NUPENG threatens to stop fuel supply over salary

 

 

The lingering fuel scarcity may continue, if the over 300,000 petrol attendants in the country do not get a pay rise, The Nation has learnt.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to down tools in sympathy with the petrol attendants.

Industry sources said Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), an arm of NUPENG, planned to embark upon a strike if an agreement is not reached over the N18,000 minimum wage being proposed for the attendants.

Confirming this, the Zonal Chairma, Southwest, NUPENG,  Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, said tanker drivers might go on strike to identify with the petrol attendants on the issue.

The inability of stakeholders to reach a compromise, he said, has slowed discussions on the issue.

According to him, petrol dealers are the ones working against the agreement reached on the payment of the minimum wage, not marketers.

Korodo said efforts to get the dealers to understand the predicaments of the petrol attendants and further increase their salaries have proved abortive.

He said: “Discussions are ongoing on the issue of increasing the emoluments of petrol attendants and others working at fuel retail outlets across the country. Several meetings have been held on the issue because we believe that the workers’ welfare must be improved.  We are going to mobilise our members, especially tanker drivers, to go on strike. If the dealers are not ready to acquiesce to our demands,we would order our drivers not to provide fuel to stations that are being run by dealers.”

He noted that through this, NUPENG would achieve its aspirations of providing better remuneration for petrol attendants.

Also, the National Chairman, PTD NUPENG, Mr. Akanni Oladiti, said efforts were being made to reposition the downstream sector of the oil and gas for growth.

He said petrol tanker drivers were being trained to be professionals, adding that the training would be nationwide.

He said many drivers would be trained in areas, such as safety, among others.

NUPENG and other bodies involved in the agitation for improved package for the attendants fixed last February for the implementation of the scheme.

With February gone and no solution in sight, NUPENG is threatening strike.

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NDE disburses N1.5m to graduate trainees in Nasarawa State

 

 

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Thursday in Lafia disbursed resettlement tools and equipment worth N1.5 million to 18 graduate trainees of vocational skills programme in Nasarawa State.

Mr Kunle Obayan, the Acting Director-General of NDE, who distributed the tools, said that the gesture was to enable the unemployed graduate trainees become self reliant and contribute their quota to national development.

Obayan, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Public Works, Mr Monday Dalyop, said that the Federal Government was planning to create employment opportunities for unskilled and unemployed Nigerians, hence the need for the gesture.

“NDE came into existence in 1986, saddled with the responsibilities of training people especially the youths and women in different skills acquisition programmes in the country in order to be self reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.

“Today is significant to us in the NDE, in the sense that what we are witnessing was as a result of the Federal Government’s efforts toward tackling unemployment,” he said.

Obayan said that the same gesture would be extended by the Federal Government to states that are yet to benefit in order to fight unemployment, poverty and boost socio-economic development in the country.

Earlier, Alhaji Dauda Idris-Wase, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NDE, said that the gesture would help reduce the high rate of unemployment in the state.

“The Agency is resettling 18 young men and women trained in welding, GSM repairs, computer operations, electrical installations, hair dressing, barbing, catering, tailoring, plumbing and pipe, interior decoration and shoe making in the state with soft loan.

“The repayment period of the loan is three years and six months, as the package is highly subsidised, so I charge you not to fail us, serve as good example and morale booster to those that may come after you,” Idris-Wase said.

A beneficiary, Clementina Obele, who responded on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked NDE for the gesture and promised to live up to expectation.

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Economic meltdown hits Abuja's okirika market

The downturn in the nation’s economy has become quite noticeable at the popular fairly-used clothings (okirika) market in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, the Federal Capital Terri­tory.

 

A recent visit to the popular market along the Abuja-Keffi Ex­pressway which has long served as place of solace for some middle class and downtrodden Abuja res­idents, revealed lamentations of cash crunch from the sellers who complained of decreasing volume of business, and even from buyers.

 

Miss Stella, who deals in chil­dren clothes, told The AUTHOR­ITY on Sunday that “things are hard. The market is not ‘moving’ as before. The price of bale of clothes keeps going high every time we go to replenish our stock”.

 

Stella said she was ready to dump the okirika business if she had an alternative because “there is no profit in the business as be­fore. People want to eat first before talking of clothes.”

 

According to another trader, Mr. Emmanuel, who deals in fe­male okirika, “business is dull. The purchasing power of people is low now. Customers complain that our prices have increased.

 

“Salaries remain the same, but prices of items here have in­creased. The hope of every trader here is for the budget to be passed so market can improve. We are waiting for the new government to start work. As it is now, nothing is working.”

 

Miss Angela, who trades in children clothings, equally com­plained of low patronage, saying “market is not ‘moving’. There is no money. The fuel crisis is also stopping people from coming out. Since this year, business has been very dull”.

 

Shoppers were not left out of tales of how the economy is biting hard on them, with most of them blaming the economy for the glut in the market.

 

An NYSC member, Miss Bless­ing, told The AUTHORITY on Sunday that she was in the market because the economy has affected her, adding that, “besides, our al­lowee is not enough to go for new materials. We use jik and hot wa­ter to soak it which makes it safe for use.”

 

Blessing added that she would upgrade to new clothes if there is an increment in her allowance.

