Author: Web Desk

The increase in the prices of petroleum products was just a matter of time, because President Paul Boya announced in December 2023, that the government would reduce fuel subsidies Paul Biya threatens Separatists, Boko haram to drop weapons – Cameroon News Agency In 2022 the government subsidised petroleum products for FCAF 1000 billion; this amount was reduced to FCAF 640 billion in 2023 and this year, the government is looking forward to cutting half of this money. The plan is to gradually but completely remove the fuel subsidy in Cameroon. On February 2, 2024, stakeholders in the ministries of Labour and Social Security; Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Commerce and Trade, and Trade unionists among others, met in Yaounde to receive the new prices fixed by the government. New fuel prices in Cameroon Super ( Gasoline) 840 FCFA from 730 ( up by 110 FCFA) Gas oil( Diesel): FCAFA 828 from 720 per liter ( up by 106 FCFA) The Ministers said prices of Cooking Gas and Kerosene remain unchanged. Officially, the price of cooking gas is FCFA 6000 but several Cameroonians have maintained that traders have chosen to increase the prices, up to 7000 and even 8000 in some places. Cameroonians react to hike in fuel prices The increase in fuel prices has not left anyone indifferent- Cameroonians believe that with this increase, life will become harder for those struggling to survive, ‘Cosmetic solution which will only make things tougher for citizens and bring no change to the general economy except for figures that will be read to the public that there was a change. The people need better economic policies.’ One person said in a post made by Cameroon News Agency. Another Cameroonian thinks that the leadership of the country is the major problem, ‘Oh Lord who will deliver this Nation from the hands of wicked leaders who don’t care for his citizens, Lord Jesus Christ help our nations of the world.’ Some suggestions were even made on the number of government ministers parading the country’s political capital, ‘Instead of increasing fuel prices which leads to inflation and high cost of living, the president should have rather brought down the size of his government to 27ministers, dissolve unproductive State enterprises like ECOSOC, MATGENIE, Mipromalo etc, and Senate..but he prefers taxing the poor to pay the rich.’ Another said, ‘This is the shame, the pains, the unpleasantness, the wickedness, the manipulation, the torture, etc that goes with 40 years of dictatorship. Man fit open mop! They’re focused on football- Shegeh’ More reactions. Complimentary measures On Friday, the government said there will be some complementary measures to accompany Cameroonians who will bear the burden of this increase. The measures include raising the income of civil servants to 5% of their basic salary, initiating dialogue with private companies concerning the increase of minimum wage, reduction of tax and customs charges in the road transport sector. However, the timeline for these measures has not been given. Its feasibility is not even guaranteed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Cameroonian songwriter, singer, and Knight of the Order of Valor, Adèle Ruffine Ngono, known by her stage name Lady Ponce, sent a cryptic message to Cameroonians, after complaining about eh falling standards and living conditions in Cameroon. The Queen of Bikutsi music lamented for the poor, saying that she understands they are going through a lot. Her frustration emanated from the intermittent power cuts across the country. Electricity supply has been epileptic in the nation’s political capital. Ponce said since she return to Cameroon, she has been using her Generator to have electricity but she feels for those without an option. The Bikutsi music singer further urged Cameroonians to take their destinies into their own hands and demand for better future. ‘Cameroonian people it is up to you to change things our long posts on social networks cannot change anything as long as you do not show you are fed up,’ she said in a social media post. One reader commented, ‘Bimami, take the lead and we’ll follow. English Cameroon teachers and lawyers started and today see where the English part of the country is facing and where they are. Show us the road and believe me you’ll be surprised by the massive support you’ll get.’

