The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Traders

  • Traders count losses at Ketu plank market

    Few hours after the Ketu plank market closed for the day last Thursday, traders rushed back to see their shops being destroyed in the raging fire, which authorities are yet to determine.

    The traders were roaming around the remnants of their shops and the remains of their wares.

    The effect of the disaster was evident everywhere as women held their head because there was nothing to be salvaged.

    Mr Ibrahim Musibaudeen starred to where his shop once stood, he lost goods worth N500, 000 in his building material shop, he had three other shops in the market and all were destroyed. He started the business about 30 years ago.

    Another trader said as at the time the fire started, nobody was in the market. He was in Ikorodu when he got a call about 10pm that the market was on fire.

    The Director, state fire service Mr Rasaq Fadipe complained about how some of the fire fighters were manhandled by the traders and also complained that the traders didn’t allow the fire fighters to carry out their duties effectively as they were roaming across the place. He further stated that if the traders had allowed the fire fighters to carry out their job effectively, some properties would have been saved.

    Mrs Adekoya Bolanle, a resident told The Nation Shopping that the fire started at about 9pm spreading fast to other parts of the community where the market is situated.

    Another resident, Mr Simon Arebah who described the incident as ‘sorrowful’said the fire razed some buildings but there was no report of death.

    According to shop owners, 500 shops, a mosque and two churches were burnt. They said the incident may have been as a result of sabotage.

    Alhaji Aliu Bello, chairman of plank sellers also said the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. He said it was speculated that the fire would have started from sparks from an electrical surge in the public power supply of the market.

    “Many traders apart from losing their wares must have also lost cash because here it is a common practise for traders to keep their money in their shops at the market.”

  • Traders hail planned dedication of future budgets to real sector

    Traders have hailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to dedicate future budgets to the real sector.

    The National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANT) said the plan would boost employment, wealth and make the economy stronger.

    While inaugurating the National Competitive Council of Nigeria (NCCN) board at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan said from next year the budget would be dedicated to the manufacturing sector.

    In a statement, NANT’s President, Mr Ken Ukoha, said.

    “NANT believes that Nigeria has all it takes to become a world power and investors destination. We further believe that industrialisation is key and it does not require rocket science to turn Nigeria into the next industrial destination point in Africa.

    “For us, the success or failure of an economy starts from the fiscal framework and the 2014 budget and beyond can be used as that master key to unlock the nation’s fortunes; therefore, Mr President’s vision is in the right direction and must be supported.

    “It is on record that the world (including global bodies such as the World Bank, the IMF, and other respected organisations) is seeing Nigeria as an emerging and potentially strong economy,”he said.

    He said for emerging economies, the share of manufacturing in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is between 20 and 40 per cent, adding that in Nigeria, the sector’s share is less than five per cent, indicating under-utilisation and under performance.

    “It is noteworthy that the manufacturing sector has over the years remained comatose and, therefore, lost its position in the overall economic status.

    “ In accurate terms, the contribution of the sector has been dwindling, and of late staggered with fluctuations between four and six per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP. The average manufacturing capacity utilisation decreased from 47 per cent in 2009 to 45 per cent in 2010 and it is still taking a downward trend.

    “In terms of employment generation, available information reveals that a total of over 800 manufacturing companies closed shop between 2009 and 2011 as a result of their inability to continue to cope with the challenges posed by the harsh operating environment in Nigeria; and what this means is that there is a significant decline in employment ratio as a percentage of the total labour force in the formal sector of the nation’s economy,” he said.

    Ukoha said agriculture and trade have been holding the economy at 41 per cent and 28 per cent contribution to the GDP, adding that such contribution is only an unfortunate economic indication of absolute lopsidedness and failure of industrial transformation of the primary commodities to finished products that would in turn reduce the huge volume of imports which has kept the country’s economy on its knees.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Church feast boosts traders

    Church feast boosts traders

    Economic activities shot up in Warri, Delta State, as the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) marked its annual Christian Feast of Tabernacle.

    Hoteliers, bar tenders, food vendors, commercial transport operators as well as petty traders and sellers of GSM recharge/SIM cards made brisk business. Most hotels guest rooms in the city were fully subscribed by visitors who came for the annual fiesta.

    “I can’t wait for the next Feast of Tabernacle to come. I think God has ordained this feast to boost my beer parlour business. I can’t count my profit each year during the eight days of this Feast of tabernacle. In fact I have to go and pay my tithe at GKS church,” said a woman who runs a bar and pepper soup shop located directly opposite Salem City, the headquarters of the church.

    It was gathered that hotels such as Oasis in far away Okumagba Estate area of town and others which received a touch of renovation apparently in preparation for the feast, were fully booked as a result of the event.

