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Economy

Abia, Imo Muslims Livestock Dealer Blame Low-Key Sallah Celebration On Poor Economy

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Ogun Ram Sellers

Abia, Imo Muslims Livestock Dealer Blame Low-Key Sallah Celebration On Poor Economy

Abia, Imo muslims livestock dealer blame low-key sallah celebration on poor economy. In Abia, a roadside livestock dealer, Zakiru Husseini, said that the price of ram shot up by over 100 per cent.

Across-section of Muslim faithful in Abia and Imo states have blamed the low-key Sallah celebration on the economic downturn and high cost of livestock.

Speaking in separate interviews in Umuahia and Owerri, they complained that many families could not afford to buy ram because of the price hike.

Meanwhile, some of the livestock dealers attributed the low patronage recorded during the celebration to the more than 100 per cent increase in the price of ram in the market.

They also blamed the high cost of ram on the hike in transportation cost, saying that they were spending so much to bring down the rams from the North to South.

In Abia, a roadside livestock dealer, Zakiru Husseini, said that the price of ram shot up by over 100 per cent.

Mr Husseini said that a small ram sold for N60,000 last year now goes for N170,000, while a medium-size ram, sold at about N100,000 now sells for about N300,000.

He also said that the biggest ram, sold between N200,000 and N300,000 now sells for N600,000 or more.

According to him, the cost of transporting livestock from the North to Abia had put his business under serious stress.

“In the past, it cost between N1,000 and N2,000 to transport one ram from the north to Abia, but today, I pay N6,000 for one,” he said.

According to him, the hike in transport cost also affected other livestock and traders are finding it difficult to cope.

“Three years ago, if you had N1million you could buy between 20 and 30 goats, but now it is not the same. The situation is very frustrating and discouraging for us in the business,” Mr Husseini said.

He called on the Federal Government to evolve policies that would address the issue of high cost of transportation.

Also, Mohammed Mamman said that the price of livestock, especially ram, doubled because of the high cost of feeding and transporting them to Abia.

Mr Mamman said that one ram presently sells for between N150,000 and N200,000, arguing that the amount was beyond the reach of an average Muslim.

He also said that most of his customers resorted to observing the Eid in prayers alone this year, hoping that things would improve by next year.

In a related development, reports noted that transportation cost remained stable from Umuahia to other parts of the country, even during Sallah celebration.

The fare from Umuahia to Abuja costs N22,500, Umuahia to Kaduna costs N25,000, Umuahia to Bauchi costs N30,000, Umuahia to Owerri costs N3,000 and Umuahia to Port Harcourt costs between N4,000 and N5,000.

Also, from Umuahia to Lafia is between N18,000 and N20,000, while Umuahia to Jos is N25,000.

Umuahia to Calabar costs N13,500 and Umuahia to Lagos costs between N35,000 and N41,000.

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who identified himself only as Francis, said that transport fares were stable, the Sallah celebration notwithstanding.

Mr Francis said that he anticipated a slight increase in fares after the festival when holiday makers would be returning to their base leading to a rush.

In Imo, livestock sellers in Owerri, the state capital, lamented low patronage during the celebration.
A visit to the livestock market on Egbu Road showed that the dealers still had a large stock of unsold animals.

A trader, Usman Halilu, stated that he bought 20 rams ahead of the celebrations but had only managed to sell three as of Saturday morning.

Mr Halilu said, “I always sold at least 25 rams during festive periods in previous years.”

Mr Halilu said that a large ram, sold at about N350,000 last year, now goes for at least N400,000, while those that sold for 200,000, now sell between N260,000 and N300,000.

He blamed the hike in the price of livestock on the high cost of animal feeds and transportation.

Another livestock dealer, Hassan Aliyu, said that the cost of transportation from the North shot up significantly before the Eid celebration, which reflected in the hike in the price of the rams.

He also said that goats, sold between N80,000 and N90,000 about one month ago, now sell above N110,000, while some go for as high as N120,000.

Interstate transport fares remained stable from Owerri.
From the city to Abuja by a 14-seater sprinter bus ranges from N35,000 to N39000, and between N28,000 and N45,000 to Lagos.

Ogun Ram Sellers

Muslims Livestock Dealer

Meanwhile, prices of food items, including rice, tomatoes, onions, yam, groundnut oil, and vegetables, surged significantly in major markets located on Douglas Road, Relief and World Bank areas.

At Relief Market, a trader, Judith Ikenna, said a bag of pepper, which sold for N150,000 previously, now sells for N200,000.

Ms Ikenna further disclosed that a basket of chili pepper, popularly called shombo, also went up from N120,000 to N180,000.

She said that tomatoes also went up significantly with a basket now selling for N180,000 as against N130,000 last week.

Musa Abubakar, who sells grains, said a 50kg bag of rice now sells between N110,000 and N120,000.

He said, “Many families are struggling to afford food and ram due to the harsh economic situation in the country.”

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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