The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday said average price for refilling five kilogrammes (5kg) cylinder of Cooking Gas decreased slightly to N1,953.71 in October from N1974.67 in September.
The bureau said this in its “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch’’ for October obtained from its website on Tuesday in Abuja.
The NBS said the price for refilling 5kg cylinder of cooking gas dropped by -1.06 per cent month-on-month and by -0.70 per cent year-on-year in the period under review.
According to it, states with the highest average price for refilling 5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Bauchi N2,487.83, Borno N2,392.77 and Adamawa N2,367.80.
It also said that states with the lowest average price for the refilling of 5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Enugu, N1,611.11, Jigawa, N1,678.57 and Imo, N1,693.75.
“Similarly, average price for refilling 12.5kg cylinder decreased by -0.78 per cent month-on-month and by -0.64 per cent year-on-year to N4,078.65 in October from N4,110.92 in September.
“States with the highest average price for refilling 12.5kg cylinder for cooking gas were Cross River N4,598.50, Akwa Ibom N4,562.50 and Anambra N4,503.14.”
The report added that states with the lowest average price for the refilling 12.5kg cylinder were Kano N3,560, Oyo N3,638.46 and Zamfara N3,700.
It said the various prices were collected across all the 774 local governments in the states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from over 10,000 respondents and locations.
The NBS said its audit team subsequently conducted randomly selected verification of prices recorded.
Government to leverage off-grid solutions for rural electrification
The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has said off-grid solutions, especially renewable energy will be deployed to solve sustainable energy challenges in rural communities across Nigeria.
This came as the agency inaugurated a 7.5KWP Solar Mini Grid Project to power a health facility, Joint Hospital in Ozubulu, Anambra State.
Implemented by the REA, the project was completed in partnership with a private sector contractor, Eauxwell Nig Limited. Speaking at the event, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said the hospital would improve quality of service to patents, adding that the project would ensure clean, safe and reliable electricity.
“It is important to stress that the benefits of clean, safe and reliable electricity in this hospital will increase the number of patients visiting the hospital and improve the quality of health service by doctors to patients.
“We will now be able to attend to patients at night, store bloods and medicinal supplies without fear of them getting damaged,” he said.
Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Sanusi Ohiare, disclosed that plans were underway to replicate the project across communities.
Managing Director, REA, Ahmad Salihijo, represented at the event by Alozie Solomon, said the Federal Government had been mandated to implement sustainable and reliable energy infrastructure, especially with off-grid technologies.
Salihijo said: “I strongly believe the quality of lives will be improved and both the young and the old will have access to better healthcare service as well as learning experiences in this community and other beneficiary communities.”
Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Chris Emeka Azubogu, stressed the need to develop the country’s economy by improving power supply.
Noting that the hospital had been powered by generating sets, Azubogu expressed gratitude to the Agency for lighting up the community.
Also speaking, the Hospital Proprietor, Chukwujejwu Akabugu, said the hospital would now operate 24 hours daily due to the power supply.
Akabugu urged the Agency to step up the capacity of the project in order to supply power to the staff quarters, and tasked the Federal Government to come to the aid of the hospital for expansion in order to serve the teeming populace that relies on the health facility.
Aviation union meets Azman management over sacked pilots
Respite may come the way of 10 workers sacked by Azman Air earlier this month as the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers vowed to wade into the matter.
Six pilots, one cabin crew member and three ground staff had their appointments terminated by the airline on November 7 after they complained in a WhatsApp group over the delay in their October salaries.
Speaking to our correspondent regarding the union’s efforts, NAAPE President, Abednego Galadinma, said meetings were held with the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu and Azman management.
He said, “We had a meeting with the management of Azman last week after our letter. We are seeking the recall of the pilots.
“We made our demands to escalate with the management which is meeting with MD, and chairman. Hopefully, after the meeting, we will know where we stand.”
The union had given the airline one week to recall the disengaged workers whilst involving the sector regulator, NCAA and the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to intervene in the matter.
