Category: Industry

AN expert has called on governments at all levels to improve social amenities to boost development of the country.

He said if this is done not only will people benefit from it, industrial growth will manifest at a faster rate.

The Managing Director of Pentagon Real Estate Investment Limited, Lekki, Lagos, Pastor Emeka Okoye, who spoke at a ceremony by the firm, cited the real estate sector as an area hit by lack of good roads, water and light.

He said abroad, especially the United States where he spent about 20 years, such amenties are taken for granted as the government ensures they are available for business and living. He urged the Federal Government to emulate its counterpart in developed countries, emphasising that there can be no meaningful development without adequate infrastructure.

On the importance of good roads, he said they also ginger urbanisation. For example, he said the value of their property appreciated from the N350,000 that the clients bought a plot of land some years to about N1.5million at the moment principally because of not inflation but the opening up of the area by the government, a factor which made many people to move there.

By Joseph Eshanokpe

Speaking on its estate – Cedar Garden based in Ibese, Ogun State, he said it was conceived as a model community. Located in an industrial area, Agbara, he said, the community, which can also be accessed from the Lagos-Badagry Expressway is strategic in that it is in the Agbara Industrial Layout, which has so many multi-national companies, such as Nestle Nigeria PLC, Unilever Nigeria PLC,and Pharmadeco Nigeria Limited.

Besides, the estate is surrounded by two private universities, Opic Estate and the Lagos Free Trade Zone, noting that with these the area would be ideal also for small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

He said the on-going mega road and rail construction project by the Lagos State Government, when completed, would open up the area, and link it with other parts of the metropolis as well as the Central Business Area through railway, water and road transport.

He described the investment as a vehicle for service delivery in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) in the provision of housing.

Over 50 subscribers to the estate collected their certificates of occupancy and other land title documents at the event.

Unilever Nigeria PLC has kicked off its van assistance scheme by giving 13 vans to a key distributor.

The firm will deploy over 300 vans worth over N1billion to key distributors.

Speaking to reporters, the Customer Development Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Kwaku Boateng, said the deal has an objective of making their products available, in not more than 50 metres from the doorstep of every consumer and also to advance the partnership with their distributors and their bank which he called a tripartite fashion to work for a common reason.

He added that the partnership and the scheme, in a way, have added benefits and advantage of creating more jobs to Nigerians .

He said: “We need to employ more drivers, more sales men, and more brand ambassadors, which is a way of generating jobs for Nigerians and this has always been the centre of Unilever’s goal.

“Under this scheme, over 300 vans are involved and the total value is around Nbillion; today, we are deploying 13 vans to one of our key distributors which is Caniz Nigeria Limited and it is the first deployment. We chose Caniz as the first distributor to get the vans because it is situated in a market that is almost on top covering areas, such as Ogba, Ojodu, Magodo, Mowe, Ibafo and other areas.

“To Nigerians who want our products, you don’t need to go far. All it takes it just 50 meters from your doorstep”.

The firm’s Vice President, Operations, Mr Anil Gopalan, said Unilever cares for its consumers and appreciates their support for making their brand household items which in turn yield turnover for the company and its staff.

He said the job would not have been complete without the distributors who help to deliver the products to the consumers. He enjoined them to make use of the vans to deliver Unilever’s objectives, adding that the vans would help them to work better and easier.

Managing Director, Caniz Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Florence Izagbo, also one of the key distributors of Unilever Nigeria PLC, said her company has been operating for about 12 months and it has been delivering at its best despite different challenges.

She said the Unilever started the Van Assistance Scheme in order to enable them partner together to drive the coverage agenda which in turn go in line with Caniz business vision ,adding that they will be able to cover more areas, deliver beyond their reach with the kinds of more hands they will hire to drive the service and to achieve their goals.

“Unilever gave us these vans to reach out to their consumers and to deliver their brands to the doorsteps of many Nigerians and this, we will do. Right now, we are covering Ogba, Akute, Ojodu, Ibafo, Ojota, Lambe, Mowe, Magodo, and the parts of Agege has just been added to us. We have about 350 POPs to supply and there are wholesalers whom we are to service as well in these areas and also a drop point where consumers can go to get their supply.”

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to quicken its plan to grant tax waiver to firms that generate their electricity to resuscitate the ailing sector so as to improve the economy.

MAN President, Mr Kola Jamodu, made the call at the Nigeria Economic Management Team (NEMT)meeting which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, in Abuja.

According to him, despite the improvement in power supply in recent weeks, which has increased capacity utilisation to about 54 per cent, some manufacturers are still generating their own electricity to ensure that they remain afloat.

