The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Trade Fair

  • Revocation of Lagos Trade Fair Complex concession

    SIR: The once burgeoning   has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons. It is apt to address the dog whistle campaigns that have emerged in the wake of the recent revocation of the concession of LITFC granted to Aulic Nigeria Limited by the Federal Government.

    At its meeting of August 22 and 23, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, revoked the concession of Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFC) to Aulic Nigeria Limited and ordered the secretariat of Bureau of Public Enterprises to commence another privatisation exercise that will lead to the emergence of another concessionaire.  Professor Nick Ezeh, the promoter and chairman of Aulic Nigeria Limited has raised concerns and pushed misleading information over the revocation in the media.

    The Federal Government had to intervene because it could not afford to allow a key national asset to deteriorate in the manner that it has since Aulic Group took over as concessionaire.

    The NCP approved the concession of LITFC in 2007 to Aulic (the concessionaire). The concession of the 322 hectares of land in LITFC was given at a lease fee of N40 billion to be paid over 30 years. The Agreement was signed with Aulic Nigeria Limited on June 29, 2007. Aulic Nigeria Limited paid an entry fee of N200 million in 2008 and the sum of N12, 731,000.00 for the moveable assets. Since then, the company has not paid any additional fees to government, even though it took over the complex nine years ago.

    It is true that the entire complex could not be handed over to Aulic Group owing to resistance by the Traders’ Associations that had subsisting leases and the fact that Parcel B was not available for practical handover.

    However, the NCP, in January 2013, took some major decisions to address the concession challenges, including a facility audit of the assets and tenants at the complex as a prelude to excising the contentious portions of the concession areas occupied by the Traders’ Associations, places of religious worships and Parcel B. The key part of the NCP intervention was that the concession contract was to be renegotiated for a new lease fee to reflect the new area.

    Despite participating in the process that gave rise to the NCP’s decisions, Aulic Nigeria Limited immediately stalled the implementation of the decisions via a petition to the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and filing of a lawsuit.

    In revoking the concession, the NCP noted that the concessionaire had no standard management team in place and therefore, its corporate governance standard was very weak. Council lamented that Aulic Nigeria Ltd had made the implementation of the former’s decisions impossible while making money from illegal leases without any effort to pay the annual lease fees to the federal government since it took over the complex in 2007. It is apt to point out that the concessionaire is currently indebted to the federal government to the tune of N6, 542,172,000.

    It must be noted that the Bureau of Public Enterprises, which serves as the secretariat of NCP, has handled concessions at Nigerian ports and most of the port concessionaries are doing very well and are paying their lease fees. Why is that of LITFC different?

     

    • Sisaa Agboh,

    Bureau of Public Enterprises, Abuja.

  • 500,000 expected at Lagos International Trade Fair

    500,000 expected at Lagos International Trade Fair

    The 2017 edition of Lagos International Trade Fair is expected to attract foreign investment, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, has said.

    The fair, with the theme: “Promoting industriali-sation from economic recovery and sustainable growth”, Oyetayo said, is expected to attract over 200,000 exhibitors from 200 countries, including about 500,000 visitors.

    He said the theme was germane, given the economic realities that require the support of stakeholders for the recovery and sustainability of the economy.

    He asked the Federal Government to ensure an enabling environment for industries and commerce to thrive.

    Oyetayo said a new feature of this year’s fair was the provision of a platform for the industrial and service sectors to interact with players in the economy.

    Others are the planned business-to-business meeting, secondary school essay competition and the Lagos creative industry. Oyetayo said the organisers targeted  creative industry sector because of its capacity to impact positively on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    On the business clinics, he said,  banks and investment houses have been encouraged to take advantage of the business clinic to create an interactive session with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    He said this would enlighten operators on the growing trend in technology in the delivery of quality service to customers.

    He said they went far to ensure that locally-manufactured products were given the pride of place and not to be subsumed by international exhibitors.

    On security, he said, they were working with the anti-bomb, riot and kidnap squad in addition to providing 24-hour security with CCTVs.

    He said his office had accepted offers from the European Union, Japan, China, South Korea, North America and Turkey.

    Others are South Africa, Ghana, and the Republic of Benin.

    This year’s fair is billed to hold in November.

