Suspected cultists on Sunday set ablaze a building and two vehicles at Ogijo, Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.
The arsonists were said to attacked the properties belonging to the father of a leader in a rival cult group, located beside Omoleye hospital in Ogijo.
It was learnt that the groups have had several clashes in the neighbourhood, destroying properties and valuables.
The Nation gathered that the attacks have forced residents to flee their homes for fear of being hurt by the cultists.
It was learnt that before the hoodlums set the house ablaze, they damaged two vehicles parked in the compound.
They were said to have poured petrol on the building and lit it, keeping watch to ensure it was completely razed.
But an eyewitness was said to have informed firemen at Ikorodu, who got to the scene on time to quench the fire.
However, they were obstructed by the cultists, who threatened to burn the firemen and their truck if they do not vacate the premises.
Confirming the development, the state fire service director, Rasaq Fadipe said the arson was reported at about 10:26am.
“Someone ran to the station to report the outbreak and firemen moved to the site to contain it.
“But some boys came around and halted firemen from quenching the fire. They threatened to burn the men and the truck if they don’t leave the site.
“I do not know why they set the building ablaze but I learnt it belonged to the father of a rival cult member.”
Fadipe also admitted that the fire service attended to a distress call at the Pan African University.
According to him, the call was received at about 3:40pm, adding that the inferno started at the school’s diesel tank that supplies its generator.
He said the fire destroyed the tank, the generator, as well as a PHCN cable.
Tag: cars
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Suspected cultists set house, cars ablaze in Lagos
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Ogun customs seizes hundreds of smuggled cars in raid of syndicate
A cross-border car smuggling syndicate has forfeited hundreds of exotic cars to the Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly bringing them in illegally from neighbouring Benin Republic.
The vehicles were seized during a massive raid at the border town of Idiroko,Ogun State.
Also impounded during the raid were cartons of frozen turkey and dozens of motorcycles used by rice smugglers.
Spokesman for the command, Abubakar Usman said the operation was made possible by ” the vigilance of our men who took proactive measures to contain the errant smugglers.”
Usman said the smugglers resorted to firing at the Customs men once they were intercepted but could not match the superior firepower of the law enforcement officers .
“Many of the vehicles you are seeing here were intercepted from the notorious syndicate who resisted our men. They were overpowered and had to flee abandoning the vehicles,” he said.
”We also seized many motorcycles from rice smugglers, and cartons of turkey from illicit traders who tried to bring them from the Benin Republic into our territory through the bush .”
The command said it generated N3,401,647,417.34 as revenue in the first half of this year as against the N2,543,266,323.43 it realized within the corresponding period in 2014.
“Our command was able to record 515 seizures with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of N445,399,838.00; as against 733 seizures with DPV of N880,002,012.00 same period in 2014.The difference is 218 seizures with DPV of N434,602,174.00,” he said.
He added:“the formidable mechanism put in place by the Customs Area Controller, Mr. Haruna Mahmud, to curtail the menace of smuggling activities in the area led to the successes recorded so far.”
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Man, 32, held for using pepper to snatch cars
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Peter Okpe, for allegedly using pepper to snatch vehicles.
Okpe was held after a car he allegedly snatched ran into a ditch on the Benin-Lagos Expressway.
The police said he and other members of his gang hired a cab and blew some ground pepper into the eyes of the driver to snatch his vehicle.
The suspect was said to have boarded a cab at Okada Junction and asked the driver to stop.
He was said to have blown some pepper into the driver’s eyes and pushed him out of the car.
Luck ran out on him when the car ran into a ditch and he was arrested by a combined team of vigilantes and policemen.
Police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), described the trend as new among criminals in the state.
He said the police would probe the matter to arrest other members of the gang.
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MOUAU VC gives cars to deans
The Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Hillary Odo Edeoga has inaugurated 11 new Toyota Corolla cars for the deans of various colleges.
He said though there are 14 colleges in the university, the three outstanding deans would have their cars delivered to them soon.
Edeoga said since he assumed duties, his administration has priortised students’ welfare; hence the introduction of campus shuttles for the students.
Handing over the car keys, Edeoga told the deans that the cars are not for their personal use but for the various official duties.
Edeoga said the cars are part of the infrastructural and human capital development that are on going in the university despite limited resources available.
He said his administration has provided five new Hyundai buses and 45 Kia and Hyundai cars to serve as campus shuttles to ease transportation within and outside the institution.”
He gave the cost of each Toyota Corolla cars as N3.6 million and after insurance and registration, tracking system installation, it came to N4.2 million each, which came to a total of N46.2 million.
Edeoga urged said the cars will not be assigned to any particular
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Made-in-Zaria cars coming
Cars manufactured locally by engineering students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria will soon be exhibited at a competition in the Netherlands. Beyond the show, however, home-made vehicles may be on the way, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE
Before the varnish and the final touches, they certainly look as uninviting as wrecked cars. One unfinished one looks little more than a strange gadget held together by four tyres. But indeed those are products of genius and the hope of the nation. They are the precursors of the Nigerian cars, a feat that already stands the young manufacturers out even before they set out for the Netherlands where the cars will be parked side by side with others in a competition.
•Another car in the making They are the Engineering students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria who dazzled guests and residents of the ancient Zaria city at the institution’s 37th convocation ceremony. It was on that occasion that they rolled out the first-ever made in Zaria cars for test-running.
The locally fabricated vehicles looked light and were unfinished when The Nation came, but certainly they are nothing but a breakthrough for the university and Nigeria in technological development.
The Nation gathered at the university that the cars would be displayed for a Shell-sponsored competition at Rotterdam in the Netherlands in May.
ABU, University of Lagos and University of Benin will represent Nigeria in the competition against 125 other car-making countries.
The project, which is an urban concept, has a maximum 200kg and is specifically designed to ply any road and move a very long distance with minimum of gasoline consumption.
When The Nation visited the institution, a team of 500-Level Engineering students were working on the body of the second vehicle under the close watch of their lecturers. The students expressed enthusiasm that once they are back from the Netherlands, they should be able to easily manufacture tricycles in marketable quantity.
Their Head of Department, Dr. Muhammad Dauda who led The Nation’s crew to the workshop also disclosed that the competition which propelled the fabrication of the vehicles was targeted at getting vehicles that will go the longest distance with minimum of fuel.
He said even as they were yet to test-run the second vehicle, they had already passed two out of the three stages of the competition, which are: expression of interest in the competition, which includes the explanation of the type of vehicle, the fuel grade and its overall dimension and the second stage being about sending the detailed design of the car.
He said, “The competition is all about evolutionary process of development. That is why Shell, the sponsors of the competition, is not after the development, but the process as a whole”.
The Nation gathered that Shell which has been sponsoring the competition for well over 30 years, always wants students to understand that development ýis not a revelation but a process, hence, the HOD said the competition is an eye opener to the students and entire university community that, they can do more.
According to Dr. Dauda, the Shell-sponsored competition was borne out of the desire to identify brilliant engineering students all over the world to enhance technological breakthrough.
He said all the departments in the Faculty of Engineering were involved in the process ýof making what has been dubbed the Shell Marathon Vehicle or SMV, adding that the engineers who produced the car have ensured that they strictly adhered to the recommended size.
“We signified interest to participate in the competition last year, and that made us one of the three universities from Nigeria to be selected for the contest after passing the first and second stages of the competition.
“As you can see, we have produced two cars with most of the materials sourced locally and on the average, we can say the project is at 75% ýcompletion level. Therefore, our contingents are expected to leave Nigeria for Rotterdam in Netherlands on May 15 for the competition.“We are confident that Ahmadu Bello University will win the competition because all work done are strictly according to specification prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the competition,” he said.
The Head of Department ýsaid the Engineering Faculty has been humbled by the feat already achieved and their next plan is to construct another urban concept prototype car using gasoline and a battery electric vehicle with the involvement of Chemical Engineering Department.
He expressed satisfaction that, in the ongoing project, Mechanical Engineering Department has been the harrow-head, noting that, the oil company solely financed the making of the cars by providing the seeds money to the tune of N10 million.
”The Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha who was overwhelmed by the gesture also doled out N2 million to further encourage our team of Engineers. And as it is today, we have sufficient funds being judiciously utilised for the project,” he said.
He also disclosed that the university will after the programme go into partnership with automobile companies to share their expertise with the institution for the benefit of students, researchers and lecturers. This he said will set the ground for the university to start automotive engineering.
However, to the students directly involved in the project’s manufacturing, the Shell competition is an eye opener that, with grant, they can develop made in Nigeria vehicles.
The lead students, Sadiq Yusuf, Folorunsho Taiwo and Azeezat ý Salman were in high spirit to take their invention to Netherlands, bring home glory to Nigeria and face new challenge afterwards.
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Going big in used cars
The business of importing used car is hot, prompting business owners to pay more attention to it than ever. To many, the market is huge and largely untapped. DANIEL ESSIET reports.
Chief Executive Officer, SetGroup Nigeria Limited, Mr. SanmiAkindipe, has been at the heart of investment forecasting and financial advisory. This culminated in the birth of his firm, Set Group, a finance company, which helps people to manage wealth.
But he has other business ideas in mind. He mulled real estate as a potentially big opportunity and set up a subsidiary to handle estates in Lagos and Ogun States. One of his estates is in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.
He did not stop at that. He has extended his tentacles to importation and agriculture. Forming a part of his importation business is fairly-used cars, which he has a ready market for. According to him, the automobile market is huge and growing bigger every year.
According to experts, trading in new and used cars, motorcycles, buses and trucks is now a multi-billion dollar business on the continent and Nigeria alone spends about $5 billion every year importing vehicles (especially second-hand) from the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.For Akindipe, used-vehicle sales is more profitable. This is confirmed by the increasing dealership, relying on used-vehicle profits, to boost that business.
Consequently, many dealers want to grab that opportunity, especially because the volumes are accompanied by fat margins.
As a result, Akindipe has resolved to expand the business. His strategy is importing used cars that are popular with luxury buyers. These include cars such as Toyota, Honda, Ford, lexus and Range Rover and newer vehicle models which lots of people want to own too.
On the average every year, more than 40 million brand new cars are sold across developed and high income economies such as th USA, Canada, Europe, Japan and South Korea by people who want to trade in their used cars for these brand new ones and pay the difference in price.
This has created business opportunities for people like Akinidipe.
He said people are looking for cars seen as leaders in innovation and energy efficiency.
As a strategy, he prefers to make N300,000 profit margin per car and sells five cars in three months than wait to make one million naira profit margin on the sale of one car in six months or more. This way, according to him, funds can be grown and turned around faster.
He explained, however, that high prices and high tariffs have affected demands for luxury cars and Sp[orts Utility Vans (SUVs). “But that notwithstanding, many Nigerians can still make money,” he said.
Akindipe is staking much on fairly-used vehicles over the next few years and he could sell hundreds of them annually.
He said while there is a huge opportunity to sell and make money from brand new cars, the capital required is huge.
As a result, new entrants should consider the opportunities in used vehicles and how to make money from them.
He is determined to help young entrepreneurs get into the sale of clean used cars in the near future
Emphasising the need for trading in used cars, he noted that it pays to look at credible sources for used cars imports and how cheaply one can bring them even with increased duties .
For instance, he said a new entrant, who is fully mentored can import a car with N1.5 million and make a profit of N300,000 from one transaction.
From the comfort of their homes, Akindipe said Nigerians can use the internet to buy used vehicles and have them shipped to their locations.
