The warning by the organized private sector that the spate of looting of trucks conveying food and raw materials by suspected hoodlums, can lead to a shutdown of industries across the country is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday.
The Punch reports that the organised private sector has expressed concern about the spate of looting of trucks conveying food and raw materials by suspected hoodlums, warning that it can lead to a shutdown of industries across the country.
Members of the OPS, gave the warning on Monday in separate interviews with The PUNCH just as miscreants attacked trucks conveying building materials and spaghetti in Ogun and Kaduna states.
Also on Monday, the Federal Government said it would start the distribution of free grains to states this week.
Several trucks and warehouses, mostly owned by manufacturers and other members of the OPS, have come under attacks from hoodlums as the food inflation and the cost of living crisis worsened across the country.
Last week, some youths stole food items from trucks stuck in traffic along the Kaduna Road in the Suleja area of Niger State.
On Sunday, hoodlums attacked a warehouse belonging to the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration located in the Dei-Dei area of the capital city where they looted rice, grains, and other relief items.
An attempt by another group to loot a private warehouse in the Idu Industrial Estate, Jabi, Abuja, was rebuffed by soldiers guarding the facility.
The newspaper says that the African Development Bank Board of Directors has approved $134m for Nigeria to implement an emergency food production plan, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina has said.
According to him, talks are also ongoing for a $1.7bn economic and budget support loan as well as the launch of a $1bn agro-industrial processes in 28 states.
Adesina made the disclosures during an interview with journalists in Lagos on Monday.
The development came amid a biting food shortage that has led to hunger protests in Nigerian states and most recently attacks on grain warehouses in Abuja, Ogun, Niger and Kaduna states.
Last June’s fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification policy of the government have led to severe hardships with inflation now nearing 30 per cent amid a sharp depreciation of the naira.
Weak consumer purchasing power has affected businesses with the nation recording weak Gross Domestic Growth during the last quarter of the last year.
However, Adesina told journalists in Lagos that AfDB had pledged to support Nigeria through this period, disclosing that a number of agric initiatives should yield about five million metric tons of wheat, rice, cassava, maize this year for the country.
“So those are the things that we are doing in Nigeria. In addition to that, we have a programme that we’ve already implemented, called Special Agro Industrial Processing zones. So these are new economic zones we are supporting Nigeria to develop. We provided $520m for that, ourselves, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural, currently working now in eight states. We expect that those things will start hitting the ground and start construction by June of this year,” he added.
The Vanguard newspaper reports that Corporate Nigeria and some political titans turned up yesterday to celebrate the life and times of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Corporation Plc, Herbert Wigwe, who all of them described as a titan.
In an emotion laden ‘Night of Tributes’ with touching memories, dignitaries from the public and private sectors, led by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, governors of Lagos and Ogun states, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor and bank chief executives sang praises of the late bank chief.
Wigwe, 57 years old, who was also MD/CEO Access Bank Plc, died in a helicopter crash in United States on February 9, 2024, alongside his wife, Chizoba Wigwe, his Son, Chizi Wigwe and former President, Nigeria Exchange, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
Other dignitaries at the event include President, African Development Bank, AfDB, Adesina Akinwunmi, Chairman Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, Chairman Coronation Capital, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CEO, GTHoldings Plc, Segun Agbaje, CEO of FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adedutan and the President,
In his tribute, Dangote described the late Herbert Wigwe as a loyal friend and a pillar of support for him and his family.
Fighting to hold back tears, Dangote narrated how late Herbert encouraged him in his business pursuits.
Dangote described the late Herbert as a visionary role model with courage second to none.
“I am proud to name him my devoted friend, mentee and supporter. I will forever cherish the warmth of his friendship,” Dangote said.
The newspaper says that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has restated that dialogue and not any form of violence would help resolve various conflicts in Africa.
Obasanjo stated this on Monday in Abeokuta at a youth leadership symposium with the theme “Opportunities for Peace: Roles of the Youths in Conflict Prevention in Africa.”
He said that efforts to inculcate a culture of peace and security in the youth should be intensified to spur them to be at the vanguard of promoting peace rather than being used to perpetrate violence on the continent.
The programme was put together by the Centre for Human Security and Dialogue in collaboration with the Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was part of activities lined up for the 87th birthday of the former president, coming up on Tuesday, March 5.
Obasanjo explained that instead of pushing forward the narratives of hatred, negative attitudes that brew conflicts and then violence, it was important to embrace love and tolerance and see peace as not negotiable for economic growth and prosperity.
He said that the youths must stand firmly against conflicts in any part of Africa and be agents of peace rather than being lured or used as agents of destabilisation.
GIK/APA