     

  • ‘What exhibitors, visitors’ll gain from ‘Medica Trade Fair’

    Trade Fair Services Limited has explained what West African visitors to Medica 2017 will gain at the world’s biggest medical trade fair.

    The firm, which is West African representatives for Messe Dusseldorf GmbH, organisers of Medica for over three decades, said the annual event is set to host exhibitors and visitors in areas of the healthcare industry in Dusseldorf, Germany.

    This year, the 41st in the series, will hold from November 13 to 16, across 17 exhibition halls and 262 000 sqm of space.

    The company’s Managing Director, Augustine Itua, in a statement, said: “The uniqueness of this event resides in the fact that it has remained the premier networking and communication platform for the global medical technology marketplace. Visitor statistics from Medica 2016 indicate 128,000 international visitors, including 100’s from Nigeria and 1000’s from the West African region chose Medica as the base for their business deals.

    “Over 5,000 exhibitors from 70 countries will use Medica 2017 to present their entire range of new products, services and processes for inpatient and outpatient care. No other event worldwide matches the display of such a wealth of innovations.”

    According to Itua, the trade fair will focus on: Electromedicine/medical technology, laboratory technology/diagnostics, physiotherapy/orthopaedic technology, commodities and consumables, information and communication technology, medical furniture and specialist furnishings for hospitals and practices.

    He said: “Our local healthcare industry is not isolated from the huge leaps in digitisation, artificial intelligence and all the other topical technology buzzwords that abound these days.

    “Exponential growth in Smartphone penetration and the use of health-related apps, the use of wearable devices fitted with activity trackers as well as simple novel solutions for detecting the authenticity of medicines via SMS prove that Nigeria is certainly included in this discourse.”

    Itua noted that some gaps certainly exist between healthcare solutions as currently offered locally versus cutting edge solutions domiciled in more developed environments. He, however, said exposure to new technology was a core requirement to spur the nation’s vast intellectual capital.

    “Only those who use their creativity and power of development to consistently align themselves with customer interests and market developments will be able to succeed,” he pointed out.

    “Medica is indeed more than a trade fair in the traditional showcase format. Features like the Medica Start-Up Park created with the intention of matching founders of innovative businesses up with potential business partners, investors and distribution partners exemplify this.

    “With the aim of complementing the contents that are going to be presented at Medica Connected Healthcare Forum and the Medica Health IT Forum, up to 40 start-ups will be presenting themselves and their ideas to an audience of experts in direct proximity to these events,” Itua said.

    He added that the Medica LABMED FORUM is also new this year. Under the key heading of “The Interdisciplinary Fascination”, he said laboratory medicine, molecular pathology, microbiology, medical technology and life sciences will be presenting themselves as drivers of innovation and generating new impulses for the entire medical sector.

    COMPAMED 2017 will also be taking place alongside the Medica trade fair on all four days.

  • PEAK spreads goodness to Naija neighbouhoods

    PEAK spreads goodness to Naija neighbouhoods

    Price and product availability are known to rank high in the consumer consideration ladder. This concept is perfectly brought to live as Peak Milk team drives further into neighborhoods, understanding more of the consumers and connecting its key brands to them.

    Weeks ago, Peak Filled was launched into the Nigeria market and has since then gained steady ascension into the daily needs of Nigerian households, considering its affordability and accessibility. Peak Filled is a N40 Peak brand formulated to nourish families with essential vitamins and minerals; assuring them of a “Filled” Day.

    Peak Milk is currently combing the nooks and crannies of Lagos and currently activating Oke Arin Market, Trade Fair, Mushin, Agege… spreading the richness and nourishment of Peak Filled across Lagos neighbourhoods, with a sure plan to extend the goodness even beyond Lagos. Peak is also engaging local artistes Like Saheed Osupa amongst others to connect more with consumers.

    This initiative is highly imperative especially at a time when the economic index continues spinning southward and Nigerian consumers continuously yearn for quality at affordable price. As expected, the initiative was welcomed with enthusiasm and positive energy, which is a boost for Peak Milk to do more.

    Mummy Dayo, a retail outlet owner in Agege applauds this initiative of Peak Milk especially in this time of economic downturn when people had cut down the consumption of non-essential goods.

    Uchenna, also a retail trader in Trade Fair thinks this initiative is a boost for trade and hopes it will trigger consumers again into buying.