Due to the growing numbers of vehicles imported, he said there are opportunities for Nigeria to make money from importing vehicle spare parts and accessories. Entrepreneurs can choose from a wide range of products to deal in, including ball bearings, body panels, mechanical parts, lubricants, tyres and several other items used on vehicles.
Currently, there is demand for imported used parts because they are cheap, perceived as genuine and are often in good condition.
Mechanics buy used engines and there a big market for re-conditioned automobiles.
To succeed in the spare parts business, he said business owners must understand the needs in the market to be able to determine the types of spare parts/accessories that are in demand and what vehicle models are popular with consumers.
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Cars, tricycles for women in Enugu
A non-governmental organisation, Adadioranma Foundation, has provided various items for no fewer than 1000 women in Enugu State. The items included cars, Keke NAPEP, hair driers, grinding engines, among others.
Speaking during the event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the benefactor, Mrs. Nkoli Imo said she was moved by the suffering of women, especially in rural communities.
Imo, who said she was not a politician, noted that her action was merely driven by passion to equip the women and use them to touch other lives in their immediate communities.
She charged those who benefited from the free car initiative to use the vehicle for the good of the people.
“As I hand over the keys to these beneficiaries today, I urge you to use it for the good of mankind and not for selfish reasons; use it to assist vulnerable people any time you meet them on the road”, she said.
Turning to those who benefited from Keke NAPEP, hair driers, grinding engines, among others, Mrs Imo said, “as you do businesses, help other people around you; make effort to make other people share in your joy”.
She, however, charged the over 1000 women to make sure they cast their votes for the right candidate in the February general elections.
“Collect your Permanent Voter’s Card and vote for the right candidate, especially those who have track records of helping the poor; don’t vote for parties, vote for individuals”, she further advised.
She equally announced a scholarship to university level and a N200,000 cash award for a teenager, who presented a modem 2-storey building, which he personally constructed.
The coordinator of the Adadioranma Foundation in Enugu State, Mr. Nnamdi Anigbo and an Abuja based philantropist, Mrs. Theodora Obi-Okeke, described the initiative as “unprecedented in the history of Enugu State”.
According to Anigbo, “This is the first time an individual, who is not a politician, is distributing Jeeps, Keke NAPEP and many other items, as well as 750 bags of rice to our people”.
On her part, Obi-Okeke said: “I’m here because I share in her passion; we are equally involved in a similar activity, though in the area of free health care.
“I commend the donor and urge the beneficiaries to use these items for the overall good of mankind”.
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10 wards get council chief’s cars
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council Hon. Ishaku Tete has donated 14 cars to 10 ward chairmen wards of the council.
Presenting the vehicles, the chairman described it as part of the dividend of democracy from his administration, saying that the vehicles will facilitate easy movement during the campaign and general elections.
He advised the wards chairmen who benefited from gift of cars to take advantage of the occasion and make judicious use of the vehicles.
Also speaking, the PDP Flag bearer for the House of Representative to represent Abuja South, Hon. Danlandi Zhin, expressed gratitude to Hon. Shaban Tete for the gesture, pointing out that, the Nigeria situation, though worrisome, is not beyond solution.
He further stressed the importance and efficacy of prayers, that Nigeria needs the prayers of every citizen for it to move forward, adding that Nigeria would be healed of all its political and socio-economic problems, if everyone takes it as a duty to always pray for the country and the sustenance of democracy.
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2015: 10 most efficient automobiles model
Gasoline prices fell at the end of 2014, but it doesn’t mean they will stay that way for 2015. For now, the only way to guarantee that one won’t be spending a ton of monthly budget on gasoline is buying one of the most efficient cars in the market.
As you might guess, most are of the electrified variety, though one plug-in hybrid did make the list. Here are the 10 most efficient automobiles of the 2015 model year, according to the EPA ratings on Fueleconomy.gov. Only vehicles with a 2015 model count for this list. Any ties in fuel economy ratings were decided in favour of the vehicle with the higher city rating.