 

A student of Nasarawa State Polytechnic, in her reaction to our question, said she is in the market becasue the clothers are cheap.

 

“The materials here are cheap and unique, you can’t get them anywhere, but the prices are going up. It is not as before. I hope some of us can buy new clothes soon”, she said but vowed never to buy fairly used underwears despite the economic situation.

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NNPC receives seven cargoes of Petrol to ease fuel scarcity

As part of efforts to ease off the lingering fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide, NNPC yesterday said it has taken delivery of 7 cargo ships with fuel. The Executive Director, Supply and Distribution, Pipeline Products and Marketing Company, Justin Ezeala, made this known to newsmen in Lagos.

“I am happy to announce that we have received seven cargoes of PMS. We are apparently ahead of schedule in terms of our importation and what we do is that as these cargoes come in we send to Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar. Of course most of it is kept in Lagos to distribute to major cities”he said

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LADOL, Nigerdock spend over $1b on facilities

Two of Nigeria’s ship repair and fabrication yards, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) and Nigerdock, have invested over $1.1billion to enhance their productive capacity. This is in line with their mandate to meet the Local Content requirement in the fabrication and building of oil platforms for International Oil Companies  (IOCs) and indigenous oil production and servicing firms.

The Chief Executive, LADOL, Dr. Amy  Jadesimi, and the  Group Executive Chairman, JAGAL Group, operators of Nigerdock, Anwar Jarmakani, who spoke separately yesterday when they received the  Controller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd),  said they have invested $600million and $500million respectively to improve on service delivery.

In response to Mrs Jadesimi’s wellcome address, Ali, expressed delight at the giant strides of the wholly indigenous owned facility which has so far attracted $600million in local content input. He said for  an indigenous investor to take such bold step amid the risk in undertaking such ventures, the project must be appreciated by the Presidency.

Ali said: “I have come and I have seen, they say ‘seeing is believing’. I will take the message to President Muhammadu Buhari whom I’m sure will be impressed if he gets to know what you are doing here. The President is interested, more so that you are the first people that are doing this kind of project in West Africa…and to say that your organisation is owned by Nigerians, it is amazing.

“With what you are doing here, I have no doubt that government will continue to support and encourage you. “Any government will be glad to support an entity such as this that will put us (Nigeria) at par with other industrially developed countries of the world.”

Dr. Jadesimi said the zone which has been developed into a world-class facility from a swamp, has so far generated about N16.9billion in revenue in the past 10 years.

“Over the years, we have done our best in terms of Customs revenue generation. So far, we have generated almost N16.9billion as Customs revenue,” she said, adding that more would come when the project is completed.

Going forward for the Egina project,  the customs duty of the FPSO will be paid through the Apapa Customs Command and that will be determined by the Customs assessment team in the area of value.

“What we can tell you so far is that the value of what we have been doing is put at about $20 million. We are sure that with that, we will be able to give you the percentage of the $3.8billoin worth of the entire vessel for your overall assessment.

“The essence of what we are doing now is that you spend about two years building the vessel, bring in a lot of raw materials for the fabrication before the vessel goes out into the customs territory and that is the point at which you pay duty,” she said.

She said beyond revenue generation, other socio-economic values, such as jobs as well as preservation of foreign exchange are other advantages of the project to the nation.

“The number of enterprises at the free zone has also been increasing. We are expanding our activities and looking at agricultural processing, just as we are focusing on job creation. By the end of this year, we estimated that we would have created over 2000 jobs,” she said.

On his part, Jarmakani said the company has invested additional $500million on the facility and urged the Federal Government to stop monopoly in the country’s oil and gas logistics and supply service as it makes the sector uncompetitive.

He said the monopoly has forced the oil and gas industry and the nation into capitulation.

Jarmakani said: “The Nigeria oil and gas supply and logistics services is the most expensive in the world because of its entrenched monopoly. They have driven away investments from Nigeria and seriously damaged the international reputation of Nigeria.”

He also alleged that monopolists have consistently and aggressively used different government institutions to compromise, maintain and entrench its monopoly position with impunity. According to him,  attempts have been made in the past to use the Customs. He however expressed appreciation that the present administration is aggressively doing away with what he described as “impunity.”

He stated the readiness of his company to compete favorably in the sector. “Snake Island Integrated Free Zone and Nigerdock are open for competive business and we are determined to bring down  operational costs by at

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Revenue leakages: Fed Govt to review tax incentives

 

 

The Federal Government plans to review its existing tax incentives to further block revenue leakages in the system.

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed who spoke yesterday on the sideline of the conference of African Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, said with the decline in oil revenue, the government had started strengthening  tax revenue collection agencies and processes. She said: “We are also expanding our tax base by trying to bring as many people and organisations that are in the informal sector not paying tax into the tax net.

“We are also pulling back some of the waivers that we feel are absolutely unnecessary and are rather slowing down the economy and are simply a drain on our resources. We are trying to bring in revenue that was not properly harnessed from government-owned entreprises that were before now, making money and spending it with little or no returns to the government.”

Ahmed said President Muhammadu Buhari administration plans to continue to finance its subsequent budgets through non-oil sector revenue which was why it was very serious about blocking all leakages in the tax system.