    Osifo Agani, a brand critic, sees this as a “trade stimulus that will go a long way in helping the brand equity”. He said: “it is necessary for brands to continuously seek avenues to connect more with the end consumers”.

    So when you see Peak Filled Milk in your neighbourhood, remember its goodness, remember its nourishment, and most importantly, remember that Peak Can Do More.

  • Automotive trade fair to hold May7-9

    No fewer than 2,000 key exhibitors from 25 countries are expected at the largest international automotive trade fair (Automechanika) in Dubai.

    The 15th edition of Automechnika Dubai will hold from May 7 to 9  at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

    Organisers said the fair aims to raise the bar in the products and services available in the automotive aftermarket in the wider Middle East region by bringing in international manufacturers and suppliers together with regional distributors and buyers.

    Country representative in Nigeria and Sub West Africa, Messes Exhibition and Trade Fair Limited, said the fair would feature the latest of parts/components, electronics/systems, accessories/tuni0ng, repair/maintenance, tyres/batteries as well as IT and management, among others.

    “The 2017 show aims to be even bigger and better, featuring additional exhibition space of about 70,000 square meter….Products and services that will cut across the entire spectrum of the automotive aftermarket industry will be exhibited,” the firm said.

  • LCCI unveils trade fair prospectus

    LCCI unveils trade fair prospectus

    •Industrial promotion, economic recovery to be addressed

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has unveiled the prospectus for its yearly Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF).

    Tagged “Promoting industrialisation for economic recovery and sustainable growth”, the fair will afford all sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, solid mineral and services, a platform to display their products.

    LCCI President Mrs Nike Akande, who spoke at the presentation of the document in Lagos, said efforts to improve the economic condition might not yield results unless inter-sectorial potential were harnessed. She enjoined industry players to support the efforts of the government at revamping and stabilising the economy to drive investments in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, services and technology.

    “The recently-unveiled Federal Government’s Economic & Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 is expected to promote macroeconomic stability and economic diversification through fiscal stimulus, monetary stability and improvement of external balance of trade.

    ‘’Also, the 60-day National Action Plan on Ease of Doing business is expected to impact on the investment climate through these priority key areas, which are the international trade and immigration processes as well as transparency and inclusion in public sector procurement.

    ‘’These reforms are expected to enhance Nigeria’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business. The private sector is expected to plug into these efforts and make complementary contribution towards rescuing our economy from recession,” she said.

    Trade Promotion Board Chairman, Mr Sola Oyetayo said the early campaign for the fair was part of the chamber’s resolve to reposition the exhibition and fit into plans of our stakeholders from the beginning of the year.

    He said: “It is pertinent to note that for the economy to recover from the  situation, there is a need to provide sustained policies targeted towards a friendly business environment that would give room for job creation through industrialisation, economic diversification that could elude our nation. It is imperative to begin to focus on how the economy can experience sustainable and inclusive growth through industrialisation.”

    According to Oyetayo, the fair will feature consumer fair, an international conference on the theme and the competitive essay writing by secondary school pupils sustained to inculcate in the young, the relevance of commerce and exhibition for development. It will also encompass Entrepreneur Master Class Competition aimed at encouraging budding entrepreneurs.

  • God not responsible for Nigeria’s woes – Obasanjo

    God not responsible for Nigeria’s woes – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that God is not responsible for the problems militating against the development of Nigeria.

    Obasanjo who spoke while chairing the 38th Kaduna International Trade Fair Seminar with the theme; ‘Promoting Public Private Partnership as Panacea for Accelerated Growth and Development’ said Nigerians must stop blaming God for the nation’s woes.

    He  stated that Nigeria is where it is today is a question of leadership and not God.

    According to him, “somebody came to me and said we need to pray to God and I said, for what? He said, so that God can do for us, what we cannot do for ourselves. And I said, no, let us stop troubling God, because God has done all we need for us, we only need to play our own part.

    “But, if we must pray to God, our prayer should be that God should not take away all He has given us as a nation.

    “God in His mercy has given us all the needed resources, both human and natural, but we have not been able to put them together and manage them effectively. The countries that have developed and are performing better are not better than Nigeria in terms of resources.

