44 AM PST



Few weeks after the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, was honoured by Forbes magazine, more Nigerians have taken a swipe at his decision to place a ban on the importation of fish into the country. They are of the opinion that the directive by the Federal Government through the minister is another ploy to deny the poor masses their only cheap source of protein.

Investigation had it that Nigerians cutting across all strata of the society remain unhappy over the imminent price hike of fish when the ban eventually takes full effect by end of December 2013.

It will be recalled that Adesina made the pronouncement a few weeks ago during the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, which is intended to boost local aquaculture production through the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative.
To ensure strict adherence to the directive, the Federal Government, in a letter dated October 29, 2013, to fish importers directed them to ensure that all Bills of Lading carried dates not later than October 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) arrived the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.

Findings across various markets in Lagos that forms the bulk of the market in the country revealed that the price of the item has truly escalated beyond what poor Nigerians can afford.  As at last week, a carton of Titus now sells for N13, 500, up from N10, 500 while Kote now goes for N10, 200 from N7,500.

To justify the GES/AVC initiatives, the minister claimed the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tonnes of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of value added fish.

According to the FAO's, the state of world fisheries and aquaculture report 2012, Nigeria produced 200535 tonnes of aquaculture fish, representing 15.57 per cent of global production in 2010, and had an annual consump-tion requirement of 1.2 million metric tonnes based on a population figure of 100 million and per capita consumption of 12 kg per annum regarded as adequate for a normal healthy growth.

These figures reveal that even if the ambitious objectives put forward by the minister are indeed achieved, there will still be a significant shortfall in fish availability for consumption, if importa-tion were banned outright as is currently the case.

Reacting, a fish expert and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Dr. Tosin Olarinmoye, said that government should not be in a hurry to ban fish imports into the country since it has not made provision for any alternative source of cheap protein for the poor. "It doesn't make sense to ban fish when you are not producing enough locally.

In Nigeria, fish is the cheapest form of protein people use to supplement their protein requirements in food.  Locally, we are not producing enough for  the following reasons that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution.  Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for.

But because they are not regulated, they catch every kind of fish, both mature and immature, even the ones they are supposed to thrown back into the water, they sell them to the market women.  "So, as a result of over fishing when our local fishermen go on water they can't even see fish of big and bigger size to catch."

He pointed out that instead of total ban government should work with the local fish suppliers through the ministry of agriculture's extension service and designate some areas not to be fished for some time so that  fishes in that area would produce. He added that even after that period, they should continue to monitor the conservation areas to ensure strict compliance over a particular time. For instance, the Arugungu fishing festival.

Because fishing is restricted in that water every year, they must catch fishes of big sizes.  This is because they have ensured that in the intervening year before the festival, nobody fishes in that river.  Can't that be done? Now we are not producing enough and we want to ban fish that people buy for N150 to N250 per one to eat.  I think it is a bad policy and Nigerians will kick against it," he added.

Also speaking on the issue,a nutritionist, Dr. AmarachiOkonkwo,said though the policy in itself had merit, the shotgun approach being applied by the government in this case, as in many other such developmental agenda and policies, was inappropriate.

He said that since local production was inadequate due to a number of reasons, which the government itself acknowledged at the inauguration of its GES project, a situation which and will persist for a long time to come, government should have applied a phased approach to the implementation of this policy, as was attempted through the largely failed FADAMA project in the case of rice.
He said, "Phased increment agenda to maximize local production, artisanal and aquacultural, while reducing imports gradually would be a more workable option in the midium to long term.

This is to be done in tandem with fish stock enumerations, designation of protected fishing areas, and species, strict monitoring and enforcement of fishing quotas by trawlers in local waters to reduce, and possibly eradicate the menace of overfishing, a factor militating against artisanal fisher folk and their livelihoods."

Hunger Strike Ahead! As FG bans fish importation!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:43 AM PST



Few weeks after the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, was honoured by Forbes magazine, more Nigerians have taken a swipe at his decision to place a ban on the importation of fish into the country. They are of the opinion that the directive by the Federal Government through the minister is another ploy to deny the poor masses their only cheap source of protein.