    A supervisor at the Oasis Hotel, Mr. Patrick, acknowledged the boost in business when he said that the feast enabled them to have a large number of customers at the same time.

    “We always pray for such a thing because many people lodged at the same time and the rooms will be fully booked,” he said.

    Also speaking in the same vein, a senior hotel staff of Siro Hotel in Ogborikoko who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that the annual celebration of the feast attracted different people to the city and in anticipation, the hotels made adequate preparations to accommodate the visitors.

    “We ensured that at this time of the year we update our facilities in preparation for the feast. The GKS programme always brings people to Warri, so we are prepared to accommodate them,” he said.

    Tricycle and taxi operators also have their share of the economic boom as people visit the place all the time throughout the eight days of the event.

    “For the eight days, a lot of visitors had booked most drivers for easy to and fro the Salem City throughout the period. In my case that is my routine everyday and so do many of my driver colleagues.

    “You know there is no motorcycle (okada) in town again so that has made every taxi driver very busy throughout the eight days of the programme and charge passengers comfortably. The only problem is the heavy traffic and a lot of passengers where stranded,” Kingsley, a taxi driver said.

    “It is true as the commercial taxis and buses which are currently plying the roads in the wake of the okada ban are milking commuters. Prior to the ban, most short distances were fixed for N30, while others were N40 and the farthest N50, but most taxi, and bus drivers now charge exorbitant fares especially during this feast.”

    It was a rosy business season, too, for cloth dealers at neighbouring Igbudu Market as many of them supplied the various types of cloths used by men, women, boys and girls as uniforms to mark the Feast.

    The high point of the event was the procession of colourfully dressed members through the streets of the town as well as cultural performances of over 40 choral groups from within and outside the country.

    The celebration attracted thousands of delegates from different parts of Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, US, UK, Tanzania, Ghana and Canada and was attended by eminent members of the church, like the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, Delta State representative at the NDDC, Mr. Emmanuel Ogidi, Managing Director of Toshiba in UK, Brother Gboyega Obafemi, Dr. Ukechukwu Michael Nyemenim and many others.

    Professor Eghagha could not hide his joy over his deliverance from kidnappers who seized him for many days. He and his wife danced admirably to the altar to give thanks.

    Laity Chairman of GKS, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and former Commissioner who represented Delta State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was also happy for God’s mercies.

    The feast, which kicked off with a procession from the Carvegina Primary School, formal Dore-Numa College, Ochuks Academy and Igbudu Primary School, had members of GKS assembled in the four locations in Warri before they marched to the Salem City. They were received by the chairman, Executive Board of GKS, Brother Godwin Ifeacho, with the assistance of the vice chairman, Brother Felix Adedokun and other ministers.

    On the Last and Great Day which also marked the end of the feast, President of the church, Brother Godwin Ifeacho and the leadership of the church described the colourful procession which started at the Salem City with singing and dancing through different streets of Warri as a public demonstration of faith and allegiance to the Almighty God and Jesus Christ—the greater and more perfect Tabernacle.

    Events of that day included reading of good will messages, an address by the president, a public declaration of faith in Jehovah and Jesus Christ, a special thanksgiving to God and of course the lowering of the special balloon.

    In his sermon, titled; “I Will Never Leave Thee Nor Forsake Thee” the President, Brother Godwin Ifeacho explained the rationale for the annual fiesta, saying that it was instituted by God Almighty through Prophet Moses and was intended to be observed by all peoples of the world in this age—the last days.

    According to him, “God Almighty did give a command in prophecy to this effect (Zechariah 14:16-19) and Jesus Christ also set the pace for His followers when He actively took part in the Feast in His days on earth as recorded by John 7:1-17,37-383 .

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    er of the word that shall be justified.” He said

  • ‘Orji to resettle displaced Igbo drug traders’

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has promised to resettle Igbo drug traders, who were displaced from the Sabon-Gari Market, Kano, it was learnt yesterday.

    President of the Kano State Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Tobias Idika said the governor has promised to build a modern drug market for the displaced traders in Abia State.

    Idika said the governor deserves the support and encouragement of the indigenes to enable him develop the state.

    He recalled that before the Orji administration, socio-infrastructural development was at its lowest ebb in Abia State.

    The Ohanaeze leader noted that past governments only made bogus plans that never materialised.

    Idika said there was a time Abia State was a no-go-area because of hoodlums.

    According to him, Orji has tackled insecurity in the state.

    Idika said Abia has become one of the peaceful states in Nigeria, when terrorism and kidnapping are rampant in several states.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader noted that Orji’s good leadership has earned him several awards and accolades.

    He said: “It is a thing of joy to observe that in Abia State, particularly in the state capital, one can move around freely, even at night, without fear of molestation.