    “One problem that must be corrected is the problem of leadership. This is because our leaders lack focus, commitment, continuity and sometimes proper knowledge about economic and development issues, hence we have not been able to achieve meaningful result.

    “Another problem is that, we take one step forward and another step backward. Nigerian leaders must be tough and ready to bite the bullet, because Nigeria cannot have it easy. Until we get the right leadership, the problem will continue,” he said.

    Registering his displeasure over inconsistency in policies, Obasanjo said, “I banned importation of toothpick in 1977, because it was the most stupid thing to import when we can produce it here. But, about 40 years after, one of the Presidents that came after me, I won’t mention his name, unmanned toothpick. Then, I put on my Babanriga and went to Abuja to express my shock about the policy, but to my greatest surprise, the President told me, he signed the document unbanning toothpick without reading it.

    “Another thing is that, he came in saying he will generate additional 30,000 megawatts to the 3,500megawatts we left behind, and I told him, don’t trouble yourself, if you can add 3,000 megawatts to the one we left behind, you will receive the of awards. But, to my greatest shock, he couldn’t add one (1) megawatt before leaving office,” Obasanjo narrated.

    Speaking on the public-private partnership, the former President emphasised that lack of synergy in public-private sectors is responsible for the set back in the nation’s economy and growth.

    He said, “the public sector perceives the private sector as a profit making Industry that reaps where it does not sow, but in actual fact, they are two legs that when brought together can accelerate development in all sectors of the economy, he stressed”.

    Obasanjo therefore said that, public and private sectors must work together to accelerate growth and development.

    He said, “when we were in office, we privatized NNPC and sold to Dangote and partners, but the government that succeeded me revoked it and that is why till today, NNPC cannot work optimally.

    “But, today the same Dangote that was denied ownership of NNPC is building a refinery that can produce in excess of what NNPC can produce and what Nigeria can consume. So, it means he will even export”, Obasanjo said.

    Earlier in his lecture, the former Minister of Finance, Malam Shamdudeen Usman said, the reasons Nigeria is facing backwardness in economic growth and development, is the lack of continuity in governance and poor will by political leaders to complete projects started by their predecessor.

    According to him, “delay in budgetary approval process and also padding of the budget attributes to the slow acceleration of growth and development experienced in the Nation”.

    “Short term policies affected PPP projects across the Country due to inconsistencies in government. Though several governments gave high support to PPP, only President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration recorded about 90% completion of PPP projects and they include the Garki hospital in Abuja, Lagos International airport, Port terminals, amongst others, he explained”.

    “However, the Jonathan administration took a huge step in adpoting a 30years National Integrated Infrastructure master plan which targets core infrastructure in the Country, but noting much has been achieved so far”, he stressed.

  • LCCI unveils 2016 International Trade Fair

    LCCI unveils 2016 International Trade Fair

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) drew the attention of managers of the Nigerian economy and the public  to the importance of harnessing the nation’s human resources with modern technology, in addition to adding  value to the non-oil export that will result in improved earnings for the country.

    LCCI President, Chief  Nike Akande stated this at   the public presentation of the prospectus of the 2016 Lagos International Trade Fair scheduled to hold from Friday November 4 to Sunday November 13, 2016, tagged: “Positioning the Nigeria Economy for Diversification and Sustainable Growth Enhancing”.

    Akande said:  “We have neglected our non-oil sector for too long , hence we are blessed with abundant deposits of solid minerals which had remained largely undeveloped over the years. There are needs to focus on a non-oil economy such as Gypsum, Bentonite, Tantalite, Bitumen,Coal, Gold, Gold Baryte, Iron ore, Gemstone and many more”.

    She  stressed the need to  identify the alternatives to crude oil, including  giving exposure to the opportunities that abound in value addition to enhance earning and profitability.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Sola Oyetayo said the public presentation of the prospectus is also coming on the heels of the Chamber’s introduction of three trade venues to facilitate corporate exhibitions, business to business meetings, and boost Nigeria’s rapidly growing creative industry.

  • Enugu prepares for trade fair

    Enugu prepares for trade fair

    Every stakeholder is looking forward to what has tagged  the biggest Enugu International Trade Fair expected to hold next month from March 25 to April  4.