Investigation had it that Nigerians cutting across all strata of the society remain unhappy over the imminent price hike of fish when the ban eventually takes full effect by end of December 2013.

It will be recalled that Adesina made the pronouncement a few weeks ago during the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, which is intended to boost local aquaculture production through the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative.
To ensure strict adherence to the directive, the Federal Government, in a letter dated October 29, 2013, to fish importers directed them to ensure that all Bills of Lading carried dates not later than October 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) arrived the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.

Findings across various markets in Lagos that forms the bulk of the market in the country revealed that the price of the item has truly escalated beyond what poor Nigerians can afford.  As at last week, a carton of Titus now sells for N13, 500, up from N10, 500 while Kote now goes for N10, 200 from N7,500.

To justify the GES/AVC initiatives, the minister claimed the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tonnes of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of value added fish.

According to the FAO's, the state of world fisheries and aquaculture report 2012, Nigeria produced 200535 tonnes of aquaculture fish, representing 15.57 per cent of global production in 2010, and had an annual consump-tion requirement of 1.2 million metric tonnes based on a population figure of 100 million and per capita consumption of 12 kg per annum regarded as adequate for a normal healthy growth.

These figures reveal that even if the ambitious objectives put forward by the minister are indeed achieved, there will still be a significant shortfall in fish availability for consumption, if importa-tion were banned outright as is currently the case.

Reacting, a fish expert and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Dr. Tosin Olarinmoye, said that government should not be in a hurry to ban fish imports into the country since it has not made provision for any alternative source of cheap protein for the poor. "It doesn't make sense to ban fish when you are not producing enough locally.

In Nigeria, fish is the cheapest form of protein people use to supplement their protein requirements in food.  Locally, we are not producing enough for  the following reasons that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution.  Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for.

But because they are not regulated, they catch every kind of fish, both mature and immature, even the ones they are supposed to thrown back into the water, they sell them to the market women.  "So, as a result of over fishing when our local fishermen go on water they can't even see fish of big and bigger size to catch."

He pointed out that instead of total ban government should work with the local fish suppliers through the ministry of agriculture's extension service and designate some areas not to be fished for some time so that  fishes in that area would produce. He added that even after that period, they should continue to monitor the conservation areas to ensure strict compliance over a particular time. For instance, the Arugungu fishing festival.

Because fishing is restricted in that water every year, they must catch fishes of big sizes.  This is because they have ensured that in the intervening year before the festival, nobody fishes in that river.  Can't that be done? Now we are not producing enough and we want to ban fish that people buy for N150 to N250 per one to eat.  I think it is a bad policy and Nigerians will kick against it," he added.

Also speaking on the issue,a nutritionist, Dr. AmarachiOkonkwo,said though the policy in itself had merit, the shotgun approach being applied by the government in this case, as in many other such developmental agenda and policies, was inappropriate.

He said that since local production was inadequate due to a number of reasons, which the government itself acknowledged at the inauguration of its GES project, a situation which and will persist for a long time to come, government should have applied a phased approach to the implementation of this policy, as was attempted through the largely failed FADAMA project in the case of rice.
He said, "Phased increment agenda to maximize local production, artisanal and aquacultural, while reducing imports gradually would be a more workable option in the midium to long term.

This is to be done in tandem with fish stock enumerations, designation of protected fishing areas, and species, strict monitoring and enforcement of fishing quotas by trawlers in local waters to reduce, and possibly eradicate the menace of overfishing, a factor militating against artisanal fisher folk and their livelihoods."

Hunger Strike Ahead! As FG bans fish importation!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:43 AM PST



Few weeks after the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, was honoured by Forbes magazine, more Nigerians have taken a swipe at his decision to place a ban on the importation of fish into the country. They are of the opinion that the directive by the Federal Government through the minister is another ploy to deny the poor masses their only cheap source of protein.

