The Nation Newspaper

Tag: importation

  • Experts condemn importation of chicken, eggs

    Agriculture experts have condemned the importation of chicken and eggs into Nigeria, urging the government at all levels to integrate rural women and youths into the poultry business.

    One of them, Prof. Funso Sonaiya,  a lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, who spoke at the launch of African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) in Nigeria, described the training and empowerment of rural dwellers as the best way of reducing poverty and improve food production.

    Delivering a paper on “Chicken Genetics Resources and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Nigeria, he said: “A few chickens can be a step towards food security and poverty eradication in the rural areas”.

    The Director, Biotech Centre, Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Prof. Funmi Adebambo, explained that the project was aimed at the economic empowerment and improved health and nutrition of the rural dwellers.

    She said: “Over 70 per cent of Nigerians living in the rural area covered by this definition of rural poor and who in 2001 were found to have contributed over 0.8 million tonnes of meat and 1.1 million tonnes in 2004 from over 117.3 million indigenous chicken in 2001 and 144.2 million in 2004 are still being neglected, rendered voiceless and left to their fate in abject poverty.”

    She noted that the launching of ACGG programme would fashion the pathway for innovative and strategic integration of millions of Nigerians made up of women and youths into the poultry value chain.

     

  • Forex: CBN moves against importers of rice, cement

    Forex: CBN moves against importers of rice, cement

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that importers of rice, cement and other products will no longer have access to Foreign Exchange from the CBN, Banks and Bureau De Change for such importation.

    The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the measure would prevent further depletion of the country’s foreign reserve.

    He said the country was spending huge amount to import things that could be produced locally.

    Emefiele said the apex bank would not continue to support the importation of such items through the use of the hard earned foreign exchange.

    Some of the products include margarine, palm kernel, palm oil products, meat and processed meat products, vegetables, private airplanes and jets, Indian incense, tinned fish, galvanised steel sheet, roofing sheet and furniture.

    “Importers who may want to continue importing these goods would have to sort their foreign exchange from their own private sources.

    “The CBN will continue to be vigilant around this policy, keep reviewing the list of items as it becomes comfortable that these items can be produced locally if we apply ourselves sufficiently.

    “This policy change is in line with the believe that Nigeria cannot attain its true potentials by simply importing everything into the country.

    “We have to decide what we really want for our country and I believe that the time is now for that deep and honest conversation,’’ he said, adding that in spite of relative positive GDP growth over the past seven years, there was no corresponding reduction in unemployment and poverty.

    He said bank’s analyses of the situation had compelled it to put to a stop forex access to some of these goods to encourage local production and consumption for economic development.

    The CBN chief also said that the Federal Government was spending about N1.3 trillion on the average annually to import rice, fish, sugar and wheat.
    “Why should we continue importing rice into Nigeria when vast amount of paddy rice produced by local farmers across rice belts are being wasted and ignored.
    “What will it take for these importers to stop importation and go into processing this locally produced rice.

    “Why are they not utilising large expands of arable lands for cultivation instead of importing rice into the country,’’ he said.

    Emefiele said that Nigeria had been creating jobs for other countries, while importing rice into the country.

    He said it was unfortunate that sardines, tooth picks, among others, were imported into the country.

    Emefele said the apex bank had no power to ban the importation of the items, but noted that it would work hard to ensure support for local production.

    He said local production would reduce poverty, unemployment and pressure on the reserve. “I believe that the current situation we found ourselves affords us a unique opportunity to embrace self sufficiency in Nigeria.
    “We should also reduce our appetite for everything and anything foreign, conserve reserve and create jobs at home for our people.

    “With full complement of the bank management, we would continue to look for areas which the bank can play a catalytic financial role to achieve the goal in the near future,’’ he said.

    On lifting of ban on importation of textiles and furniture by the Nigeria Customs, he said CBN would not provide foreign exchange for people that would want to import such products.

  • ‘Chicken importation costs N660b’

    Nigeria spent N660 billion to import 1.2 million metric tonnes (MT) of frozen chicken, National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria Dr. Ayoola Oduntan has said.

    This, he said, was four times greater than local output and exceeded the industry capacity of 650,000 MT.

    Dr. Oduntan, who puts Nigeria’s poultry demand at 1.5 million MT yearly, admitted that the industry produced 300,000 MT in 2014.

    He spoke at a workshop in Abuja, tagged: “The Economic and Health implications of Smuggled Poultry Products”.

    Dr. Oduntan said: “As at 2014, locally-produced chicken production, estimated at 300, 000 metric tons, a capacity utilisation of 46 per cent in an industry that boasts of 650,000 MT.

    “Also, 1.2 million metric tons of frozen chicken (N660 billion, equivalent to $2.75 billion) was imported.

    “This was four times greater than what was produced locally and exceeding the industry capacity. A clear point here is that local poultry industry is far reaching its growth elastic limit.”