Head of Policy Advocacy and Campaign Manager, Actionaid Nigeria, Mr Tunde Aremu who spoke at the event also said if the government was looking at reviewing its tax policies, it should focus on tax concessions given to multinationals.

He said: “What Nigeria is losing through the granting of tax incentives is an average of $2.9 billion every year. That is huge and unnecessary. “We think it’s absurd that a country with a large population like Nigeria with purchasing power still thinks it needs to give tax incentives to attract investors.

“Nigeria needs to look at its tax policies in terms of the types of provisions it has that gives concessions to multinationals and other laws guiding the granting of incentives in Nigeria. We’ve discovered that there are several agencies that play the role of granting incentives. This means we have several locations where treaties are being negotiated and signed.”

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How to grow aviation, by experts

THE Federal Government must invest $50billion in airport facilities and other support infrastructure in the next 28 years to grow the aviation sector, Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) Managing Director  Mr Segun Demuren has said.

The  investment, according to him, will enable aviation agencies build air navigation facilities for  business/private jet and scheduled aircraft operators.

Demuren spoke in Lagos as covener of the Nigerian Business Aviation Conference.

He said private/business jet operators were adversely affected by some policies of government. He listed some of the unfavourable policies to include; imposition of  five per cent import duty tax on private/business aircraft; inadequate airport facilities and  multiple charges.

He said government needs to re- examine its policies on business aviation to stimulate the growth of the sector.

Demuren said business aviation could stimulate the growth of the sector if  harnessed as aviation contributed over $685 million to the  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015.

According to him,business aviation which comprised chartered and private jet operators contributed 25 per cent out of the total amount.

He said there is still room for more operators in the burgeoning business aviation sector if the right policies are put in place.

He noted that despite the challenges affecting business aviation, there is growing interest in the use of private jets and helicopters for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISC).

Private / business jets and helicopters, he said, has become a critical strategy to handle security challenges by some agencies of government including the  Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) which  recently acquired   a Cessna CJ4 jet for border patrol.

Some states, he said,  have  also acquired  four Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISC) helicopters to enhance monitoring of security .

This, he said, would drive demand for more private jets and related facilities .

Business aviation, he said, has assisted to open new frontiers for investment especially in states where new airports have been constructed.

It has also contributed to the creation of over 5,000 jobs in the last 10 years, because of the services it provides with the use of aircraft,such as as air ambulances, which has saved 500 patients from dying.

The aviation expert, however, faulted unfavourable government’s policy which he said has slowed the growth of aviation in the country.

He cited five per cent import duty tax on aircraft, describing it as a conflict  because Nigeria is a signatory to the Cape Town Convention which does not require payment for tax on moveable assets.

Demuren said: “There is also five per cent import duty on essential aircraft spare parts, coupled with double taxation. Five per cent of business turnover is also demanded from operators.”

He listed three top issues affecting business aviation operators as unavailability of cheap finance, lack of major maintenance facilities, saying that business aviation spends over $305 million yearly on overseas checks.

Demuren also decried the non-availability of cheap financing from financial institutions in the country for business aviation unlike their counterparts in Europe, America and Asia that have access to finance,
He said  inadequate infrastructure also contributed immensely to undermine the growth of business aviation.
He insisted that since Nigeria is a signatory to the Cape Town Convention, the government is not supposed to  impose the  five  per cent import duty on aircraft.

He said with such five per cent imposition operators are  suffering from double taxation in the country.
He said: “There is a lot of misconception about business aviation in Nigeria. Some think it is just for luxury, but I can tell you here that only one per cent of our customers patronise us for luxury and pleasure while the remaining 99 per cent is strictly for business.

Also speaking the Managing Director of Toucan Aviation Support Services, Achuzie Ezenagu, has called on the Federal Government to focus on the development of aviation in Nigeria as catalyst to the nation’s economic development.

Ezenagu said government could work with stakeholders to grow the sector.

He also called for establishment of Maintenance, Overhaul and Repair (MRO) facility in Nigeria, noting that it would safe the country huge financial resources, help to train and employ indigenous aircraft engineers, make aircraft checks cost effective for Nigerian airlines and reinforce Nigeria as a hub in West Africa.

Also speaking,the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, said Nigeria is long over due for such facility and noted that if 40 per cent of the funds spent on the re-modelling of airport facilities in the last few years were deployed by government to establish the facility it would have been invaluable for the development of aviation in the country.

Demuren noted that Nigeria loses huge resources maintaining its aircraft overseas and besides the economic loss, Nigerian trained aircraft engineers cannot secure jobs locally and for Nigeria to become the West African hub, it must have the MRO facility.

“We should make the airport more accessible and make them more available. Government can encourage stakeholders to grow the sector by providing incentives. Government should also find a way to bring all the data from different sectors of the economy together because every sector works hand in hand with another.

Also speaking, Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison described business aviation as  transport logistics needed to accelerate economic activity .

Private jets, he said, have become essential within Nigeria because of  poor roads, limited domestic airline fleet and train network.

He said: “The time saving, the convenience and the increased productivity that follows means business aviation is not a luxury but an essential tool for growth in Nigeria.”