10. Chevrolet Volt
Chevy has a 2016 Volt in store for the Detroit Auto Show, but for now the 2015 model is efficient enough to claim 10th place for the 2015 model year. With 63 miles per gallon in the city and 61 miles per gallon in highway driving (for combined electric and gas use), the Volt remains a standout in economy. Its 38 miles of electric range give it the longest range of any plug-in hybrid for 2015.
9. Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive
At 85 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in the city and 82 miles per gallon in highway driving, the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive is a remarkable performer for a vehicle with 251 pounds-feet of torque. To guarantee the electric B-Class reduced emissions over its life cycle compared to a gasoline B-Class, independent testing agency TÜV made a detailed analysis of the two cars. The results proved emissions were reduced by 24 per cent on the EU electricity grid and 64 per cent on a hydroelectric grid. Electric range for the B-Class is 87 miles.
8. Ford Focus Electric
Ford’s low-volume electric model remains one of the country’s most efficient vehicles. The 2015 model is rated at 110 miles per gallon equivalent in the city and 99 miles per gallon in highway driving. Electric range is clocked at 76 miles. New 2015 Focus Electric models do not improve upon the prior model year’s numbers, but the prices are lower now than they have ever been. A Focus Electric now sells at $29,170.
7. Kia Soul
In terms of overall economy, the 2015 Kia Soul EV ties the Focus Electric at 105 miles per gallon equivalent. For this list, the Soul EV gets the edge because of its impressive 120 miles per gallon in the city. After all, even with a range of 93 miles, these cars are basically city vehicles. Until they cross the 300-mile benchmark, we’ll continue to give the benefit of the doubt to electric vehicles with excellent city economy. For the record, a 2015 Soul EV gets 92 miles per gallon equivalent on the highway.
6. Smart Electric Drive Coupe (tie)
People can make fun of Smart cars for a variety of reasons, but fuel economy is not one of them. Two Smart models tied for fifth and sixth place among the most efficient automobiles of the 2015 model year. The Smart Electric Drive coupe is rated at 122 miles per gallon equivalent in the city and 93 miles per gallon on the highway. (If driving this car on the highway, please be very careful.) It all adds up to a combined 107 miles per gallon equivalent and 68 miles of range.
5. Smart Electric Drive Convertible (tie)
Drop the top on your cute little Smart Electric Drive and you have another fuel economy star. Just because you have the wind blowing through your hair doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a kilowatt of efficiency. You still get the 107 miles per gallon equivalent and 68 miles of range. You just do it in a sexier package. Who needs a Ferrari or a 2015 Mustang convertible? OK, maybe there are millions of people who prefer these cars, but in your Smart cabriolet you’ll never pay for gas again.
4. Nissan Leaf
In terms of efficiency, availability, value, and performance, there is no comparison for the Nissan Leaf. Holding down fourth place with 114 miles per gallon equivalent combined, the Leaf remains one of the two most-efficient cars that people can buy in auto markets across the country. (Others known as compliance cars often just sell in Oregon and California.) Perhaps this combination drove the Leaf to shatter the electric vehicle sales record in the United States in 2014.
3. Fiat 500e
Speaking of compliance cars, the Fiat 500e is “available only in California and Oregon at select Fiat studios.” For those with access, the little guy gets a remarkable 116 miles per gallon equivalent combined, which makes it second-best on the U.S. market. City driving is rated at 122 miles per gallon, while electric range is set at 87 miles by the EPA. Highway driving yields 108 miles per gallon, according to the EPA.
2. Volkswagen e-Golf
With a combined 116 miles per gallon equivalent, the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf tied the Fiat 500e with its overall rating. For this list, it gets the edge with the 126 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving and its conservative estimate of 83 miles in electric range. Bravo to the e-Golf for opening up availability to at least 10 U.S. markets.