    The theme of the fair is “Diversification of the Nation’s Economy: From Rhetorics to Coordinated Action”. President Muhammadu Buhari s expected to declare it open.

    A good number of corporate bodies and businesses as well as government agencies have indicated their interest to participate in the fair. No fewer than 600 firms both foreign and local are expected too.

    Countries like Vietnam, Japan, Ghana, China, Canada, etc, have indicated their interest in the fair.

    The president of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Rev. Ugochukwu Chime told reporters  that the 27th Enugu International Trade Fair would be a success as the following indices and factors portray.

    The fair has been strategically re-engineered in such a way that it will have meaningful and positive effects and outcome for all stakeholders, particularly for exhibitors and participants.

    Part of the value addition and enhancement to the fair is the availability of over 1000sqm Marquee Air-conditioned dome for corporate and international exhibitors. “This is in addition to other existing facilities that will enable the successful hosting of the Fair. As I speak, the tent is already installed and the complex is presently receiving attention through rehabilitation and remedial works,” Chime said.

    “We shall consolidate efforts towards enhancing the special designated areas in the Fair complex for the exhibition of new products, prototypes, innovations and research findings for commercialisation. Recall, that the idea is to boost technological advancement by bringing researchers, business people and industrialists together. This remains one of the core focal points and cutting edge of the Enugu International Trade Fair. We hope to discuss extensively on this, with the Hon. Minister of Science & Technology during our visit to Abuja as well as other related agencies.

    The agriculture sector will receive extra attention in our specially designated area during the Fair towards boosting indulgence in agricultural production and commercial farming, more so as it remains a critical sector towards our diversification efforts, so also for the mining and solid mineral sector.

    “We are hopeful that we are going to receive the support of the Enugu State government towards the rehabilitation of internal roads within the Fair complex for a more amenable atmosphere and environment for vehicular and human traffic. Already we have put in place mechanism for the realization of this as it very key to our hosting the fair successfully.”

    As part of our efforts to boost the success of the Fair, as it is strategically traditional, the ECCIMA president said they would embark on  sensitization tours and consolidating their marketing with visits to stakeholders both in public and private sector in Lagos, Abuja and across the Southeast and Southsouth states.

    He said they have equally put in place measures to ensure stable and quality supply of electricity and water.

    “In as much as we acknowledge the fact that power supply has improved relatively from the Enugu Electricity Power Distribution Company, we have commenced the overhaul and maintenance of the stand-by generator sets in the Fair Complex, in event of public power failure,” Chime explained.

    Relatedly, the chamber commissioned the reinforcement of the distribution network of electricity lines inside the Fair complex including the changing of a good number of wooden electric poles to concrete poles. “This has become necessary as the weak wooden electric poles used in the initial networking had to be replaced to enhance stable electricity supply. We shall continue to gradually replace the wooden poles with concrete poles, particularly those that are weak,” Chime explained.

    On security, the ECCIMA boss noted, that “we have not had any security breach/problem since we started hosting our Fairs in the Trade Fair Complex within the Golf Estate area about 6years ago.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Trade fair: food vendors lament lack of water, electricity

    Some food vendors at the ongoing Lagos international trade fair on Tuesday complained of frequent power outage and lack of water supply at the fair ground.

    They made the complaints to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos.

    They lamented that the organisers did not provide commensurate facilities at the fair in spite of the huge sums collected from each of them.

    Mrs. Grace Uche said that she paid N120, 000 for her pavilion only to get to the venue to discover that there was no water.

    ” I pay 4,000 to some people who fetch water for me daily.

    ” You can imagine the expenses I have to bear due to the fact that the organisers are not efficient,” Uche said.

    Mrs Chioma Egwim, who took up two pavilions, said she thought that the problems of electricity and water at the last trade fair would have been addressed.

    She expressed her displeasure that she was spending so much to get water to cook.

    ” This kind of business needs a lot of water to keep the environment neat enough for people to come in to eat.

    ” I have to run my generator throughout the day so that my clients do not complain of heat,” Egwim said.

    Mrs Ugochukwu Authre, another restaurateur, complained about illegal food hawkers around the fair who sell in the morning and disappear.

    ” These people don’t allow to make good sales in the morning and they did not pay to the organisers.

    ” We have complained to the organisers, but they have not done anything about it,” Authre said.