Business

Mark Wants Enabling Environment For Indigenous Automobile Manufacturers

Published

14 years ago

May 12, 2012

Senate President, David Mark, has urged the
Federal Government to encourage indigenous automobile manufacturers by
providing them with a conducive environment.

According to him, the effort will also
enable Nigeria to achieve industrial revolution.

Mark made the call during Tuesday’s Plenary
Session while ruling on the bill for an Act to repeal the National Automotive
Council Act and the Centre for Automotive Design and Development Act.

The bill which seeks to provide for an Act
establishing the National Automotive Design and Development Council passed
through second reading on the floor of the Senate.

Mark said, “Government should encourage
private indigenous automobile manufacturing companies.

“We tend to discourage our local automotive
industry and unless we encourage them this country cannot achieve technological
development. ’’

He challenged the executive arm of
government to summon the political will to implement the various laws passed by
the National Assembly.

“My prayer is that we will have the
willpower to implement all the laws and resolutions emanating from the National
Assembly.

“For us, we are very prepared to push as
much as we can and leave it for those who have the power of implementation to
do so accordingly,’’ Mark added.

In his lead debate, the Leader of the
Senate, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP-Cross River) said the merger of the two
agencies would boost efficiency, productivity as well as generate employment opportunities.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP- Abia) said
that the passage of the bill would spur the new agency to perform its
responsibility efficiently.

“Let the passage of this bill be a
challenge to spur the agency to perform with efficiency. We should not just set
up this agency but we must ensure that it performs, ‘’ he said.

Sen. Shola Adeyeye (ACN- Osun) urged the
Senate to go beyond the automotive industry by considering the merger of other
government agencies with similar functions.

“We can even go further to look at every
ministry and agency to consider where we can merge those who discharged similar
functions.

“We cannot have a functional automobile
industry until we have stable power and a functional steel industry,’’ he
added.

Sen. Chris Anyanwu (APGA- Imo) stressed the
need for government to invest in research and development as key to industrial
development.

“With their merger, I believe there will be
better synergy. “We have to invest on research and development, and shield our
research institutes from politics, ‘’she said.

Opposing the bill, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi
(ACN-Ekiti) said the Senate could only debate the matter after studying the
report of the Stephen Orosanye-led Committee on rationaliation of government
agencies.

“It will be helpful for the Senate to have
access to the Orosanye report, and then we can have a holistic understanding of
the issues.

“This bill and the amendment it is seeking
are cosmetic. What we should concern ourselves with is the value this merger
and what it will add to the automotive industry,’’ Adeyeye argued.

Also opposing the bill, Sen. Ben Ayade
(PDP- Cross River) said there was no basis to merge the two agencies because
they performed different functions.

“Its unfair to merge these two agencies
because they have different functions.

“We should enact law to stop importation of
complete vehicles into the country and compel investor to set up assembly
plants in Nigeria, ‘’ Ayade suggested.

The Bill was referred to the Senate
Committee on Industries for further legislative action and expected to report
to the Senate in two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday observed a
one-minute silence in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack in Potiskum
and the late Nigerian football star, Mr Rashidi Yekini who died last week.

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

6 hours ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu