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By Francis Nansak
Women, especially those in rural areas of Nasarawa, Keffi and Karu local government areas have appealed to the Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, to consider lifting the ban placed on charcoal business in the state.
Our correspondent who went round some of the rural areas revealed that since the ban of the product where a huge numbers of trucks carrying charcoal were apprehended, it has rather increased the prices leaving its users paying double for a bag which was sold for N1000 to N1,050 as at last year.
Speaking on the matter in Nasarawa local government, Mrs Mary Christopher Ayu, while appealing to the state government to reconsider their action, said charcoal business is the only means of sustenance and that since it was out law in the state, it has set her family going through difficulties.
“Oga I want to tell you that I am always willing to support any government,but this decision by the state government to stop charcoal business has not help me and many other women ,who are widows.
“This is what I used to pay my children school fees. I will not lie to you,before them ban the charcoal,I used to make up to N2000 to N2500 profit a day,and that is what I use in paying my house rent,pay for my children school fees and feeding.Today, I find it very difficult getting the charcoal and even when I get it. It is sold at a very high cost per bag. Before this government ban the charcoal, we used to get at N1000 per bag and sale for N1200 but now even with N3500 you can’t get I”, she said.
Another food vendor,who uses the charcoal for cooking in her restaurant, Mrs Agatha Akodi from Karu ,said that charcoal play a very important role in her business as she can not afford to buy gas.
Agatha lamented that the decision of the government was not done in consideration of the poor masses.she stated that the government should have created a means of empowering the rural women with cooking gas and not inacting a policy that has no remedy.
In Keffi, a restaurant vendor who refused her name to be in print,appeal to the government to always consider their poor masses before venturing into any policy that may end up impoverishing them.
The woman who also used the medium to thank Governor Sule for his quick intervention tmin the construction of the Antau Bridge ,call on him to consider the plight of the poor and may be lift the ban on charcoal inorder to promote small scale business.
Apex News Exclusive report that charcoal business in Nasarawa State became a hot cake the previous years as the prizes of cooking gas skyrocketed leaving most household reverting to the use of charcoal.
This high demand on the product also brought about increase of charcoal marchant as no day passes by without noticing no fewer than 50 pick-up vehicles transporting charcoal from the rural communities of Nasarawa State to the urban areas as the FCT.
It would be recalled that sometimes in February, over 50 trucks were impounded somewhere at Uke in Karshi Development Area of Karu Local Government Council following the ban on sales of the product in large commercial purposes.
At the scene of the impounded charcoal trucks, the Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Yakubu Kwanta Bohar, said the effect of felling trees has a negative impact as it leaves any community with more ecological challenges than the gains.
The commissioner used the occasion to discourage failing of trees and warned that any one caught will be subjected to face the wrath of the law.