    “Our investigation showed that all security agents within the state, particularly the police, are well mobilised, supported and equipped by the state government to protect life and property of the residents, irrespective of tribe and religion.”

    “The impressive road network in major cities in Abia is an indication that the Orji administration is carrying out rapid development in the state. We also use this opportunity to appeal to residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, to cooperate with the governor in his bid to ensure that the ancient city will have a face-lift in terms of road construction and infrastructural development.

    “Rome, they say, was not built in a day. For any society to experience tangible development, the government and the governed must be on the same tempo.”

    The Ohanaeze leader advised the traders at Mgbuka (Motor Spare Parts) Market to cooperate with the government to ensure economic liberation for Abia people.

     

  • Osun compensates displaced landlords, traders

    The Osun State government has paid N67,330,000 compensation to 247 landlords in Ipetu-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government Area, on whose property the Air force Base was sited.

    The government also paid N65 million to 395 displaced traders at Railway/Old Garage in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Presenting the cheques to the claimants yesterday at the Ministry of Information and Strategy in Osogbo, Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning Muyiwa Ige said the land was acquired by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Defence in the interest of the public.

    Ige hailed Governor Rauf Aregbesola for compensating the landlords, “despite the federal government’s refusal to do so.”

    He thanked the claimants for their sacrifice.

    The commissioner said the land was acquired during the tenure of the former Chief of Defece Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Oluseyi Petirin (rtd.) who hails from the community.

    He said: “The payment of compensation to 247 genuine claimants of the land on which the Air force Base is situated is another milestone of the Aregbesola administration. The government compensated them when the Ministry of Defence refused to discharge its responsibility.”

    Ige said the Aregbesola administration inherited the debt from the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration.

    On the displaced traders, he said each of them received N164,000.

    Spokesman of the traders, Mr. Waheed Lawal, thanked the governor.

     

  • Traders protest demolition in Ibadan

    •Youths demand removal of council chairman

     

    Traders at the popular Dugbe Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday protested the demolition of their shops by the state government.

    About 200 traders took to the streets and blocked the entrance of the State Secretariat in Agodi.

    They said they were not given any notice before their shops were demolished and alleged that their goods were looted during the demolition.

    The Otun Iyalaje of Ibadanland, Chief Victoria Coker, who led the traders, said: “We are not trading on the streets. So, why are they disturbing us? We bought those goods with loans. Four of our members have been hospitalised at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, because they could not raise money to repay the loan in installments every Monday as expected.

    “Many of us are widows and single mothers. We do not want to go into prostitution. The governor should have provided an alternative market before driving us away from Dugbe.”

    House of Assembly Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu said the government is exploring ways to resettle them and urged the traders to be patient.

    She said the government was committed to their welfare would make adequate provision for them.

    The speaker said the government cannot avoid stepping on toes, if the desired changes are to be achieved.

    She urged the traders not to allow hoodlums hijack their protest, adding that the government’s decision was in the state’s interest.

    Also yesterday, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) youths in Otu, headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government Area, demanded the removal of the council’s Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr. Adisa Adeniyi.

    The youths were from the seven principal towns in the local government.

    Market men and women locked their shops and joined the youths in the protest against what they described as “maladministration”.

    The protest is the second in two weeks.

    The protesters barricaded the entrance of the council secretariat on Saki Road and prevented workers from going into the premises.

    Although the protest was peaceful, policemen arrived later to prevent a break down of law and order. No casualty was reported.

    Two ACN leaders in the area, Pa. Joseph Akinyemi and Elder Titilade Awakan, said Adeniyi’s appointment was an imposition and against the popular decision.

    They said: “Beside the fact that the unpopular and imposed caretaker chairman is a persona non-grata and unrecognised in the party, he uses the council’s resources to regroup members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and undermines ACN interests.

    “Imagine Adeniyi ordering the police to arrest his party chairman and other leaders because he wanted to know who defaced his banner. Party leaders are disrespected, inhumanly treated and the people are yet to benefit from the several millions of naira received so far as Federation Allocations. Our candidate is Mr. Akin Adeyemo.”

    The ACN leaders said the protest was not intended to embarrass the governor, but to express the party’s displeasure with Adeniyi’s appointment.

    They said: “We urge the governor to allow the voice of the majority to prevail as a pre-condition for peace and progress. ACN in Itesiwaju is solidly behind his administration, but there can be no end to the people’s protests until their desires are met.

    “We also urged the police not to allow themselves to be used by any politician, no matter how highly placed, to unleash terror over intra-party squabbles.

    “We recall how a commissioner (names withheld) connived with anti-riot policemen to maltreat party leaders and members about two weeks ago in the community over intra-party disputes.

    “Mobile policemen were sent from Ibadan with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and rather than mediating amicably, they unleashed terror on party members. That commissioner hails from this town. We want to put a stop to this.”