Megisson said government has taken some steps to address challenges associated with business aviation.
He said: ”Government is expanding facilities at some airports as  it has removed import duties on new jets.

The signing a few years ago of  Cape Town convention reassuring lessors about asset security is enough evidence of this.

Government has also invested  in new infrastructure including a private jet terminal that opened last year in Abuja.”

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Toyota Highlander: stability control, comfort ride

The 2016 Toyota Highlander, which represents the third year of the model’s current generation, remains a top contender among family-friendly crossover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUVs). For buyers repelled by minivans or those who don’t need a V8-powered toy-hauling behemoth, the three-row Highlander hits the sweet spot, offering front or all-wheel-drive, a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, and five distinct trim levels, each with a successively longer list of features.

Regardless of trim level, the Highlander stands out by virtue of its spacious and comfortable cabin.

Second-row seating is a choice of three-across bench seating or captain’s chairs with a side table. The refined V6 and smooth six-speed automatic transmission deliver effortless acceleration and make the Highlander one of the quickest big crossovers around. There are also plenty of contemporary tech tools and smartphone-integrated services, anchored by an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen display in the higher trim levels.

For 2016, Toyota keeps the Highlander essentially unchanged. There is a new standard towing package that makes all V6 models capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds.

The Highlander packs enough goodness that has made it one of top picks for a three-row crossover this year. But it is not the only model worth checking out. The Highlander’s main rival, the Honda Pilot, is fully redesigned this year and is more upscale and carlike than in prior years. The Ford Explorer is also updated this year and offers a similar range of prices and features plus a strong turbocharged V6 option. There is also the handsome-looking Dodge Durango or the three-row Hyundai Santa Fe, the latter of which stacks up nicely against the Highlander across the board. All of them are competent family vehicles, but the Highlander certainly earns its well-deserved reputation for all-around goodness.

Body Styles
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is a three-row midsize crossover offered in LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited and Limited Platinum trim levels. Eight-passenger seating is standard on the LE, LE Plus and XLE, while seven-passenger seating (featuring second-row captain’s chairs instead of a three-person bench) is optional on the XLE and standard on the Limited and Limited Platinum. Note that the related Highlander Hybrid is reviewed separately.

Powertrains
The base Highlander LE comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined (20 mpg city/25 mpg highway), which is barely better than the ratings for the stronger V6 engine.

That 3.5-liter V6 is optional on the LE and standard on all other trims. It is rated at 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.

Safety
The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front seat side airbags, a driver knee airbag, a front passenger seat-cushion airbag and full-length side curtain airbags. A rearview camera is also standard.

The Limited trim gets a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, and its optional Driver Technology package (standard on Limited Platinum) adds a frontal collision warning and mitigation system (with automatic braking), lane-departure warning and Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics (emergency assistance, stolen-vehicle location and automatic collision notification). Unfortunately, these items are unavailable on lesser Highlander trims.

Interior Design and Special Features
Hard plastics that were once the bane of the Highlander have since been supplanted by supple surfaces with fancy stitching at the seams. The gauge cluster has a contemporary look, thanks in part to the multifunction information display that sits in the middle. Although the base 6.1-inch central touchscreen is a bit basic in both form and function, the available 8-inch unit is more satisfying with its improved graphics and functionality.

Toyota has baked a number of handy storage features into the Highlander’s interior. There is a unique built-in shelf on the dashboard, for instance, that can serve as a resting place for phones and other small personal items. The shelf’s short height, however, can make it hard to fit your hand in there to place or retrieve those items. Vastly more spacious is the storage box under the console armrest that is big enough for a large purse.

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Engine manufacture begins soon, says Innoson Motors

The Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, Chief Innocent Chukwuma yesterday said the  company will, in the next five years, commence local manufacture of vehicle engine to acheive 100 per cent local content in the auto industry.

Currently, the firm is doing 60 per cent local content with the assembling of vehicle parts and the purchase of vehicle engines from foreign markets.

He reiterated the comapny’s determination  to make Nigeria one of the 20 top world‘s industrialised nations by 2020.

Speaking while he led the management team of the company to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in Abuja, he said Innoson, being the first indigenous motor manufacturing company, was set to reduce drastically, the prices of vehicles and cut down the country‘s dependence on imported vehicles.

Informing the minister that the beginning was tough and rough, the chairman urged the government to assist in the area of efficient power supply to power the over 100 industries that have made Nnewi, the Taiwan of Africa.

“Our major request is to help us in accessing foreign exchange to enable us keep and maintain our over 7, 200 employees. We wish to also request for a government policy to ensure that home-made goods are protected and patronised by all levels of governments and agencies,” he pleaded.

This, according to him, would ensure that the youths were employable or self-employed, pointing out that 200 youths were currently undergoing training from Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Responding, Dr. Onu assured the team that the ministry would support, cooperate and collaborate with the company, pointing out that after the budget was out, the ministry, alongside all the agencies under the ministry would, henceforth, drive only made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

He urged the management team to upgrade the company‘s facilities and work towards manufacturing the engines in Nigeria, as another way of creating employment opportunities to Nigerian populace.

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Concession ‘has raised ports revenue’

What has changed at the ports since their concession in 2006? A lot, says a senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF).

