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  • Boosting agric through start-ups

    A new development is taking place in the industry. Start-ups are growing agribusiness and providing jobs for youths, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The agriculture industry is witnessing a revolution – the establishment of agritech startups.

    One of them is Farmcrowdy, which provides an investment platform for farmers to raise  capital.  The public can invest as little as N30, 000 to support various agricultural projects, such as raising poultry and growing crops.

    The firm’s co-founder and CEO, Onyeka Akumah, was  a senior employee of Jumia, which he quit to start Travel Best, a logistics firm.

    In 2016, he and other co-founders established Farmcrowdy.

    The  group works with  investors, who support farming.

    Once investors have selected their projects and transferred funds through its e-payment portal, they can monitor the projects through the online dashboard  of the platform.

    At the end of the project, the crops are harvested and the investors receive a share of the profits.

    In its first year, the startup worked with 900 farmers.Today, it has 11,000 clients.

    The group has established Farmgate Africa (FGA), another  platform to integrate the supply chain of crops.

    He said Farmcrowdy took the initiative to establish the digital food aggregator to boost market linkages.

    Leaning on the experience and  expertise of the Farmcrowdy Group, Farmgate Africa, will, in the next two years, focus on deploying funds across various markets.

    It  will focus on beef processing and developing aggregation capacities across maize, soybean, sorghum and dried-split ginger for markets across Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United Kingdom (UK).

    Akumah said: “Launching Farmgate Africa gives us huge joy with the expectations placed on us to continue to innovate and build new solutions driven by technology to finance agriculture. We have received a lot of feedback from farmers and major agro buyers who need to fund market access to agro-commodities but are constantly held back because the market place is unstructured. Farmgate Africa is our response to this need.”

    Farmgate Africa is led by Kenneth Obiajulu,  one of its co-founders. It will bridge the gap between rural farmers and the market place, by providing major processors and international buyers the opportunity to purchase commodities directly from local farming clusters through technology.

    The startup has identified major processors and international buyers for commodities. It has also identified production clusters and built relationships with local farmers.  The processors will also  place orders on the platform. In addition, Farmgate will deliver commodities to major processors.

    Obiajulu said   growth capital and farmland resources are critical to farmers and agro entrepreneurs looking to grow into viable farming businesses.

    The system, according to him, allows Nigerians fund the buying and selling of what farmers’ harvest. This will give every farmer that has produced high quality farm produce the opportunity to sell to major buyers through Farmgate Africa’s portal.

    He said Farmgate Africa platform will serve to build relationships between local farmers and major processors, aggregating commodities while paying attention to the unique specifications of the buyers.

    Obiajulu said: “Our business model is one that brings the farmers closer to the processors by eliminating several layers of intermediaries. By doing this, Farmgate optimises market access to African farmers and also improves their income by at least 30 per cent.”

    Obiajulu explained that Farmgate would focus on four key sectors in the next two years:    beef processing over 5,000 metric tonnes of carcass beef with a major partner in the Southwest and developing aggregation capacities for over 100,000 metric tonnes of maize for onward delivery to a major processor.

    Others are developing aggregation capacities for over 40,000 metric tonnes of soybeans for delivery to a major processor and for over 3,000 metric tonnes of dried split ginger for onward export to the UAE and Britain.

    Vice-President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) Emmanuel Ijewere said Farmcrowdy has a lot of potential.

    As farmers face declining commodity prices and tighter farm margins, he said such startups will only succeed if they can prove to farmers that they can deliver more value per acre through actionable insights.

    He reiterated NABG’s commitment to work with the private sector with the goal of improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers in Nigeria.

    The Country Director of Techno Serve, Dr. Larry Umunna, said the organisation helps farmers and agribusinesses better manage their own crops and finances.

    Umunna said the organisation is ready to partner Farmgate to ensure farmers are introduced to improved agricultural interventions.

     

     

  • Poll: ICPC moves to seek solutions to vote buying

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences  Commission (ICPC) on Thursday said its research wing, the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria(ACAN) will organize dialogue to find solutions to vote and results buying.