     

  • Jos traders task government on relocation policy

    Jos traders task government on relocation policy

    Traders at the new Jos market, on Tuesday, appealed to the Plateau State Government to effect the relocation policy of all street traders to the market.
    A cross-section of traders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, said the government’s inability to enforce the relocation policy was adversely affecting their businesses.
    They alleged that the continuous presence of traders at un-designated areas around terminus and Rwang Pam street areas of the city had prevented customers from patronising them at the new market.
    NAN learnt that the new market comprises 3,000 stores for traders and other businesses but less than 400 stores are currently occupied by traders.
    NAN reports that most traders prefer to do business around the terminus area as against relocating to the main market.
    Mr. Chineye Godwin, a trader at the new market, complained that most traders at the new market were going bankrupt due to low patronage.
    He said that most customers preferred to buy at the terminus open market and urged the state government to come to their aid by relocating all traders at the terminus axis to the new market.
    “If you notice there are no customers, people are not coming but if the government will pursue people from terminus because it is from there that we came here, but other traders refused to relocate. But we that are obedient came here and we are suffering, the whole money we came here with, all has finished.
    “What we are asking the government to do is to help us; ask those people to relocate so that the market will have one face; so that customers will come here,” the trader told NAN.
    Mr. Chidebere Nsofor, another trader at the market, told NAN that the relocation of the Terminus motor park to the New Rukuba Road motor park would also improve patronage at the new market.
    He appealed to the state government to consider the relocation of the market alongside the motor park in the interest of the law abiding traders at the New Rukuba Road market.

  • Bomb attack: Igbo traders close shops in Bauchi

    Bomb attack: Igbo traders close shops in Bauchi

    Following Sunday’s suicide attack on St John’s Catholic Church, Bauchi where three people died and many were injured, Igbo spare parts dealers yesterday closed shops to mourn the victims.

    The streets were deserted and business activities were low. The few people on the streets wore mournful looks.

    The Chairman of the National Auto Spare Parts Dealers in the state, Mr. Martin Nwakaibeya, said they closed to honour the victims.

    He said the injured are receiving treatment in the hospital.

    “It was a very painful incident. We feel that since they were our colleagues, we should show solidarity. We closed our shops to honour them,” Nwakaibeya added.

    The husband of the late Gloria who was killed with her friend, Mrs. Veronica Osi, said he was disappointed that the government had not been able to address insecurity.

    Mr. Paul Onwe from Ohukwu in Ebonyi State, who wept as he recalled the last moments he spent with his wife, a mother of one, described her death as sad and painful.

    He said: “I am sad. That day, after church, she and her friend decided to visit someone. They were waiting for KEKE NAPEP when the suicide bomber struck.

    “I went everywhere looking for her. I later saw her body in a mortuary. Our president and governor should resign if they cannot protect the citizens.”

    The husband of the late Mrs. Veronica Osi, Benedict, who hails from Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, could not hold tears as he mourned his wife, a mother of seven.

     

  • Traders pledge support for market development

    Hon Adepitan in a group photograph with sectional leaders of the market during a peace meeting at the council secretariat

    Traders in Mushin market have pledged to give maximum support to the development of the popular Mushin market if the construction works will be carried out in phrases. This assurance was given when the Mushin Local Government leadership held a consultative meeting with all the 33 sectional leaders in the market.

    According to their spokesperson, all the traders will love to see development in the market provided it will not bring hardship to them. They, therefore, appealed to the chairman of the council, Hon Olatunde Adepitan, to ensure that after the construction of the market, the current crop of traders would be considered first for allocation before the money bags deny the traders the opportunity to return to the shops.

    The traders also demanded for more time to enable them prepare for the new challenges while insisting that their leaders did not inform them of the previous meeting held with the local government in relation to the reconstruction of the market.
    Replying, Hon.Adepitan assured the traders that adequate arrangement had been made to mitigate any inconveniences as an alternative arrangement had been made to cushion the effects of the reconstruction exercise .

    He immediately directed the councillors to enact a bye-law that will enable the traders to operate without any inhibition around the streets in the area pending when the construction work would have been concluded.

    Adepitan said since the beginning of the year, he had directed the council officials to stop the collection of tolls from Mushin market, this was meant to prepare the traders for the eventual temporary relocation from their present state.

    He further explained that the representatives of the traders should constantly liaise with the contractor handling the job to ensure that the time frame for the completion of the job is met.

    Mr. Adefusika Adeojo, the Legal Adviser to Mushin Market traders advised the council authority to abide by all the terms of agreements concerning the comfort of the traders.

    The traders had protested the plan demolition of their market last week due to the short notice for them to vacate their shops. The chairman explained that they had close to a year to move their wares away having met with the market leader ship several times before the final notice was issued.