Subsidy Removal: Traders urge FG, States to repair roads as panacea for rise in cost of food items.

By Fidelis Ugbomeh.

As part of efforts to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, the federal, state and local governments have been enjoined to repair all federal roads so as to have access to markets in the country

The Chairman, Hausa Traders Association of "Ile-Epo" Alhaji Muazu Idris who made this remark in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent in Lagos recently said that the cost of evacuating food stuffs from the Northern parts of the country to the markets in the south and other parts of the country has increased due to bad access of federal and state roads into the markets.

Alhaji Muazu Idris.

Alhaji Ibrahim Gwogwonbiri.

They noted that if the cost of transportation is reduced, it will definitely force down the prices of goods and services adding that proceeds accruing from the subsidy removal should be channel towards road construction and provision of security.

They pointed out that since the federal government removed fuel subsidy, the turnout of vehicles conveying fodstuffs, finished goods and people in and out of markets around Ifako-Ijaiye and Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos. have reduced drastically.

They stated further that due to the poor state of roads from Jebba to Birinin-Gwari divers conveying food stuffs like Yam, tomatoes, yam amongst others their vehicles sometimes spend between three and four days on the road.

According to the Chairman of the traders, the infrastructural at the Ile Epo and Katangua markets needs to be developed considering the strategic location of the markets..

The secretary general of the association Alhaji Usman Mohammed in his remarks enjoined the Lagos state government to convert the large expanse of dump site at Ile-Epo to a big garage adding that presently the dump site serves as a hideout for criminal elements especially in the early hours of the day.

The special assistant to the chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwowonbiri said that in-spite of the efforts of the police to curtail excesses of hoodlums some of them snatch phones and hand bags especially from women.

He expained further that on Tuesdays the association ensures that members of the association drawn from all tribe ensure that refuse are cleared under the supervision of local government and council officials.

Comments

Omisande: CPS Pensioners in Lagos State assured of payment of their increase pension benefits as their Federal counterparts.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) in Lagos State have been urged to be patient concerning their much awaited increases, as there are assurance that all what they are entitled to will be paid earlier next year. This assurance is coming from the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme, NUPCPS, Lagos State Council, Comrade Michael Omisande. Comrade Omisande who spoke to ForumNews at the sideline of the end of year get together of Agege Zone Pensioners said what is delaying is the Template which is being awaited Comrade Omisande said just as the Federal workers who have started receiving their own entitlements, all Pensioners under the scheme in other five states will receive their own as approved by the Federal government. According to him, the PFA'S have been given till 20th December to pay all Federal Pensioners. He said after the completion of the Payment, PenCom will ther...

PenCom urges Lagos State Governor to extend periodic pension increase to retirees under CPS, as Sanwoolu welcomes the idea.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to extend periodic pension increases currently enjoyed by Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) retirees to those under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to boost their monthly pensions. The Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, made the request during a courtesy visit to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State Government House on 7 May 2025. The visit was to present the report of PenCom’s 2024 routine inspection of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and to thank the Governor for confirming his participation as Special Guest at the Pension Industry Leadership Retreat starting 8 May 2025. PenCom DG pointed out that currently, only DBS retirees are paid pension increases in Lagos State, leaving out their counterparts under the CPS. DG PenCom Ms Oloworaran with Gov Sanwoolu who presented her with Lagos State plaq...

PENCOM pledges to see that Lagos State pays CPS retirees.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Director General of National Pension Commission, Ms Omolola Oloworaran has pledged that the Commission will fast track and work towards Lagos State government paying retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme what is due to them like their federal counterparts. She made the pledge at a media workshop in Lagos for journalists. The Director General was surprised when she was asked why the Template for the payment was not released to Lagos State government for the payment of backlog of areas and allowances as approved by the Federal government, which Federal retirees are currently enjoying. PenCom DG, Omolola Oloworaran She thereby directed her staff to work on the Lagos State matter to settle the matter towards making the Lagos State government have all the necessary information needed to pay the retirees. The PenCom Director General noted that Lagos State government was one of the few states that keyed into the progra...

Search This Blog