    It said the measure is part of a long term to protect the sanctity of the nation’s electoral process.

    These disclosures were made by the Provost of ACAN, Prof. Sola Akinrinade at a briefing in Abuja.

    Akinrinade said: “the truth is that we are all living witnesses to the various challenges relating to our electoral process.

    Read Also: ICPC tasks NASS on transparency

    “It is almost an open knowledge that vote buying is a phenomenon that has been part and parcel of our electoral process, including when the nation adopted Option A4 system.

    “We are looking at addressing the issues at fundamental level. This is why we are g=holding a dialogue with all the stakeholders. There is also the phenomenon of results buying.

    “When we finish with the dialogue, we will issue a policy brief which will guide the legislature at all levels to checkmate vote and results buying.”

    While giving more insights into the dialogue, which will hold on Tuesday, Akinrinade said the nation cannot continue to do things the old ways.

    He added: ”The National Dialogue on Eradicating Electoral Corruption with focus on Vote Buying is very apt at this critical point. The electoral process is an important pillar of democracy. Therefore, corrupt practices in the process raise serious concerns.

    “While the 2019 elections have been conducted, the matters associated with them will continue to reverberate until the next elections in 2023. The regular contestation of the outcome of elections is a pointer to the need to address foundational issues relating to them.

    “The National Anti-Corruption Strategy specifically requires stakeholders to carry out activities which aim, “To strengthen the electoral process across the Federal, State and Local Government Levels to engender public confidence.” The ultimate goal is to engender a “more credible electoral culture” in the country.

    “It is, therefore, intended that this Dialogue shall precipitate a policy framework that will guide the electorate, the election management body, political parties and anti-corruption agencies on reporting and dealing with vote buying in the electoral process.

    “Stakeholders and other participants expected at the dialogue, which is to be chaired by the Chairman, Independent National Election Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, include key officials from the executive and legislative branches of Government; the national electoral umpire, [NBC and representatives of political parties; Anti-Corruption and Law Enforcement Agencies; Faith-based and Civil Society Organizations; Development Partners; Organized Labor; academics, and others.”

    He explained why ICPC through ACAN was organizing policy dialogues.

    “ACAN Policy Dialogues are designed to bring topical anticorruption issues to the fore of national discourse.

    “The Dialogues seek to engender discussions that will aid the formulation or modification of policies and legislation on topical matters.

    “It is intended that the Policy Dialogues will focus on matters that require urgent attention because they lack either effective policy guidance or suitable legislative frameworks. The Dialogues will create an avenue to discuss key issues, share points of view and try to find common ground, agreement or consensus on the policy matter in focus.

    “The ultimate goal of all our programming activities is to achieve critical reductions in corruption incidences in the polity through prevention. If we are to achieve sustainable development, then we must complement current enforcement measures in the war against corruption with effective prevention strategies.”

  • Hubby’s death: Court rejects wife’s motion on confessional statement

    A Lagos High Court on Thursday dismissed an application, praying it to reject the  confessional statement of a lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, accused of killing her husband, Symphorosa, last May 3.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye held that Otike-Odibi’s request, through her lawyer,  Oluseye Banjoko, did not satisfy the requirements of the law.

    The judge rejected the defendant’s prayer that a trial-within-trial should not be conducted to ascertain how the statement was obtained.

    She fixed the trial for May 23 to determine whether the  statement allegedly obtained from the defendant by the police last May 4 should be admitted in evidence.

    According to Banjoko, the statement was invalid because it was  made in her lawyer’s absence  and without being videoed, as required by law, among other reasons.

    He relied on Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State, 2015 and Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Dismissing the application, Justice Akintoye held: “This court does not find that the said confessional statement was obtained contrary to Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).”

    The court also considered Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that a person accused or detained has a right to remain silent or avoid answering any question until such person has consulted a lawyer.

