Business

‘ISOAN Can Create Five Million Jobs’

Published

15 years ago

May 13, 2011

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) still says there is enough kerosene in circulation.

Dr Levi Ajuonuma, NNPC Group General Manager (Public Affairs Division) told newsmen in Lagos that the scarcity was artificial.

Ajuonuma said that marketers were responsible for the scarcity because NNPC had enough kerosene in stock and wondered what the cause of the scarcity was.

“NNPC has enough kerosene in stock and we are appealing to major and independent marketers to ensure effective distribution to end users.

“We have told them several times to ensure that petroleum products are taken from NNPC depot to the end users to end the scarcity of the kerosene.

“Marketers are the ones causing artificial scarcity to hike the price of the product,” Ajuonuma said. But the independent marketers told journalists on Wednesday that they did not have enough kerosene in stock.

Six marketers, who preferred anonymity, said the allegation that marketers were hoarding the product was false.

They said that marketers would not deliberately hoard kerosene nationwide.

One of them said marketers would not want to join issues with NNPC, adding that the truth was that the cost of kerosene was now high at the international market.

According to him, it is only the NNPC that can import sufficient kerosene to meet nationwide demand.

“Kerosene scarcity will persist in the country for as long as the high prices of crude oil in the international market remained.

“If there is scarcity, it means NNPC is not importing enough. It would have been easier for marketers to import if kerosene business was deregulated.

“Marketers will only dispense what they have and what sense does it make for us to have kerosene in our tanks and not dispense it?” one marketer asked.

Reports have it that the product has become a scarce commodity nationwide.

The price of kerosene has shot up in states like Rivers, Kaduna, Bauchi, Lagos, among others. The price has risen by about 150 per cent.

A survey of some major filling stations showed that a litre of kerosene now sells for between N150 and N180 against the official price of N50.

At the black market, a four-litre jerry can is sold for N1,300 while the 20-litre jerry can goes for N4,800 in Port Harcourt.

Prospective buyers spend several hours on long queues at filling stations before getting the product.

Members of the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISOAN) can provide five million jobs if the Federal Government changes its current maritime trade policy, a maritime expert, Chief Chijioke Egwuagu, said on Wednesday.

Egwuagu, the Chairman of a maritime firm, Multi Trade Group of Companies, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the policy whereby crude oil buyers were allowed to come in and load their consignment with their own vessels was causing the nation colossal economic loss.

“Of all the member countries, which produce oil, Nigeria is the only country that still operates the trade policy of Freight On Board as against Cost Insurance Freight as done by other nations,’’ he claimed.

The maritime expert said the “outdated” policy had resulted in the loss of more than $150 millon monthly in crude oil sales made by Nigeria.

He said the enormous economic loss was regrettable and added that the indigenous ship owners were ready to collaborate with the government to put an end to it.

“The message we have sent to the President is to change Nigeria’s trade policy from FOB to CIF and we will bring in 20 brand new vessels of international standards to lift our crude with Nigerian-flagged vessels,” he noted.

Egwuagu said that, through his effort, the group had already secured a $1.8 billion offshore funding for the acquisition of 20 brand new ocean-going vessels.

A delegation of the association, he said, had also registered its commitment through the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“As a group, we are ever ready to make bold our position because most crude oil buyers have ripped off the economy of Nigeria through this FOB policy and we are out to stop it,’’ Egwuagu said.

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.