A 14-year-old girl, Elizabeth Peter, from Korokpa in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has drowned in the Chanchaga River while fetching water.

Miss Peter was an SSS1 student of Saint Andrew Academy, Tunga Minna. Witnesses said she was at the river with her siblings when she was swept away while fetching water.

Her aunt, Abigail Idoko, said the teenager was at the river for the first time on Saturday. She had gone there with her siblings because the family could not find water vendors to buy from.

She said it took about two hours to recover her body from a deep pit in the river.

When our correspondent visited her bereaved family at Korokpa, her mother was in shock. Her father, Mr Peter, a soldier, was said to be in Zamfara State on official duty.

Korokpa, like many communities in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, has long struggled with access to clean water. Residents rely on water vendors, boreholes, or natural sources like the Chanchaga River to meet their daily needs.

However, with limited availability and rising water costs from vendors, many families resort to fetching water directly from the river despite the danger.

The Chanchaga River, a major water source for nearby communities, is notorious for drowning incidents. Deep pits within the river make it hazardous, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers.

Residents say fatalities occur almost every year, yet there has been little intervention to provide safer alternative water sources.

Miss Peter’s tragic death highlights the ongoing water crisis and the risks that residents, especially children, face in their daily struggle for access to clean water.

An ally of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has confirmed the defection move of the former governor of Kaduna State amid a viral social media letter.

In a letter making the rounds on social media, El-Rufai purportedly announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which he is a founding member.

Parts of the letter entitled: “Onwards to the future”, reads: “As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have fond memories of working with other compatriots to negotiate the merger of political parties that created the APC. It had been my hope since 2013 that my personal values and that of the APC will align up to the time I choose to retire from politics.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party. On my part, I have raised concerns in private and, more recently, in public regarding the capricious trajectory of the party. Therefore, at this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. Today, the 10th of March 2025, I have submitted a letter resigning my membership of the APC to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Subsequent to this, I had concluded consultations with my mentors, colleagues and loyalists alike about the future, and have decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and adopt it as the platform for our future political engagements and activities.”

Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson of El-Rufai, did not respond to multiple messages seeking his reaction to the letter.

But sources in El-Rufai’s camp confirmed that all arrangements have been made for the former governor to submit his resignation letter to the APC at his ward in Kaduna.

An ally, who served as a commissioner under El-Rufai’s administration told Daily Trust that El-Rufai would be leaving the APC for the SDP today.

“Yes, we are all aware that he (El-Rufai) will tender his resignation from APC today, Monday, 10th March 2025, and join SDP. That is all we have been waiting for,” the source said.

The source further stated that El-Rufai’s supporters were not surprised by the leaked letter, as they were already aware of the development.

He said having worked closely with the former governor, he could vouch for the authenticity of the letter, which is yet to be posted on any of the social media platforms of El-Rufai, an avid social media user.

Importers to pay more as shipping company increases EU approves Bollore Logistics

Clearing agents operating at the nation’s ports have kicked against the increment in charges by leading French shipping company, CMA CGM, stating that the increment will add to the economic burden being passed on to the end users of the imported items at the nations markets.

Recall that the CMA CGM recently announced an increment in its charges, blaming it on the recent adjustment of Port & Marine Fees by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

CMA CGM, in a mail to Importers stated:”We are writing to inform you of a review of our charges following the recent increase in Port and Marine charges implemented by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which came into effect o the 1st of March 2025.

“As a result of such adjustment, we find it necessary to update our tariff structure to account for the new cost environment, effective 10 March 2025.

“Under the review, a 20ft container will now be charged N145,327 while a 40ft container will attract N290,654.

“A 20ft Reefer container will attract N145,327 while a 40ft Reefer container will attract N290,654.

Reacting to the price review, the National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Frank Ogunojemite, stated that the increment will cripple the purchasing power of the common man and further increase the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports.

According to Ogunojemite: “Shipping and terminal charges are critical components of the logistics and supply chain management process. Increases in these charges can have far-reaching effects on various stakeholders, including having effects on Importers and Exporters via Increased costs.

“Higher shipping and terminal charges lead to increased costs for importers and exporters, which will be passed on to consumers.

“Businesses may experience reduced profit margins due to higher logistics costs. This can make Nigerian businesses less competitive in the global market.

“The recent increment by CMA CGM will lead to higher prices for goods and services in Nigeria while making consumers experience reduced purchasing power due to higher prices.

“This increment can also contribute to higher inflation rate in the country, forcing businesses to reduce staff or close operations due to increased costs.

“NPA told us that the 15 percent hike will not lead to additional charges at the ports, but now the CMA CGM has blamed its recent increment on the hike in port tariff by the NPA.

“NPA must look into this price increment by the shipping companies before other shipping companies follow suit.”

Also speaking on the increment, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Olayiwola Shittu blamed the Federal government on the increment by CMA CGM.

“The fault is from the Federal government. There is no way NPA will increase its charges by 15 percent and it will not affect shipping charges. Now, CMA CGM has announced an increment; expect other shipping companies to follow suit.

“And this will have far-reaching consequences on importation because the cost of clearing cargoes from the ports will go up.

“With the situation we currently find ourselves economically, should we be talking about prices increment here and there? It’s quite unfortunate because the masses suffering will keep increasing,” Olayiwola Shittu lamented.