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) management, the official said, has been running the ports efficiently.
NPA, the official said, generated $140 million in 2005 before the concession and over $450 million from the Lagos Ports in 2014.

Speaking with The Nation, the official said, the government has been earning more income since the concession.

The government, he said, conces-sioned the ports to generate more revenue and allow for greater flexibility, efficiency and better services to importers and other port users by resolving some of the major challenges confronting ports operations.

The turnaround time in 2005, at the Lagos Port complex and Tin-Can port, he said, was 10.0; vessel waiting time was 3.0.

In 2014, the official pointed out that the turnaround time and vessel waiting time had reduced to 4.0 and 1.3.

“Concession is a process whereby the concession grantor gives the right to operate a facility and/or deliver a service of public interest to a merchant concessionaire, against the commitment assumed by the concessionaire to build and manage the subject of the concession or to manage the delivery of service at the concessionaire’s own risk,” the official said.

Before the 2006 concession, the official said, the ports demonstrated very low levels of efficiency, which resulted in long turnaround times for ships and increased container dwell time.

In today’s global commerce, he said, seaports play an important role of being many nations’ major gateway for international trade and are a good instrument for measuring the economic health of a nation.

“The ports have considerable influence on the volume and conditions of trade as well as the capacity for economic development of nations still developing.

“In our country, greater percentage of international trade is routed through the sea, and given our huge population, it is believed that our economy accounts for over 70 per cent of all seaborne trade in the West African sub-region. Hence, the country’s ports are increasingly challenged to meet the pressure mounted from movement of ships and cargo in and out of the ports.

“The Federal Government embarked on the concession of the ports basically to solve the protracted problems of inefficiency, corruption, mismanagement and huge debts that characterised the ports, then.

“The rationale behind the concession includes the $34 million indebtedness of the NPA, the redundancy of 24 out of 83 managers as well as its poor management structure. Emphatically, concession of the ports refers to lease of port terminals and re-organisation of stevedoring companies. About 110 applications were received in December 2003 and out of 94 pre-qualified concessionaires, only 20 were granted to operate seaport terminals for 10 to 25 years,” the official said.

Since the concession was done, the official said:

• The cost of port services is competitive;
• The turnaround time has improved;
• The percentage of berth occupancy rate has improved;
• The infrastructural facilities have improved significantly and
• The security around the seaports has improved.

The official, however, lamented the poor access roads to the Lagos ports and urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transport to address the perennial gridlock in Apapa.

NPA’s General Manager Wester Ports, Chief Michael Kayode Ajayi said the current management is working to ensure that the ports become “the leading Port in Africa, to deliver efficient port service in a safe, secure and customer-friendly environment.  Our core value includes efficiency, safety, security, customer friendly and new innovations”.

Ajayi said Nigerians have forgotten that before the concession, the “turnaround time for ships was too long and usually calculated in weeks, sometimes months, depending on the cargo being loaded or discharged; cargo-handling plants and equipment owned by the NPA were few and mostly unserviceable, leading to shipping companies hiring these machines from private sector sources after having paid for it.

Dwell time for goods in ports, he said, was prolonged due to poor port management. “There was congestion in the port; corruption was high among contractors and various service providers at the port; the ports were rated as one of the costliest seaports in the world, as a result of the compounded problems.

“Many port premises and quay aprons had fallen to disuse and failed road sections inside the ports made movement of goods within port grounds cumbersome and very slow; following the seaport congestion, complaints of untraceable or missing cargoes were being regularly leveled against the NPA,” Ajayi said, adding that the security inside the ports was said to have been compromised by the activities of camp-boys,  wharf-rats  and other miscreants operating inside the ports.

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said with the huge equipment at the ports and the introduction of standard in the type of vehicles that can enter the ports, “NPA has brought efficiency to the ports.”

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IPMAN accepts responsibility for fuel scarcity

 

 

The lingering leadership crisis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for nearly two years has contributed maximally in the current petroleum product scarcity.

The rivalry between two IPMAN national factions has crippled the importation and distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria especially by the members of the independent marketers who control about 80 per cent of the fuel distribution network .

In his resolve to end the current fuel scarcity, the petroleum minister, Ibe Kachikwu has inaugurated IPMAN Reconciliation/Interim Management Committee to resolve crisis which has bearing on the petroleum product scarcity.

The Secretary of the Committee, Lawson Ngoa in a statement yesterday heaped the blame for the petroleum product scarcity on the door step of leadership tussle in IPMAN. He further stated that the minister is completely innocent of the petroleum products scarcity as he inherited the crises ridden petroleum sector.

Engr Ngoa further stated that IPMAN accepts all responsibility for the difficulties suffered by Nigerians while agreeing that IPMAN is now ready to commence distribution of products following reconciliation brokered by the minister.

With the increase in  percentage of product to IPMAN and other incentives made available by the federal government through the minister of petroleum, the fuel scarcity will end in weeks.

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African regulators to harmonise roaming

 

 

The West African Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly (WATRA) said it is working towards harmonising the roaming activities of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The group said guidelines are already being developed for a seamless interconnection and roaming of telephone users in the West African sub-region.

Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Maman Laminou who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Dambatta, said WATRA has been taking its activities to several member countries in the last one year. Some of these activities include technology conversion and has been involved in the campaign for infrastructure sharing among operators.

