By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Over 1,000 bags of substandard rice worth millions of Naira have been confiscated by the Consumers Protection Council (CPC) in Akwa Ibom State and apprehended eight persons suspected to be involved in the illicit trade.
Director General of the Council, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, disclosed this to newsmen after sting operation in Uyo on Friday.
Irukera said that the operation was based on intelligent gathering by their surveillance unit with the aim of ensuring consumer safety.
He said that all those that perpetrated the act of re-bagging substandard rice to sell to the unsuspecting consumers would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
“This is the third of all the location of our sting operation in Uyo in respect of putting away substandard products from the market, specifically rice.
“What we have found here is very sad, a proposed ware house but nothing here than to re-bagged substandard rice.
“By our count, we have apprehended in today’s operation about eight persons and confiscated over 1000 bags of rice, excluding those that are being re-bagged.
“All the perpetrators of this act would be prosecuted, not only prosecuting them, but I will advocate for our laws to be respected and sufficient provision for the Customs’ Act for the forfeiture of the building used for this illegality,” Irukera said.
The director general assured consumers that the monitoring exercise would be routine, to get rid of substandard products from the market and protect the health of consumers.
He urged consumers to be careful where they make their purchases, adding that when they were in doubt they should speak out.
“Consumers need to complain when things go wrong. If somebody buys something that is not good the person should complain. If you don’t like something, say something.”
Speaking to newsmen, one of the operatives of the shop in Udoma Street in Etuk Market, Mr. Kanayo Jackson, said that they have been in the business since 2013.
He conversed that most of the people selling rice in Akpan Andem and Itam Markets in Uyo metropolis have been in the business for long.
“It is not only in Udoma Steet that people are re-bagging rice there are many other places like Akpan Andem and Itam market.
“I am only working for my brother, Mr Jackson. We buy the empty bags and re-bagged the rice for sale.
He conversed to newsmen that security operatives have been coming to the shop before, but their boss used to settle the security operatives.
End
Eket senatorial women honour Governor Emmanuel tomorrow
By; Patrick Titus, Uyo
Women in Eket senatorial district of Akwa Ibom state are gearing up to receive Governor Udom Emmanuel tomorrow, saying they are impressed with his development strides in all sectors of the state economy.
Chairman of the event central planning commit
tee and deputy speaker of the state house of assembly, Princess Felicia Bassey said Governor Emmanuel has in the last three years executed life touching projects and enthronement of all inclusive leadership, making him the pride of the women in the state.
She noted his emergence as divine gift to the state, stressing, “Governor Emmanuel emerges at the time when Nigeria’s economy is nose diving and his artful and professional competence in maneuvering Akwa Ibom out of quagmire of recession into investment driven economy are testimonies that he is a gift from God to Akwa Ibom people and a pride to Eket senatorial district in particular.”
According to Princess Bassey, the event will feature the civic reception and endorsement of the Governor for a second term in office.
She also said that the governor’s wife Martha has used her pet project, the Family Enhancement and Youth Reorientation Programme (FEYReP) to change the fortune of many families, especially in the area building houses for widows and free medical care for less-privileged women and men in the state.
The event which will hold at Onna Civic Centre, is expected to have the chief executive officer of HENSEK Engineering Builders, Mr. Uwem Okoko as chairman while the governor’s wife, Martha will be Mother of the Day and the deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo will preside as Father of the Day.
It is noted that the planned event by the women from the district where Governor Emmanuel also hail from is also an indication by the organisers to show their appreciations and garner home support for the re-election to office.
It will also add to the many instances of endorsement by various groups across the state for the Governor, thus declaring no vacancy in the state hilltop mansion in next year governorship poll in the state, even as the major opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is strategizing to cling the seat.