He called on the government to execute the relief package meant to assuage their problems.

“These are things that would normally have been provided by government. In the last few weeks, we have noticed improvement. What has happened today is that a lot in the manufacturing sector are generating their personal electricity supplies to sustain production,” Jamodu said.

Aganga described the industries as being in disarray and experiencing decreasing productivity.

He said: “There is no country that moves from being a small nation to a big one without industries. That is what Nigeria and Africa has not done for many years. That is why Africa contributes only three per cent to the global trade.

“We already have an Industrial Revolution Plan (IRP), which is based on three main pillars: moving our industries to areas where we have big comparative advantage, industrial skills development, and innovation.”

He said with enhanced attention given to agriculture,mining and petroleum, an effort which has saved the country over N200 billion in the cement industry alone, the government is set to focus on iron and steel production to galvanise the economy by going into automotive production.

The Federal Government has approved a National Policy on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as part of efforts to address infrastructure deficit in the country.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo announced the approval while declaring open the Fourth African Public-Private Partnership Conference in Abuja.

He said the policy was meant to complement the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act of 2005, and to provide the legislative, regulatory and institutional framework for PPPs to thrive.

According to him, the policy will also help boost investors’confidence in the economy.

Sambo said the government is committed to promoting PPP as a viable business model, adding that government’s transformation agenda placed a high premium on PPP for the rapid modernisation and expansion of the country’s infrastructure.

He said: “Our goal has consistently been to work with the private sector to close the capital investment and financing gaps that continue to encumber our determined efforts to meet the growing infrastructure needs of our people.

“Due to its viability, we are also focused on applying the Public-Private Partnership approach to developing other vital sectors of the economy. We are confident that through this measure, we will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and reduce direct government involvement in management activities.

“Overall, we are creating an enabling environment for the operation of an efficient and effective private sector economy.”

Sambo said the annual African PPP conference had evolved into a platform for governments to address the continent’s infrastructure deficit and showcase Africa’s investment potential to the outside world.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will soon introduce incentives for traders (Point Of Sales terminals) through commercial banks to drive the cash-less policy, its Deputy Governor Mr Tunde Lemo, has said.

The CBN also said the cash-less policy, which started in Lagos State, will soon be implemented in other states, adding that this would be kicked off with aggressive campaigns.

Lemo spoke during a cash-less policy seminar organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Lemo said CBN has appraised Lagos for the implementation of cashless policy and based on the report it got, some far-reaching decisions would be taken to improve the effectiveness and ease of the policy on the economy.

The Deputy Governor, who was represented by Eric Yaduma of the Shared Services Sector of CBN, said a draft report had been presented to management and after the review of the report, some changes would be effected before the policy was rolled out to other states.

“What CBN is thinking right now is to encourage banks to introduce some incentives to merchants. We are trying to determine the best incentives schemes for stakeholders,” he said.

He said the CBN is planning to perfect the cash-less policy, adding that there were 5,000 Point Of Sales (POS) outlets at inception and that this has increased to about 200,000.

“We are working with the Nigerian Inter-Banks Settlement Services (NIBSS) to address some of the challenges we are experiencing in Lagos which are out of service/network problems, low awareness, among others. We are also engaging telecommunications companies to give priority to data services to eradicate the network challenges,” he said.

He disclosed that the CBN is also partnering with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to improve on the awareness adopted in Lagos because awareness was key to the success of the policy.

He said CBN created a Consumer Protection department to address issues related to the cash-less policy and an e-payment fraud forum to handle fraud-related cases, adding that the Nigerian Postal Services have been approached to promote mobile money transactions under thecashless policy.

The President of LCCI, Goodie Ibru, said the introduction of the cash-less policy in Lagos in April, this year has brought many challenges and opportunities in doing business in the state.

“To help improve the policy as CBN gets set to extend it to other states, they, as regulators should pay more attention to developing business in the e-payment sector because it is a critical sector that will drive Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), international trade and trade integration,” he said.

Although Nigeria is rich in oil, gas and other natural resources, it still faces serious energy crisis. More than half of the population do not have access to electricity. Those who do do not get adequate supply.This is why many people depend on generators. However, experts say solar energy may be the best alternative. TOBA AGBOOLA  reports.

In Nigeria, not only is the cost of electricity high, its supply is unpredictable, unreliable and in many cases – unavailable.

This makes alternative energy solution, such as solar energy vital and critical to our economic development. Recognising this, the Federal Government set up the Energy Commission of Nigeria to coordinate national policies in energy.