WATRA has also been involved in capacity building for members on Quality of Service (QoS), adding that many others issues will form discussions at the yearly general meeting of the group in April.

The NCC said it is fully committed to the ideals of the group, adding that it will continue to lend a helping hand to the activities of the ECOWAS body.

Dambatta told the visitors that the NCC broadband plan will cater for everybody including those in the rural communities, adding that the NCC hopes to leverage on WATRA’s expertise to actualise the eight-point agenda of the Commission which focuses on the turnaround of the telecoms sector.

The EVC assured the visitors that the National Broadband Plan (NBP) will be pursued vigorously adding that attaining the 30 per cent minimum coverage by 2018 is possible.

Mr Laminou congratulated Danbatta on his appointment as EVC of the NCC and pledged the support of WATRA to NCC at all times.

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MasterCard launches IQ series to minimize fraud

Reinforcing its commitment towards a secure cashless environment and superior experience through secure and innovative solutions, MasterCard has officially launched its new product, the IQ Series.

The MasterCard IQ Series’ suite of solutions which was launched at the Global Risk Leadership Conference in Dubai yesterday, is designed to harness real-time insights and intelligence and empower card issuers and merchants to authorise transactions with increased accuracy and limit fraudulent activity. The solution is now available to financial institutions, businesses and merchants across the Middle East and Africa.

The President of Middle East and Africa, MasterCard, Raghu Malhotra, in his speech at the launch said: “In today’s digital world, consumers are increasingly more aware about safety and convenience, therefore balancing the growing desire for greater security while maintaining the ease of making payments is important.
“Our IQ series leverages advanced technology and insights to help deliver consumers a convenient, uninterrupted checkout experience.”

The initial two products developed under the series – Authorisation IQ and Assurance IQ – are aimed at optimising the payment authentication process, leading to fewer declines in legitimate transactions and creating more stable revenues for issuers and merchants.

In addition to hampering quality experience, false fraud assessments prove to be a financial burden, as is evidenced by a research that estimates the value of false transaction declines in the United States of America to be $118 billion per year – thirteen times more than total amount lost annually to actual card fraud ($9 billion), according to Javelin Strategy & Research.

“Authorisation IQ provides card issuers with relative behavioural insights on spending, such as total spending on an account compared to others in the country, spending in a particular segment, and frequency of card usage compared over an extended period of time,” the company said in a statement.

It further states that Assurance IQ enables the distribution of positive e-commerce data indicators between stakeholders. A balanced reputation assessment is achieved considering not only transactional risk indicators but also positive indicators better determining the authenticity of a transaction.

The company said both products supplement the need for a robust enhanced data exchange network between financial institutions, merchants, and issuers to understand the digital footprint and behaviour of accounts better. “The application of this data in real-time decisions is critical to drive an enhanced consumer experience in increased approval rates and lowered operational impact, without increasing the fraud loss exposure of our network stakeholders.”

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Kayode Obembe & Co unveils Femi Adebayo as brand ambassador

Kayode Obembe & Co Ltd releases a star studded video drama of their services. The video features celebrities like Femi Adebayo, Segun Arinze, Ayo Adesanya and Fathia Balogun. Kayode Obembe & Co Ltd is a real Estate Firm incorporated and registered in Nigeria as a limited liability Company, setting new standards in the delivering of services in the real Estate sector.

 Our Company acquires, develops, sells, leases and manages properties and real estate products in choice Locations across the country

To get the best of the above services, 

‎Contact us

Kayode Obembe & Co Ltd

56 Olowu, Off Mobolaji Bank Anthony

Ikeja Lagos

08129999905

08189999905

‎www.kayodeobembeco.com.ng

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Nigeria to beat Ghana, Ivory Coast on Cocoa export

The Federal Government has set a new target to beat Ghana and Ivory Coast in terms of cocoa exports from the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, stated at the weekend during a meeting with officials of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN)‎, in Abuja that the ministry has already developed new cocoa breeds capable of beating the two nations.

The Minister, who said oil and gas cannot create 1 million jobs for unemployed Nigerians, disclosed that the agriculture sector could engage about 20 million people, across the entire agricultural value chain.

He wondered why the country still lacks behind the two African nations, despite enormous potentials to grow the economy crop in 23 states across the nation.

“Nigeria needs to surpass Ghana and Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast is targeting 2 million tons now. Ghanah is a bit lower than a million, we are battling at 250, 000 tons and Cocoa can grow in at least 23 states. What happened to us? Oil and Gas,” Ogbe said.

However, the Minister instructed the Ag. Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Dr. Mrs. Feyisara Okelana to prepare intensive implementation plan to ensure government achieve the new target.

Ogbeh emphasized, “Nigeria needs CRIN badly”, adding that the research institute should design a roadmap to restore coffee plantation.

“There is no future in imports. We will find money to support you. When you produce, package it like every other package.”

According to him, global market for coffee trade is about $70 billion while $5 billion of the market share could go to the local farmers as profit.

On 572 staffs of the institute that were denied of their salaries and 91 sacked by the institute human resource department, the Minister directed the ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Bunmi Shobowale to rectify the payment issues as well as work with CRIN to reabsorb the staff.