    The industry, he said, could create jobs if the activities of smugglers were regulated.

    He observed that reducing smuggling by 30 per cent would result in one million jobs in 12 months.

    Dr. Oduntan said: “Given necessary support, the industry will make significant contribution to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), creating jobs and stabilising the food and nutrition needs while also boosting rural economies.

    “At the primary production level, the poultry industry presently consumes two million MT of maize and 750 MT of soya beans, thus providing employment for thousands.

    “To fully utilise the balance of the industry’s capacity of additional 350,000 MT will translate to significant benefits through 350,000 new jobs in maize production; 100,000 in soya production, 75,000 in processing and 500,000 in ancillary raw materials, products and services.

    “Reducing smuggling by 30 per cent will result in the creation of one million jobs. So why not do away with smuggling and stop exporting jobs from Nigeria, by enriching other nations?

    “The future of the Nigerian poultry industry hinges delicately on firm decisions by policy makers to reverse the unwholesome trends that tend to tilt the balance in favour of smugglers while putting local producers in jeopardy.’’

  • Stakeholders seek laws to regulate used car importation

    Stakeholders seek laws to regulate used car importation

    Stakeholders have called for laws to regulate the importation of used European cars, which have reached the end of their lives.

    A former Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN) said such laws should set a limit to the age of vehicles brought into the country.

    He spoke in an interview with reporters at a colloquium in Lagos to mark the 2015 Earth Day, organised by the Kuramo Conferences and the Resource Innovation and Solutions Network Nigeria (RISSN), initiators of the Sustainability School Lagos. The theme was: Solutions for a sustainable future.

    A German chemist and toxologist, Dr. Beate Kummer said Nigeria had become a dumping ground for “end-of-life” vehicles meant for recycling in Europe.

    She said about 300,000 of such cars were pushed into Nigeria in 2012, adding: “Nigeria is a huge market for end-of-life vehicles, which are sold for dumping prices. These vehicles are often smuggled from Europe or North America through over 1,400 illegal routes.”

    Shashore said Nigeria can stop being a dumping ground for such rejected items through the enactment of relevant laws and proper regulation.

    “We have learned that there is an end-of-life designation for European cars. We don’t have legislation that creates a cut-off period for the end-of-life of a vehicle, the point at which a vehicle must be recycled.

    “We don’t have legislation that can designate use of batteries, telephones and our inverters at home. They become hazardous and harmful when they are not disposed of properly. It affects the soil and the water, and drinking it can lead to cancer.

    “If we have the knowledge as legal practitioners, we can lobby for a framework to be created. That is a lacuna in our laws right now. All we do is find ways in which we discourage it hopefully by increasing the importation duty.

    “Some of these vehicles have reached the end of their lives in the countries of their importation. There is no framework.

    “We hope that will be one of the points that should make the agenda of this colloquium,” Shasore said.

    RISSN Director Dr Olufemi Olarewaju called for the strengthening of the legal framework to reduce the import of rejected vehicles and other expired and harmful appliances into Nigeria.

    “Advocacy is what we need to be a part of. We’ll be doing a lot of engagements,” he told reporters. First of all we don’t even know what the legal framework is. In terms of abandoned vehicles for instance, why should a car that is condemned somewhere in the world be able to come into Nigeria freely?

    “In our situation most of the time the laws are in the books. We just have challenges in enforcing them. The legal framework is significant because it is based on it that the private sector can operate; they need to obey the laws of the land. It’s a critical component of what we need to achieve going forward.”

    Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) Mr Ola Oresanya believes having a strong database of what is imported would help in regulation.

    He, however, argued that what is considered old or useless in one country may not been seen as such another, saying: “What is ‘end-of-life’ in Europe may not be ‘end-of-life’ here. You define what is ‘end-of-life’. It’s a relative word really; it’s not absolute.”

    Among the guests were Dr Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), former Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) president, Mrs Ayo Obe; environmentalist Newton Jibunoh; Country Director, Africare Nigeria Dr Orode Doherty; Manager, First Bank Sustainability Centre, Lagos Business School Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu; ms. Baerbel Freyer of the German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, among others.

     

     

  • Marketers halt importation as petrol scarcity persists

    Marketers halt importation as petrol scarcity persists

    Fuel queues grew longer in many cities at the weekend — no thanks to thedisagreement over subsidy between the government and marketers.

    It was gathered that because marketers have reduced their import, the scarcity may persist.

    But the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) plans to triple its supplies to mitigate the shortfall.

    Many filling stations in major cities, including Lagos and Abuja, at the weekend either did not sell the product or sold above the N87 price. Many sold at between N97 and N110 per litre.

    There were queues at filling stations. The situation got worse in Abuja yesterday, with many stations under lock and key.

    The few that opened to customers were besieged by residents. Queues extended to the roads.