Investigation had it that Nigerians cutting across all strata of the society remain unhappy over the imminent price hike of fish when the ban eventually takes full effect by end of December 2013.

It will be recalled that Adesina made the pronouncement a few weeks ago during the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, which is intended to boost local aquaculture production through the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative.
To ensure strict adherence to the directive, the Federal Government, in a letter dated October 29, 2013, to fish importers directed them to ensure that all Bills of Lading carried dates not later than October 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) arrived the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.

Findings across various markets in Lagos that forms the bulk of the market in the country revealed that the price of the item has truly escalated beyond what poor Nigerians can afford.  As at last week, a carton of Titus now sells for N13, 500, up from N10, 500 while Kote now goes for N10, 200 from N7,500.

To justify the GES/AVC initiatives, the minister claimed the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tonnes of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of value added fish.

According to the FAO's, the state of world fisheries and aquaculture report 2012, Nigeria produced 200535 tonnes of aquaculture fish, representing 15.57 per cent of global production in 2010, and had an annual consump-tion requirement of 1.2 million metric tonnes based on a population figure of 100 million and per capita consumption of 12 kg per annum regarded as adequate for a normal healthy growth.

These figures reveal that even if the ambitious objectives put forward by the minister are indeed achieved, there will still be a significant shortfall in fish availability for consumption, if importa-tion were banned outright as is currently the case.

Reacting, a fish expert and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Dr. Tosin Olarinmoye, said that government should not be in a hurry to ban fish imports into the country since it has not made provision for any alternative source of cheap protein for the poor. "It doesn't make sense to ban fish when you are not producing enough locally.

In Nigeria, fish is the cheapest form of protein people use to supplement their protein requirements in food.  Locally, we are not producing enough for  the following reasons that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution.  Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for.

But because they are not regulated, they catch every kind of fish, both mature and immature, even the ones they are supposed to thrown back into the water, they sell them to the market women.  "So, as a result of over fishing when our local fishermen go on water they can't even see fish of big and bigger size to catch."

He pointed out that instead of total ban government should work with the local fish suppliers through the ministry of agriculture's extension service and designate some areas not to be fished for some time so that  fishes in that area would produce. He added that even after that period, they should continue to monitor the conservation areas to ensure strict compliance over a particular time. For instance, the Arugungu fishing festival.

Because fishing is restricted in that water every year, they must catch fishes of big sizes.  This is because they have ensured that in the intervening year before the festival, nobody fishes in that river.  Can't that be done? Now we are not producing enough and we want to ban fish that people buy for N150 to N250 per one to eat.  I think it is a bad policy and Nigerians will kick against it," he added.

Also speaking on the issue,a nutritionist, Dr. AmarachiOkonkwo,said though the policy in itself had merit, the shotgun approach being applied by the government in this case, as in many other such developmental agenda and policies, was inappropriate.

He said that since local production was inadequate due to a number of reasons, which the government itself acknowledged at the inauguration of its GES project, a situation which and will persist for a long time to come, government should have applied a phased approach to the implementation of this policy, as was attempted through the largely failed FADAMA project in the case of rice.
He said, "Phased increment agenda to maximize local production, artisanal and aquacultural, while reducing imports gradually would be a more workable option in the midium to long term.

This is to be done in tandem with fish stock enumerations, designation of protected fishing areas, and species, strict monitoring and enforcement of fishing quotas by trawlers in local waters to reduce, and possibly eradicate the menace of overfishing, a factor militating against artisanal fisher folk and their livelihoods."

Hunger Strike Ahead! As FG bans fish importation!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:41 AM PST



Few weeks after the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina, was honoured by Forbes magazine, more Nigerians have taken a swipe at his decision to place a ban on the importation of fish into the country. They are of the opinion that the directive by the Federal Government through the minister is another ploy to deny the poor masses their only cheap source of protein.

Investigation had it that Nigerians cutting across all strata of the society remain unhappy over the imminent price hike of fish when the ban eventually takes full effect by end of December 2013.