    Justice Akintoye said: “The defence counsel has not been able to establish that the defendant was not given the option to remain silent or to avoid answering any question until after consultation with a legal practitioner or any other person of her choice. This has not been proved to be so. He who asserts must prove…

    “It is also important to point out that the defendant, of all people, was well aware of her right, being a lawyer herself and as such, could have decided not to speak to any police officer.

    Read Also: Court suspends judgment on suit seeking to sack Saraki, 55 others

    “To now imply that she is not aware of her rights or that the police forced her to speak, appears to be very far-fetched to this court.

    “The end result is that I do not find that the confessional statement being sought to be tendered has in any way contravened Section 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos State, 2015 or Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “The prayer for an order rejecting the confessional statement for having been procured contrary to the above stated laws is hereby refused…the motion…is hereby dismissed.”

    Otike-Odibi was arraigned last June 13, on a two-count charge of murder and misconduct with regard to a body.

    She is accused of stabbing her husband, Symphorosa,  also a lawyer,  to death and cutting his manhood last May 3 at their Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Lekki, Lagos, home.

    On January 23, a prosecution witness, Olusegun Bamidele, told the court that Otike-Odibi, 48, hit Symphorosa on the head with a frying pan several times before stabbing him in the stomach with a kitchen knife.

    Bamidele said Otike-Odibi told him that she then sat beside her husband’s body on the bed and said: “‘If this your manhood is the one that is giving you licence not to have the feeling of another person, it’s better we cut it off,” which she proceeded to do before putting a piece of it in his right hand.

    The witness, an Assistant Superintendent in the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba, said he recorded her statements with her approval, after cautioning her.

    But when Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Titilayo Shitta-Bey sought to tender Otike-Odibi’s two statements, Banjoko opposed her, following which the judge ordered a trial- within-trial to determine the statements’ admissibility.

    But on February 25, Otike-Odibi brought an application  to stop the trial. Rather, he urged it to reject the confessional statements.

     

  • Butcher arraigned for ‘attempting to steal from church’

    A butcher, Rasheed Ayoola on Thursday appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly breaking into African Church, Lagos, with intent to steal.

    Ayoola, 27, who lives at No. 10, Ilogbo St., Ogun, is facing  charges of conspiracy and unlawful break-in.

    He, however,  pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Read Also: Residents angry over butchers’ ‘illegal activities’

    The Police prosecutor, Sgt. Samuel Ishola, told the court that the defendant committed the offences  with some persons still at large, on March 11, at 3:05 a. m., at Marina, Lagos.

    Ishola said the defendant unlawfully gained entry into the Church, but was caught before he could steal anything.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 307 stipulates three-year jail term for unlawful break-in, while Section 411 provides two years for conspiracy.

  • Ekiti community seeks execution of Supreme Court verdict on council relocation

    The Eda Oniyo community in Ilejemeje Local Government area of Ekiti State has appealed to Ekiti State government to expedite action on implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    The apex court had on December 14, 2018 gave a judgment, which ordered the relocation of the council headquarters from Iye-Ekiti to Eda Oniyo.

    Chairman, Eda Oniyo Progressives Union Gabriel Ojo Adetifa said the community was worried that over three months after the Supreme Court delivered the judgment, Eda Oniyo was yet to see any progress on the part of the state government on the implementation.

    Ilejemeje Council headquarters was relocated from Eda Oniyo to Iye-Ekiti by the state government in 1997, following which the traditional ruler began litigations to ensure reversal of the action.

    The Supreme Court, in its judgment in the case of Oba Awolola (Eleda of Eda Oniyo) Vs Governor of Ekiti State and two others, said the relocation of the headquarters from Eda Oniyo was unknown to law and ordered it move back to the town.

    Consequently, the state government on December 29, 2018, inaugurated a seven-member implementation committee headed by the deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, to among other “advise government on the administrative and practical implications of the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    Read Also: Ekiti justice sector reform ‘ll reorder society, says Fayemi

    Other terms of reference of the committee billed to submit its report on or before March 29, 2019, included “broad consultation with relevant stakeholders and initiative to “enhance peaceful co- existence among inhabitants of the affected communities”.