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Wakanow relaunches its brand, partners Zenith bank in Africa roll out

In a move which could only be characterized as maverick, Wakanow has made a major change to its new identity and has unveiled plans to partner Zenith Bank as its banker of choice in the brands’ roll out across Africa, UK and the UAE.

In a media launch which was graced by the management of Wakanow,  key members of the media, partners and friends of Wakanow, the new brand identity was unveiled by the Executive Director Zenith Bank,   (Place name and Portfolio here). The new logo, a combination of the very vibrant sea blue and orange colors, gives the brand, a more mature, and aspirational and fun outlook that resonates very soundly with her global intentions and with the dynamic nature of her target market.

Wakanow is Nigerians foremost online travel booking portal and has grown from a relatively humble beginning in 2008 to one of the power players in the travel industry in Nigeria today. Wakanow has distinguished itself in the online travel industry with the many achievements over the past 7 years. In 2013, she won the coveted Tony Elumelu All Nigeria Network Awards as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in Nigeria. In the midst of several awards including from airline partners and other stakeholders, the MD of Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie, won the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Awards for West Africa for 2015. AABLA is awarded in partnership with the CNBC Africa.  Wakanow is the current exclusive ticket reseller for the 2016 RIO Olympics, a status that she also held for both the London Olympics and the World Cup in RIO Brazil in 2012.

Speaking on the launch, the Chief Marketing Officer, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, stated that in view of the plans by the company to go global, it was important for Wakanow to position itself to take on the headwinds of the new challenges. She stated that the new logo is a personification of upwards and forwards movement that is a key part of the brands mantra, with a simplicity that makes it easily recognizable among other leading world brands. She added that the Wakanow brand refresh is not just an external change, but will also run deep into the heart of the business forming a solid internal culture that will give it the back bone for excellence in quality service delivery.

In his address, the Managing Director and founder of Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie, expressed his delight at the events of the day, pointing out that Wakanow is poised to become a key player in not only Africa but of the world with an undying passion to change the way people do travel. He expressed his delight at the partnership with Zenith and saw it as a vehicle to take the innovative Wakanow products to Africa especially the new global DestinationsAfrica platform which will allow customers book travel packages to any African country, on one single platform, anywhere in the world.

The Wakanow vision is to delight her customers with well-priced packages that cannot found anywhere else and this proposition is made possible by the very extensive partnership that Wakanow has with Airlines and Hotels partners. Being an indigenous Africa company, Wakanow is well positioned to take the higher ground in making African travel an absolute delight for non-Africans as it targets new customers from Europe, US and the UAE.

In partnering with Zenith Bank for this global roll out Wakanow was looking for a banking partner that is not only nimble and forward focused, but also one that also has the capacity to take on the very rapidly expanding portfolio of the Wakanow brand. Zenith has good experience across Africa, with an impressive footfall in several African countries. It is globally recognized as a banker of choice with a keen eye for recognizing budding opportunities and taking them head one.  The synergy between the two companies makes them a natural fit.

Besides the online presence, Wakanow has over 25 travel centers across Nigeria with an intention to open 100 centers by the end of 2016.  Wakanow also has offices in Dubai, UK and Ghana. New offices are planned in the US and Kenya.

In a bid to diversify her business, Wakanow has also gone into the ground transportations business with the acquisition of Oya.com, a local bus, cargo and car hire services company.

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Thelma West, a 32-year-old Nigerian is the only woman in the male-dominated world of diamond business

Nigerian Thelma West is a rare gem in the diamond world as a woman in a male-dominated sector with few Africans, despite the continent being the main source of the precious rocks.

The first in her family to work in diamonds, West is used to being an outsider, having been raised in a Jewish family in a country where Jews number fewer than 50,000 out of a population of around 180 million.

 

 

"I’m the only Nigerian Jewish woman in the trade, and I don’t know of other African women in the business," the 32-year-old told AFP at her London-based business as she greeted customers with a broad smile and sparkling diamonds on her hands and wrists.

Discretion and security are essential, with the anonymous-looking building guarded by an encrypted intercom system and a reinforced door, all under the gaze of a bank of security cameras.

"I wanted to become an engineer because at that time in Nigeria, you had to choose a solid career, such as doctor, lawyer, engineer," she told AFP.

But, as the saying goes, “Diamonds Are Forever” and the sparkle of the stones, which had captivated West since childhood, was an irresistible allure.

"My mum had loads of jewellery," said the daughter of a Guinness drinks company employee mother and a property developer and industrialist father. "We were always playing with her jewellery box and she would always clean her jewels, and I would help."

West headed for Antwerp, the world’s diamond capital, aged 17 despite "not knowing anybody" in the Belgian city. There, she enrolled at the internationally renowned Hoge Raad Voor Diamant school to hone her skills.

"Even though you go to school, most of your knowledge comes from working with diamonds day-to-day," she said.

After trying for six months in vain to secure an internship, she was eventually taken under the wing of an Orthodox Jew diamond dealer, who worked with her every evening after school for a year. She was then recruited by one of the biggest diamond suppliers in Europe based in Spain.

"It was being sent in at the deep end," she recalled. "I was 19 and I was responsible for every single diamond the company had."