It will be recalled that Adesina made the pronouncement a few weeks ago during the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, which is intended to boost local aquaculture production through the Aquaculture Value Chain initiative.
To ensure strict adherence to the directive, the Federal Government, in a letter dated October 29, 2013, to fish importers directed them to ensure that all Bills of Lading carried dates not later than October 2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) arrived the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.

Findings across various markets in Lagos that forms the bulk of the market in the country revealed that the price of the item has truly escalated beyond what poor Nigerians can afford.  As at last week, a carton of Titus now sells for N13, 500, up from N10, 500 while Kote now goes for N10, 200 from N7,500.

To justify the GES/AVC initiatives, the minister claimed the aquaculture value chain would produce 400,000 tonnes of fish, generate extra 250,000 of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of value added fish.

According to the FAO's, the state of world fisheries and aquaculture report 2012, Nigeria produced 200535 tonnes of aquaculture fish, representing 15.57 per cent of global production in 2010, and had an annual consump-tion requirement of 1.2 million metric tonnes based on a population figure of 100 million and per capita consumption of 12 kg per annum regarded as adequate for a normal healthy growth.

These figures reveal that even if the ambitious objectives put forward by the minister are indeed achieved, there will still be a significant shortfall in fish availability for consumption, if importa-tion were banned outright as is currently the case.

Reacting, a fish expert and lecturer at the Lagos State University, Dr. Tosin Olarinmoye, said that government should not be in a hurry to ban fish imports into the country since it has not made provision for any alternative source of cheap protein for the poor. "It doesn't make sense to ban fish when you are not producing enough locally.

In Nigeria, fish is the cheapest form of protein people use to supplement their protein requirements in food.  Locally, we are not producing enough for  the following reasons that our waters have been devastated by oil pollution.  Fish farmers are supposed to use a particular kind of net that should pick the specific type of fish they are looking for.

But because they are not regulated, they catch every kind of fish, both mature and immature, even the ones they are supposed to thrown back into the water, they sell them to the market women.  "So, as a result of over fishing when our local fishermen go on water they can't even see fish of big and bigger size to catch."

He pointed out that instead of total ban government should work with the local fish suppliers through the ministry of agriculture's extension service and designate some areas not to be fished for some time so that  fishes in that area would produce. He added that even after that period, they should continue to monitor the conservation areas to ensure strict compliance over a particular time. For instance, the Arugungu fishing festival.

Because fishing is restricted in that water every year, they must catch fishes of big sizes.  This is because they have ensured that in the intervening year before the festival, nobody fishes in that river.  Can't that be done? Now we are not producing enough and we want to ban fish that people buy for N150 to N250 per one to eat.  I think it is a bad policy and Nigerians will kick against it," he added.

Also speaking on the issue,a nutritionist, Dr. AmarachiOkonkwo,said though the policy in itself had merit, the shotgun approach being applied by the government in this case, as in many other such developmental agenda and policies, was inappropriate.

He said that since local production was inadequate due to a number of reasons, which the government itself acknowledged at the inauguration of its GES project, a situation which and will persist for a long time to come, government should have applied a phased approach to the implementation of this policy, as was attempted through the largely failed FADAMA project in the case of rice.
He said, "Phased increment agenda to maximize local production, artisanal and aquacultural, while reducing imports gradually would be a more workable option in the midium to long term.

This is to be done in tandem with fish stock enumerations, designation of protected fishing areas, and species, strict monitoring and enforcement of fishing quotas by trawlers in local waters to reduce, and possibly eradicate the menace of overfishing, a factor militating against artisanal fisher folk and their livelihoods."

EJA NLA! Check-Out D'Banj's Cute Traditional Outfit! [PHOTOS]

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:34 AM PST

  

Koko Master Visited the Okunoren twins at their fashion house Yesterday 14th November 2013.