    Besides, the petrol stations which operated yesterday only engaged in skeletal services, selling with few pumps.

    At 3.00pm in Kubwa, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Oando stations were shut.

    The NIPCO opposite them was overwhelmed by customers.

    According to some of the motorists, who were sweating in the scoching sun, they had queued up for petrol as early as 6.00am.  It sold petrol for N87.

    Oando at Dutse Junction, also on the Kubwa expressway, had a long queue.

    There were two queues stretching over a kilometre to the NNPC super mega station on the same expressway.

    Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, at the weekend cautioned the public to desist from panic buying.

    In a statement, the corporation said it was working with all downstream industry stakeholders.

    The statement said: “ The management of the NNPC has called on members of the public not to engage in panic purchase and hoarding of petroleum products as the Corporation is working with all downstream industry stakeholders to eliminate the noticeable artificially, induced fuel queues in some fuel stations.”

    Alegbe added that because of the prevailing situation, the corporation, which has been responsible for 50 per cent of nationwide product supply, has stepped in to address the scarcity by tripling supply from their tank farms in Lagos and other areas in the country, which will be trucked to the hinterland. He told The Nation that the NNPC within 48 hours from Sunday will be able to inject 600, 103.047 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit (petrol) equivalent of 688 million litres into the market.

    He urged to consumers to exercise patience and not engage in panic buying as the scarcity will be arrested as from tomorrow.

    The initial cause of the scarcity was a reaction to oil marketers’ report that their stock level was down and the replenishment was not feasible because of unpaid subsidies that stood at N264 billion. The signal from the marketers that they would not be able to import fuel compelled some retail outlets to slow down on sale.

    However, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had a meeting with the marketers last week promised that the debt would be fully paid by end of this month. Based on this promise, the marketers agreed to continue with importation of petrol.

    However, the National Assembly last week cut the 2015 subsidy budget of N200 billion by half. This action, The Nation learnt, didn’t go down well with the marketers as their fears were heightened that the government may renege on their promise to pay the outstanding debt let alone additional debt. The marketers before now have been showing concern over budgetary allocation of N200 billion for subsidy in 2015, wondering if that may mean a step to full deregulation of the downstream sector.

    Although the Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore and the President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo, could not be reached yesterday, Olawore confirmed to reporters that there was a drop in MOMAN members’ stock but with the meeting held with the Minister of Finance, they would step up importation.

    For IPMAN, it was learnt that the level of debt owed them is enormous. Theirs is a complex case because The Nation learnt that many of their members have issues with clearance on the imports they made and without the clearance there will be no payment.

    Besides, The Nation also gathered that the banks had stopped granting letters of credits (LCs) to IPMAN members, which worsened the supply situation.

    At the moment, only the NNPC through its subsidiary, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), is importing petrol.

  • SAHCOL urges zero tariff on equipment importation

    SAHCOL urges zero tariff on equipment importation

    The Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling  Company Limited,  Alhaji  Olu Owolabi has urged the Federal Government to grant zero tariff on importation  of ground handling equipment.

    He said the zero tariff has become imperative because of the high cost of acquiring heavy duty equipment used for group handling.

    Owolabi said since government granted zero tariff on aircraft spare parts about two years ago,  ground handling companies have not benefitted.

    He said same should apply to the heavy duty machines used by handling companies in order to ensure rapid growth in the aviation sector.

    He said: “Government meant well for the industry when it said it was embarking on the upgrade of airports. It should be supportive when handling companies are buying airlines’ needs.”

    The SAHCOL boss decried double taxation by the airport authority and expressed the hope that the committee set up by the aviation minister will address the  trend.

    He lamented that what thev firm got from airlines are not commensurate with services rendered by the handling companies.

    While saying SAHCOL would have been listed at the stock exchange, Mr. Owolabi regretted that the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease stalled its movement into two West African countries adding that negotiations were on top gear with some countries in the sub-region before the Ebola outbreak.

    With the best equipment in ground handling in the country, Mr Owolabi said the company was not where it ought to be adding that the more the company expands, the more it needs to acquire equipment.

  • Nigeria spends $3.3b on steel importation, says Fed Govt

    Nigeria spends $3.3b on steel importation, says Fed Govt

    Nigeria has about two million metric tonnes of iron ore reserve, yet it spends $3.3 billion annually importing steel and iron, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has said.

    He said the country had the second largest iron ore deposit in Africa and the 12th largest in the world, but it may end up spending $15 billion every year to import steel.

    The minister spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the inauguration of the Cold Roll Mill Project of Kamwire Industries Ltd.

    He said President Goodluck Jonathan “has set up a committee on how we can ensure that our industries, especially in the real sector, have access to affordable finance and the Bank of Industry will play a major role.”

    His words: “We spend $3.3billion every year importing these items. In the next decade, because of the way we are growing, $3.3billion will become $15billion.