Teaming up with school friends from Lagos who had moved into investment banking, West set up her own business in London to trade the precious stone.

Metal tongs in hand, West explained the secrets of some of her stock.

"Diamonds have fire," said West. "That stone is too flat but it’s got a lot of life in it, it was cut about 100 years ago,” she said, pointing to one tiny rock. "This one cost just over £100,000 ($141,000, 126,000 euros), it’s got a low colour but it has been cut perfectly so it reflects light in such an amazing way."

Fewer than 50 clients, 12 of whom are investors, have access to West’s knowledge.

"I can find a diamond and call them and say ‘we have to buy this diamond, trust me’ and they follow me," she said.

Her multinational client base — introduced by word of mouth — includes Swiss, Russians, Ghanaians, Nigerians and "a handful of French". Helped by a 10-woman team, West creates all of her company’s products, which come with a lifetime guarantee. Her most ambitious creation was a custom-made necklace worth around #2 million.

She plans to open a workshop in Nigeria, "where I’ll train girls in the art of making jewellery". West gives little away but also said she is creating "a revolutionary tool" that will help people in her business.

"That tool should be part of every diamond dealer and every shop".

Source: AFP

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US to give $600m as assistance to Nigeria this year- John Kerry

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, says the US government will be giving $600 million as assistance to Nigeria this year. He said this while speaking at the opening session of the U.S- Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting in Washington DC yesterday March 30th.
"Our development assistance this year will top $600 million, and we are working closely with your leaders – the leaders of your health ministry – to halt the misery that is spread by HIV/AIDS, by malaria, and by TB. Our Power Africa Initiative is aimed at strengthening the energy sector, where shortage in electricity has frustrated the population and impeded

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Forbes Africa, others partner Young CEO in Abuja business summit

 

Young CEO’s business summit, a prestigious world summit, that seeks to empower and redefine businesses in Africa comes back to Nigeria for the second time since its inception in Dubai.
The summit which earlier held in Dubai, Ghana, London and Lagos will now hold for the first time in Abuja, Nigeria from 22nd to 23rd of April, 2016.

According to the organizers, this year’s edition is in partnership with Femaz Microfinance Bank, Forbes Africa (Woman), Aim Higher Africa & institutes of leadership & management and that considering the quality of partnerships the 5th edition is set to be the biggest and most rewarding for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The YCBS Abuja-Nigeria 2016 aims to gather 200 cautiously selected  young entrepreneurs around West Africa especially those from Nigeria to discuss the THEME: ‘’Promoting Nigeria’s non-Oil Sector & stimulating SMEs for inclusive growth: the new paradigm and learn from international veterans in selected fields. The summit will not only have international businessmen and women converging to discuss the theme, but new strategies on how to explore the immeasurable business opportunities in the non-Oil sector, while stimulating the SME sector in Nigeria for inclusive growth.

The organizers buttress that,

‘’It is imperative for improved businesses in Nigeria to collaborate with its West African neighbors, through coordinated support for Start-up, funding for small businesses that are capable of enriching and creating many jobs for Nigerians. This will also be our major priority. ‘’

They say,

‘’Femaz Microfinance bank will partner with Young CEOS BUSINESS FORUM by sponsoring the pitching session tagged “FEMAZ SME Challenge” on a national scale. Sectors eligible to enter for the challenge include agriculture, entertainment, fashion design, ICT, & social enterprise. All delegates are eligible to pitch at the event and shall be given equal opportunities to express themselves and showcase their skills.

To participate at the summit or enter for the SMEs challenge kindly find details here visit www.ycbf.org , email – ceobusinessforum@gmail.com or admin@ycbf.org or call the following numbers +234-8033167827 or +234-8034532300.  

Other features of the 2-days summit include;
·         Networking Session/Breakfast Meeting
·         Sector by sector specialized Business Strategy sessions
·         Key Note Presentations
·         Panel Discussions
·         Idea pitching session (SMEs Challenge contest)
·         Inspire: Expert Panel Q&A Sessions
·         CEO Global Awards &
·         Exhibition

 For more information, Sponsorship and Registration kindly visit www.ycbf.org, email – ceobusinessforum@gmail.com or admin@ycbf.org or call the following numbers +234-8033167827 or +234-8034532300.  

More  Photos...

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Unilever Nigeria profit hits N1.19b

 

 

Unilever Nigeria has recorded Profit After Tax (PAT) of N1.19billion in the forth quarter of 2015, as against the N141 million it posted at the close of trading in the third quarter.

The company also recorded a turnover of N59.2 billion for the year ended 31 December ,2015, representing a 6.2 per cent growth in turnover from the N55.7 billion it grossed for the year ended 31 December, 2014.

The fourth quarter results for the company showed extraordinary recovery across major indices. Stand-alone results for Q4 reflect turnover growth of 36.3 per cent in Q4 2015 (Q4 2014: N12.12 billion, Q4 2015:N16.52 billion) Profit after tax for the full year dipped by 51 per cent from N2.4 billion in 2014 to N1.19 billion in 2015. However, Q4 2015 standalone results show an increase of 78.3 per cent in PAT (Q4 2014: N590 million, Q4 2015:N1.05 billion)

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