‘My mother sold my baby for N250K' - Daughter Speak Out!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 07:25 AM PST

Illustration: a baby
Illustration: a baby

A woman in Cross River state has been arrested by the police after her daughter reported her for selling her baby or N253,000(about $1,600)
Miss Ndidi Nkwegu, alleged that her mother sold her baby daughter to a child trafficker, who has also been nabbed, in the neighbouring Ebonyi state, after she sold the baby at a bigger price to another 'baby business tycoon' based in Abuja.
"When I came back home and asked my mother for the whereabouts of my daughter, she couldn't tell me anything reasonable.
"I discovered that she had bought so many things which she never had before; actually, my mother was never happy with me when she discovered that I was pregnant, prior to my giving birth to my baby girl.
"I had to call the police; my mother is now in police detention in Cross River State.
"After interrogation, the police discovered that she was the one who sold my baby to a woman who is a child trafficker," she told newsmen.

The case blew open after the the Ebonyi State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested four persons allegedly engaged in child trafficking.
They were paraded Friday.
Mrs Ego Echendu, the Commandant of NSCDC in Ebonyi, told a news conference at the NSCDC Headquarters in Abakaliki, said that the suspects were arrested on Thursday in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
"Yesterday we were able to arrest some suspects we have been trailing and monitoring for about one month now; they are involved in child trafficking," he said.
Civil Defence Corps: the men nabbed the traffickers
Civil Defence Corps: the men nabbed the traffickers

"The Traffic Unit of the Command foiled the suspects' plot to convey their victims out of the state. However, other suspects are still at large but as soon as the command completes its investigation, the case would be transferred to the agency responsible for such matters,'' she said.
Echendu said that one of the traffickers was a dealer in the child trafficking business while the other suspect was a buyer.
"We had to strike yesterday following the information that reached us.
"The buyer was about to move to Abuja to sell the baby to another set of people for a higher amount; the information we got was that the baby was bought at the cost of N253, 500.
"We are tiding up our file. As this is not one of our core mandates, we are going to transfer the case to the agency saddled with such responsibility," she said.
Echendu said that the suspects had confessed to the crime, adding that they also divulged information on some of their accomplices.
"The dealer is Blessing Nwilo, a teacher in Sharon Secondary School, Abakaliki, but she hails from Enugu; the buyer is Ngboro Chikezie from Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
"She claims to be an Area Officer with the Ministry of Education in Ebonyi," she said.

Toke Makinwa Confirms Breakup With Maje Ayida After 12 Years Of Dating

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 06:57 AM PST

Here's how Punch is reporting it;

I am not under any pressure to get married. It's the society that puts pressure on women not minding thatdivorce rates are high. I was once in a long term relationship with Maje Ayida and it has come to an end. I think it's unfair for me to speak about our relationship because he is not here to defend himself. He is an amazing guy but it was not meant to be. It's strange being single again but I am taking it one step after the other. One of the mistakes I made in my last relationship is that we dated for a long time. They were amazing years but they were also 12 long years. When you are faithful to someone, know what you can tolerate. My Mr Right has to be God-fearing, who would not do certain things because he is God-fearing. He has to understand what I do and must not be selfish in any way.

Photos from Nelson Mandela's funeral

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 06:50 AM PST

Nelson Mandela was buried today December 15th at his ancestral home in Qunu after a four-hour state funeral service this morning which was attended by 5,000 people including Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson and Prince Charles

There was a fly-past and 21-gun salute as his body was lowered into the ground. See more photos after the cut...

Wizkid tweets about moving on...

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 06:47 AM PST

Soon they will claim its a quote from a song...Lol.

3rd winner emerges in the Big Games Toyota Corolla Giveaway!

Posted: 15 Dec 2013 06:46 AM PST

43-year-old Ime Inyang, a Travel Agent from Abuja is now a proud owner of a brand new Toyota Corolla in The Big Toyota Corolla Giveaway powered by MTN mobile ads. 

9 Corollas are still up for grabs from now till the end of January 2014. To play, simply text BIG to 5045 from an MTN line and you could win this week. It's that simple! Continue..


 Follow @biggamesngr on twitter and join the conversation by tweeting with #acorollaaweek or #BIGmoneyiscoming and you just might win BIG
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