This apex government organ is empowered to promote the diversification of the energy resources through the development and optimal utilisation of alternative energy resources, including solar energy.

Speaking on the new technology, the Managing Director, Soverign Solar Energy Ltd, an indigenous engineering solutions provider, Dr Felix El-Schaeddhaei, said solar power has the capacity to solve Nigeria’s power problem.

He advised the Federal Government to key into the advancements made in solar energy, saying doing so would enable the government to provide cost-effective rural electrification with positive environmental impact.

He said though Nigeria needs adequate supply of energy to drive its economy and power its domestic, economic, technological and social sectors, it has, however, been difficult to meet the energy needs of its citizens by successive governments.

“Nigeria is blessed with a variety of energy sources in abundance, fossil energy, such as crude oil, natural gas and coal, and renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, biomass, biogas, and so on. Nigeria’s oil reserve is predicted to be exhausted before the next 50 years, thus it is imperative to pay more attention to renewable energy sources,” he said.

He stated that by using solar photovoltaic panels of only five per cent efficiency, the country could generate about 600,000mw, from only one per cent of its land area.

He said renewable energy was always available on cyclic basis, stressing that it would never be exhausted, unlike the conventional energy of oil, coal and gas.

“As long as there is life in us, solar energy will always be there, everyday. When the sun comes up, solar energy begins to be available. We also have wind as a renewable energy. Wind arises as a result of extra-terrestrial solar heating of the air masses in the extra-terrestrial space; leading to pressure differences, manifesting in the flow of air.

“We can also tap significant amount of energy from wind. Hydropower as you know is also coming as a result of cyclic activities of the rainy reason. Rivers are there and we can tap. We also have biomass – biofuels; they are all part of renewable energy. They are always available on cyclic basis.

“If we can learn from Germany and Japan and tailor various market specific programmes aimed at reducing the cost of solar power systems, we will be able to support the growth of the solar industry in Nigeria,” he said.

He recommended the use of solar energy as a means of tackling the problems of climate change and ensuring a cleaner environment.

He said solar energy technologies use energy from the sun to provide electricity and even cooling for businesses, industries and homes and is a clean, non-polluting and renewable source that can improve power efficiency.

What is solar power?

A photovoltaic panel (or solar panel) is a packaged interconnected assembly of photovoltaic cells also known as solar cells. They are used as components in a larger solar system to provide electricity for civil, commercial and residential applications. The solar system harnesses energy from the sun, and converts it into energy that can be used for multiple practical applications.

Why solar power?

Solar technology provides environmental and social advantages over other energy sources. Some of the advantages are:

• Low energy costs: The sun provides solar radiation for free

• Low maintenance: Fewer moveable parts means fewer parts can break

• No emissions: Solar lighting does not contribute to global warming

• All day; everyday: Solar solutions continue working even if there is a power cut

• Easy installation: There are no confusing wires – each system is independent.

The Federal Government is set to partner states to revive moribund oil palm industry and make it one of the major revenue earners for the country, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said.

Adesina disclosed this at the inauguration of oil palm plantations by the Cross River State Government under its privatisation programme.

The minister said such a partnership would make states known for oil palm cultivation to revive the sector while at the same time challenging other states blessed with arable land to take to large scale cultivation of palm plantations.

He said the Federal Government was concerned about changing the fortunes of agriculture and making it a worthwhile venture for large and small scales’ investors, and appealed to business men to invest heavily in agriculture.

According to him, in the oil palm value chain many things were wrong that needed the enabling environment of government to succeed and the commitment of the private sector operators to correct; hence the Cross River example was a step in the right direction.

The goal of the oil palm value chain of the country, he added, was to increase oil production to satisfy local demand and eventually export as well as increase the productivity of farmers and create employment.

Special Adviser to the Cross River State Government on Investment Promotion, Mr Gerald Adah, had earlier informed the gathering that a combined investment portfolio of various companies operating in the state in the last five years was now in excess of $2 billion.

He described the inauguration of the oil palm plantation as a major milestone in the vision of attracting foreign direct investment to the state and country adding that in the past two years, the state’s engagements with Wilmar has been in the aspects of acquisition of at least 50,000 hectares of agricultural land for primary production of oil palm as well as the establishment of an oil palm processing/refining facility worth $400 million.

He said while the proposed investment is valued at $400 million, the direct benefits accruing to the state include employment of over 20,000 persons on an average payroll of N3.2 billion annually; out-growers support scheme for another 20,000 ha leveraging on the World Bank support, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in terms of standard schools and hospitals for employees, dependents and host communities.