    Adetifa said in a statement made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that “information at the community’s disposal showed that the seven-man committee on the implementation of the judgment expected to submit its report on March 29 did not meet for once since its inauguration.

    “None of the committee members was at Eda Oniyo here on the matter. Even the three months given to the committee lapsed on March 29, we have not heard that they had submitted their report.

    “At our meetings with the deputy governor, he gave us assurances that the judgment would be implemented and that the committee was working. We are expecting. We are worried. The government should do this without delay,” he said.

    Egbeyemi had at a meeting with the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Oladipo Awolola and leaders of Eda Oniyo, praised the tenacity of the community in following the path of peace in the pursuit of justice throughout the 19 years the case lasted in the courts.

  • Fed Govt spends N79.2b on monthly pension

    The Federal Government spent a total of N79.2 billion on the payment of monthly pensions to pensioners last year, the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Sharon Ikeazor, said on Thursday.

    She spoke at the stakeholders forum for pensioners from North Central Zone in Abuja.

    Ikeazor said: “N6.8billion monthly pension was paid to Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Department (CIPPD), N45 billion was paid to pensioners in Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD), about N21.2 billion was paid to pensioners under Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) and N6.1 billion was also paid to pensioners with Police Pension Department (PPD).

    “Under the CSPD, 30,770 pensioners who had not been on the payroll had their benefits computed and put back on the payroll with their arrears paid.

    “As at March 2019, an additional 1,655 have also been computed and put back on the payroll.

    “Under PaPD, an additional 14,678 pensioners from various agencies under the PaPD were verified, benefits computed and paid. They include Delta Steel, NITEL/MTEL, FHA, Savannah Sugar, and NDA – Civilian.”

    “On the issue of 33 per cent arrears, which is the most relevant point that I am sure all pensioners are eager to hear about.

    “As at Monday this week, the Federal Government through PTAD has paid the sum of N2.6billion to 103,000 Civil Service Pensioners who are on PTAD payroll.

    “This is an inherited liability from the last salary increase of 2010. I will like to reassure the majority of parastatals pensioners who have not received their 33 per cent arrears that we have just paid that of Nigeria Railways.

    “The rest of the parastatals pensioners 33 per cent arrears will be paid after the parastatals verification exercise which will commence at the end of April.

    “This is to enable PTAD ascertain its true liability. You are aware that under the Parastatals Pensions Department, PTAD owes between 12 – 24 months of the 33 per cent arrears. But for Police Pensions and Civil Service Pensions, we have a zero balance; meaning that government has cleared all of the 33 per cent arrears.”

    Concerning payment to Next of Kins (NoKs), the PTAD chief said it has paid 337 NoKs over N277million; 649 NoKs of PaPD (NITEL) have been paid over N613.4million; 1,019 of the NoKs in Health/Education sector under the PaPD have been paid a total of N1.9million; lastly, 19 NoKs of Delta Steel have been paid N25.9billion.

    Read Also: Pension complaints and solutions

    She said the only acceptable documentation for the processing of payment to NoK is the letter of administration from state or federal high court.

    The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who was represented by the Director of Legal at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Gabriel Christopher, while commending the PTAD for its exceptional, transparent, and technologically driven innovation and workforce, assured pensioners that the payment of the rest of the parastatals pensioners will take effect in due course.

    The Acting Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar, represented by the Head of Complaint in the Commission, Mr. Michael Ejiofor, commended the progress and successes achieve by the directorate of PTAD, regardless of the many challenges it faces such as low funds.

    Dr. Abel Afolayan of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), said: “Pensioners have never had it this good in the history of this country.”

    While commending PTAD and the administration under President Muhammadu Buhari for clearing backlogs of payments of 33 per cent pension arrears, he however advised the government to pay speedy attention to the payment of the rest of the parastatals pensioners, and to address issues concerning payments to NoKs.

     

  • Fed Govt kicks-off project to deliver additional 624mw in FCT

    The Federal Government on Thursday began the implementation of the construction of nine 330 KV lines to deliver additional 624 megawatts (MW) to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs.