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The government has issued a stern warning to business people operating unlicensed Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) businesses to put their house in order before the law catches up with them. Speaking in Kieni, Nyeri county, Energy PS Alex Wachira warned of dire consequences for those found contravening the laid down operating procedure. He further said that the government will not sit and watch as unscrupulous business men endanger the lives of other Kenyans in the name of making profits. ‘We are coming for you. We will not watch as you endanger the lives of Kenyans. We are coming for you regardless of who you are with the help of the ministry of Interior through the Energy Police Unit and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority(EPRA). We shall ensure that Kenyans are safe,’ said the PS. ‘If you know very well that you are operating illegally it is high time you close shop. Otherwise there will be very bad consequences so please comply,’ he added. The PS said that the ministry will be conducting a nationwide crackdown weed out the unregulated LPG distributors. According to the Wachira, gas operators in residential areas will not be spared either as the government moves to ensure compliance with the laid down safety checks before the cylinders are sold to members of the public. ‘We are hearing a cry from the multinationals and the big companies who are filling gas that for every 10 cylinders they release to the market, they only get two or three back. Seven are refilled illegally. So we are asking you as the gas operator to buy from a regulated distributor of the gas facility,’ said the PS. ‘The big companies have regular re-phasing of cylinders, but the illegal refillers do not have the capacity to monitor the safety of the cylinder. So if for one reason or the other the cylinder was due for replacement then you buy it and it explodes in your premises, you are also endangering yourself. So we are asking Kenyans to buy cylinders from dealers licensed by EPRA,’ he added. His remarks come just a day after a gas explosion occurred in Mradi area in Embakasi, Nairobi on Thursday night. The fire is believed to have broken out when a tanker carrying LPG exploded at 11.30 pm leaving three dead and 280 others nursing serious injuries. In a press statement on Friday, EPRA confirmed that the gas filling station where the explosion occurred had been operating illegally. The regulator stated that it had rejected three applications from the same enterprise for failing to meet the safety standards set out for an LPG filling and storage plant. While condoling with the families who lost their relatives, the PS termed the incident as unfortunate and urged for vigilance among members of the public. He similarly called for patriotism and strict enforcement among the Energy Police Unit and EPRA, when conducting their regular compliance inspections. ‘What I am asking from the security officers is to be patriotic and think about the lives of Kenyans. You are the one who is surveying and enforcing, please enforce without fear or favour and do not be curtailed. You need to realize that you can also be affected directly,’ said the PS.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has urged all the local residents to be environmentally conscious and take responsibility to grow trees. Speaking during a national tree planting event at Korinda GK Prison on Monday, Otuoma said that the county is ranked among the lowest forest and tree cover, hence the need to make deliberate efforts to change the trend. ‘The forest cover in Busia stands at 1 per cent, while tree cover is only 8 per cent, which ranks us as the lowest among other counties,’ he said, adding that most of the hilltops in the county are bare. He added that his government had an ambitious programme of establishing water towers in Samia Hills, Bunyala Teso South Hills, and Teso North Hills through mass planting and growing of trees. ‘This requires community support as well as synergy with state and non-state actors,’ he said, adding that there was a need to allocate resources for the establishment of tree nurseries in every subcounty to ensure adequate seedling supply for planting. The governor said at the same time that plans are underway to come up with policies and legal institutions with a view to addressing the challenges of climate change in Busia County. ‘I therefore direct that, for environmental sustainability, all county departments accord the environment its rightful place in their plans and programmes,’ he said. Otuoma further urged the local residents to actively participate in activities such as World Environment Day and World Wetland Day to combat desertification by planting trees, becoming active agents, and observing environmental safety measures. ‘Even without El Nino rains, Busia is normally affected,’ he said, adding that some areas in Teso South and Budalangi already have some homes and crops submerged in water. He underscored the need for coordinated disaster mitigation within the county so that mobilised resources are used to address the missing gaps. ‘I am beginning to see a trend where everybody is doing his or her own thing,’ he said, adding that cases of disaster should not be handled haphazardly. The governor pointed out that the county had lost two people, one in Bunyala and another in Teso North, and it was their prayer that no more lives were lost. Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto said that the county has planted 150,000 trees at Korinda GK Prison, with more trees being planted at locational level across the county. Ruto thanked all stakeholders for attending the tree planting ceremony and donating tree seedlings. He urged the governor to come up with a small committee mandated to establish tree nurseries with a view to availing seedlings when required. The CC urged farmers not to plant blue gum trees along wetland areas because they absorb a lot of water, draining rivers.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Transmara West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mohamed Mwabudzo has challenged residents to embrace and drive the government’s agenda of planting more trees, saying it will go a long way to help boost forest cover and protect the environment. Speaking at Oloibor Soito Primary School, where he led residents in National Tree Planting Day, Mwabudzo explained that the government’s target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032 will be easily achieved if the public takes the initiative. Outlining the importance of planting more trees, the DCC said the exercise will not only help the government but also the public at large, as it will go a long way towards protecting the environment for posterity. ‘The government is out to reverse years of deforestation, which in effect will come with far-reaching benefits. We call upon the public and all administrators to own and spearhead the process,’ he said. More than 2000 trees were planted during the exercise, which was attended by, among others, Kilgoris Central Member of County Assembly (MCA) Leina Morintat. Morintat challenged the government to put in place strict legislative measures which will help secure forests, besides enforcing the existing ones. As he supported the gazettement of wetlands, Morintat termed the move as a noble one, saying that it would achieve instant results in the protection of the environment. ‘I am happy the national government has prioritised the gazettement of wetlands. This will help protect our water sources and fight the adverse effects of climate change,’ he explained.

Source: Kenya News Agency