1. Chevrolet Spark EV
General Motors book ends the list of most efficient 2015 cars with the Chevy Volt and Chevy Spark EV, the best performer in economy for the model year. Like several cars on this list, the Spark EV is one of the compliance cars that give GM a way to sell more cars in California, US largest auto market. Available in Oregon as well as the Golden State, a Spark EV is rated at a combined 119 miles per gallon equivalent and gets up to 82 miles of electric range.
Where do EV standouts Tesla and BMW stand with their respective 2014 models? The 2014 Tesla Model S is rated at a combined 95 miles per gallon equivalent, which would best the Mercedes B-Class ranked ninth for 2015. As for the BMW i3, its 124 miles per gallon combined rating (137 city MPGe) make it the most efficient vehicle for sale. It just doesn’t have a model wearing a 2015 badge.
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The booming Tokunbo cars trade
Many entrepreneurs are veering into the used cars business. Though it is import-dependent, the venture is paying well despite the government’s decision to increase duty on used cars, DANIEL ESSIET reports.
The used-car market is enjoying a relatively good run.
Buyers are opting for less-expensive used vehicles because of the present economic reality. Though the government says the economy is doing well, with consistent growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), analysts say this has not translated to good life for the citizenry.
With this situation, not many can afford new cars because of the high costs, making the business used car to flourish.
Many entrepreneurs are profiting from it. One of them is the Chief Executive, Livier Global Concept Nigeria Limited, Mr Oliver Adokwu. He has over a decade experience in the car industry. After an apprenticeship under his uncle, he started with two cars.
Today, he runs a thriving firm in Lagos, selling used cars. As people’s salaries have gone up and the standard of living has increased, Adokwu said Nigerians were ready to go hungry to buy cars. He sees opportunities in used cars following high prices and increased demand for luxury cars caused in part by high tariffs on imported new vehicles.
According to him, the second-hand car business thrives due to increasing incomes and people’s aspiration to keep up with the Joneses.
Also, consumers are searching out deals and are still shying away from high-pricesd vehicles in a weaker economy.
As a result, dealership in used-car operations are seeing higher profits, stronger prices and more returns on investment.
It has been an exciting experience selling some of the world’s leading auto brands. He buys used cars from Benin Republic and the firm’s target market is middle class customers.
He tried to sell cheap cars, the average selling price is in the region of N700,000 and above.
Despite the growing popularity of online platforms on which people can sell and buy cars, Adokwu believes his business is not under threat. This is because his clients want to see what they buy before paying and they have come to see him as highly dependable.
To meet demands, Adokwu’s strategy is grabbing low-milleage vehicles, noting that they command the highest prices on the used-car market.
Playing well in the used-car arena, Adokwu sells entry-level small and midsize cars which fall into the affordable price levels for more conservative-conscious consumers.
Generally, the lingering economic woes make for a tough automotive market, used or new. At the moment, the local auto market has not picked up, helping people sucha as Adokwu to make brisk business.
He remains optimistic though significant challenges are still out there.
One of the challenges is that 80 per cent of used cars are not what people expect. Another is corruption at the ports.
Adokwu said a lot of them sell vehicles from Benin Republic because there are a lot of thefts in the ports and customers want cars that have most of the key components intact. Aside from that, increasing number of Nigerians don’t want to use public transport which is chaotic and highly unoraganised. This is encouraging more dealers to go into used cars business. His strategy is selling near-new clean cars of between three and four years old.
The most important lesson he has learnt in the car business is to treat customers with respect.
He advised entrepreneurs to have good relationships with consumers and that entrepreneurs should exercise caution and be honest in their dealings.
He said unstable government policies on cars create an atmosphere of uncertainty that is not positive, and a level of frustration.
The industry does not have a comprehensive and systematic used car evaluation system. At the moment, used cars are priced according to each dealer’s evaluation, without applying any objective process or standard.
The lack of a used car after-sales service system is also having an influence on consumer confidence within the used-car marketplace, causing a delay in proper development.
But Adokwu has had to make changes to provide customers with reassurance after purchasing used cars.