    At completion, the project will add 1,380MVA transformer capacity that is expected to improve power transmission and supply within Abuja and its environs as well as positively impact the socio-economic well-being of the people.

    Speaking at the official groundbreaking ceremony in Dawaki-Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power Dr. Louis Edozien urged the Managing Director, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Ernest Mupwaya and the Generation Company, to ensure of optimal utilisation of the facility, when it is completed in the next two years.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget: FCTA proposes over N30b for projects

    Edozien said: “It is the distribution company that must play the role in taking this extra capacity and delivering it to customers. At the same time, the partnership also expects from the generation companies because if they don’t produce another 624mw, it is only the engineers that will at the end of two years admire the facility.”

    He noted that the ministry aimed at an end -to -end delivery of electricity, which requires a crucial role of the DisCo.

    The Permanent Secretary insisted that it was “time now to reconsider a more purposeful and successful financing intervention at the distribution and retail end of the industry”.

    It is, however, an irony that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is siting the project on the right of way of the high tension passing through Dawaki in Abuja.

    The company is presently weeding out all structures on the right of way throughout the country with the support of governors.

    TCN Managing Director Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed noted that the project was to tackle the problem of electricity transmission in Abuja.

    According to him, Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Programme, which TCN was implementing, was on course as all the components that included the frequency control have been achieved 65 per cent.

  • Perm Sec makes case for effective service delivery

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Alo, has called on labour officers to be vanguards for labour justice by demonstrating professionalism, diligence, transparency and honesty in discharging their duties.

    He made the call at the zonal sensitization workshop on Resolving trade disputes and seeking redress for labour injustice, organised by the ministry for labour officers, in Maraba, Nasarawa State.

    Alo, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajibola, said the objective of the workshop was to articulate procedures for seeking redress on issues of unfair labour practices, adding that employees should know their limitations in order not to infringe on the rights of others.

    Read Also: Perm Sec to civil servants: build capacity, add value to service

    “As professionals in this area, the workshop shall equip you with the skills required to identify levels and sources of labour injustice in the world of work. I am confident that the outcome of the workshop will further ensure that industrial peace and harmony is maintained in work places through strict observance and adherence to the rule of law which guarantees equal rights before the law as well as the extant labour legislations,” he added.

    Alo urged the participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop to equip themselves with the skills required for better performance on the job.

    Earlier, the Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR) Director, Mrs. Omoabie Akpan, welcomed participants and noted  that they were drawn from various departments of the ministry from grade levels 10- 17 because it is expected they should handle dispute.

  • Nigerian Breweries floats N15b commercial papers

    Nigeria’s largest brewer, Nigerian Breweries Plc on Thursday launched a bid to raise N15 billion through issuance of new commercial papers (CPs). The issuance is part of the company’s N100 billion CP programme.

    The brewer is offering 90-day and 182-day CPs to investors with a view to raising short-term funds for its operations. The 90-day CPs carry effective and discount yields of 11.590 per cent and 11.2680 per cent respectively while the 182-day CPs carry 14.430 per cent and 13.4614 per cent respectively.

    Both issuances have been rated Aa by Agusto and AA by Global Credit Rating (GCR).

    The Series 1 90-day CPs are expected to mature on Monday July 22, 2019 while the Series 2 182-day CPs will mature on Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

    The offers opened Thursday and will close on Thursday, April 18, 2019. The settlement date is Tuesday, April 23, 2019.

    The new fund raising comes on the heels of the recent decision of the board of Nigerian Breweries to pay out the entire net profit of N19.4 billion recorded in 2018 as cash dividend to shareholders for the business year, despite decline in the performance of the company.

    Shareholders will receive final dividend of N14.6 billion in addition to N4.8 billion earlier paid by the company. A breakdown showed that shareholders will receive a final dividend per share of N1.83 in addition to interim dividend of 60 kobo, bringing total dividend per share for the year to N2.43.