    “Today, we have about a minimum of $14billion committed to the petrochemical sector, where its spread, as I have just described to you, hopefully will be gained by 2017 or 2018, when we will be self- sufficient and we will not import petroleum products.

    “Any country, which relies on exporting raw materials without having a strong industrial and related service sector will remain poor. We have made a mistake for decades thinking we are a rich nation, exporting crude, thinking we have money. But we do not have money. I am your former Finance Minister, so I know. We may have that competitive advantage, but what makes us different is what you do with that competitive advantage.

    “We are working on infrastructure and power already, with a lot of commitments going into the power sector. We are working on it and we will get there. It takes three years or thereabouts from where you start.”

  • Osun: COSEG warns against ‘importation’ of Niger Delta militants

    Osun: COSEG warns against ‘importation’ of Niger Delta militants

    The Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Group (COSEG), has on Monday raised the alarm over plans by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to import hundreds of Niger Delta boys for the Osun election.

    In statement COSEG Chairman and Secretary, Ifedayo Ogunlana and Rasaq Olookoba, the pan Yoruba Organisation said it had it on good authority that the plans were concluded at the weekend.

    COSEG said the plan was the brainchild PDP chiefs.

    The organisation said a top government officials deeply involved in the Niger Delta struggle and who knows the militants inside out, was said to have volunteered to hire the militants.

    COSEG condemned the plan which it described as “double jeopardy” in view of the “heavy policing and militarisation of the state by the Federal Government”.

    The statement added: “We heard from sources that the PDP has enlisted the help of NIGER Delta militants to come to Osun for the election.

    “We in COSEG know the antecedent those linked with this plan and so do not take lightly the sinister plan to storm Osun with militants.

    “We are sending caution to President Goodluck Jonathan to counsel his party chiefs to desist from such obnoxious plan as the people of Osun will resist with all their might any attempt to destabilise the state.”

    The organisation advised Osun people not be intimidated by the presence of the security men saying it had become clear to the security agents that Osun’s election “cannot be rigged because of the massive support of the people enjoyed by Aregbesola”.

  • FG to review importation of waste

    THE Federal Government will review the importation of waste, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, has said.

    The government, she also said, is committed to the management of hazardous chemicals harmful to the environment.

    Mallam said government will take a wholesome look into how electronic waste is imported, inspection of container ships and aggravated sensitisation.

    She also added that the government will embark on campaign and advocacy to farmers on the use of the correct type of pesticides and the need to comply strictly with international conventions on the use of chemicals.

    The minister spoke at the on -going United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya.

    Mallam, in a statement in Abuja by her Special Adviser on Media, Josephine Lohor, called for more partnership from other governments to deal with the issue of chemical management.

    She said: “The role partnership could play to address the worrying issue of chemical management including with small businesses on importing electronic waste cannot be over emphasized.

    “The commitment of Nigeria on the management of chemicals cannot be rivaled and this includes training on the importation of electronic waste, reduction of illegal electronic waste transfer through inspection of container ships, information to farmers about the use of pesticide and strict compliance with International Chemicals Conventions.”

    Other issues to be discussed at the United Nations Environment Assembly include illegal trade in wildlife, financing the green economy, rule of law as it concerns the environment and sustainable development goals.

  • Lawmaker blames govt for importation of generators

    Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Account (State), Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla  said the increasing rate of importation of generating sets into the country is as a result of the ineptitude of Federal Government to provide adequate power supply to the populace.

    The lawmaker who spoke at a weekly programme organised by the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly correspondents at the Assembly complex,  said generator dealers were capitalising on the lapses of the Federal Government to import generators, having known that people have no other choice than to patronise them.

    He said: “The Federal government is to be blamed because it has failed to provide electricity; the generator dealers only have 10 per cent of the blame. If the federal government had done the right thing, the dealers would have no other choice than to stop the importation.”

    The lawmaker, who is also a generator dealer recalled the ENRON project that was initiated by the former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Tinubu, saying that ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo scuttled the innovative idea.

    He pointed out that playing politics with the idea was responsible for the setback in terms of electricity generation in Lagos State, saying government is expected to run irrespective of the political party that is in power.

    Ayinla, who is representing Mushin II constituency, said  majority of Nigerians are living below one dollar per day because of epileptic power supply.

    He argued that lack of electricity supply is responsible for the lacklustre interest in self employment as people can not work independently to provide jobs.

    He said the problem of power also contributed to failure in the manufacturing sector.

    “If you want to go into manufacturing sector, you must be very careful because diesel will finish you out of business.”

    Reacting to the proposed part time legislature proposed by members of the National Conference, the lawmaker said “though, it sounds like a good idea, I don’t think it is good for us here in Nigeria.”

    He was of the view that making legislative work to be on part time, will make it difficult for government to achieve much in terms of legislation.