    Read Also: Nigerian Breweries gets Corporate Affairs Director

    The dividend payout for the 2018 business year represented 41.2 per cent decline on the payout for 2017, reflecting the decline in the performance of the company. Nigerian Breweries had paid out its entire net earnings of N33.01 billion as cash dividend in 2017, representing dividend per share of N4.13.

    Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Nigerian Breweries for the year ended December 31, 2018 showed that turnover dropped by 5.8 per cent from N344.53 billion in 2017 to N324.339 billion in 2018. Operating profit declined by 35.3 per cent from N57.13 billion to N36.96 billion. Profit before tax also dropped from N46.57 billion to N29.36 billion.

    After taxes, net profit declined by 41.2 per cent from N33.01 billion to N19.4 billion. Earnings per share consequently dropped from N4.13 to N2.43 while net asset per share slipped by 6.8 per cent from N22.37 in 2017 to N20.84 in 2018.

    Company Secretary and Legal Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uaboi Agbebaku, stated that the 2018 performance was adversely impacted by the increased excise duty rates that came into effect during the year as well as other challenges in the operating environment.

    Nigerian Breweries had explained that its decision to pay out its entire net profit after tax as cash dividend to shareholders demonstrated its strong performance and confidence over its operations.

  • Easter celebration: Traders lament low patronage

    Barely a week to the Easter celebration, traders at various markets across the country have raised the alarm over low patronage, attributing the situation to cash crunch and low purchasing power of consumers.

    Checks by The Nation Shopping show that sales of goods at various markets remained sluggish, as prices of some staple food items such as rice and semovita have gone up.

    For instance, at the popular Daleko Rice Market in Lagos, the price of local rice has  increased from N12, 500 to N14, 500. Half bag of rice is sold at N7, 300.

    A 10kg of Mama Gold and Golden Penny Semovita sold for N3, 000 as against the original price of N2, 600. The 5kg of same products is sold for N1, 500 each. 5kg of wheat is sold for N1, 300.

    A rice dealer at the market, who declined to have her name in print, said for some time local rice has been minimally available in the market and the increase was evident of the low production of local rice in the country.

    “We bought at the rate of N14, 000. It is a known fact that there is not enough production of rice in the country, hence the reason for the increase.  But the company that supplies us will not tell us that. The local rice is not cheap and there is no money for people to buy,” she said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo to meet Aba traders today

    With significant decrease in prices of beans and rice, traders at Iddo Market also expressed displeasure over poor sales, noting that the unstable price of these staple food items negatively affects their sales.

    “If we buy at a given price today, within few days, the price of that same product will reduce. We cannot but sell at the current reduced price. So in the end, it is a loss for us, said Ekezie, a beans seller.

    At the market, the price of 50kg of beans ranges from N16, 000-32,000, depending on the type of beans, as against N30, 000-N55, 000, which it sold last year.

    A beans dealer, Uche Okoji, explained that the agricultural product is being cultivated bymore farmers, which has invariably reduced the price of beans, yet buyers do not have the money to make purchase.

    Also, varieties of dry fish and stock fish are sold at normal prices. For instance, dry fish is sold for N25, 000-N70, 000 per carton, while a 5kg of stockfish is sold for N5, 000.

    It was the same situation for traders at Ijora Olapa Frozen Food Market and their counterpart at Balogun market who sell wears.

    A 40kg basket of tomatoes at Mile N12 Market ranges from N1, 800- N5, 000, depending on the grade. Chili pepper, red pepper and Tartashe are sold for between N5, 000-N12, 000.

    Similarly, a bag of onions goes for N10, 000, as against N30, 000 last year. A gallon of groundnut oil is sold for between N10, 000-N10, 300. Palm oil goes for between N8, 500-N9, 000.

    At various retail markets, goods were sold at relatively cheap prices, even though retailers expressed uncertainty over price increase before the Easter day.

    However, to encourage more shopping during the festive period, Shoprite, Spar, Jumia,  Startimes digital Tv and other online markets have introduced Easter discount packages for their consumers.