Business

Bello Promises Regular Meeting With Market Stakeholders

Published

14 years ago

June 27, 2012

The Acting Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ibrahim Bolaji Bello, has promised to sustain the meeting with stakeholders of the Nigerian Capital market as a strategy to stabilise the market.

According to Bello, regular parley with stakeholders form part of his mandate, adding that his immediate priority is to stabilise the market.

Speaking in Lagos during his maiden meeting with the major operators in the market, Bello said his mandate from the Federal Government was to stabilise the market and put it back on the path of growth.

He also used the opportunity to appeal to stakeholders for support, adding that his intention is to implement his mandate in collaboration with stakeholders.

The SEC boss was quoted in a press statement as saying that other measures to stabilise the market include “immediate restoration of Registration Meetings, where new operators (individuals and firms) would be registered to operate in the market, as well as immediate inspection of existing firms to ensure that they comply with laid down rules and regulation in the market”.

The statement said: “Both tools of regulation (registration and inspection), have been suspended for over one year and they are tools to ensure that only ‘fit and proper’ operators operate in the market”.

Besides, Bello said the commission would immediately embark on investors’ education to ensure that investors know their right and adopt better ways of investing in the market to further protect their investment, pointing out that a well educated investor is a well protected investor.

“Our quick win strategies would include those strategies that would restore investor confidence in the market as well as bring more investors. So, for the first time, we will do registration meeting in Lagos next week. This is the first time the registration meeting is taken outside of Abuja to Lagos. This is to cater for the operators in Lagos and its environs in the south, while others in Abuja and the North will have theirs in Abuja in the following week.

“This will also reduce cost for the operators, many of which have been recording declining income in recent times. However, there is also opportunity for special registration window, especially for operators that would want it outside the normal time we intend to have it, but such operators would have to come to Abuja.

“We shall also embark on inspection of dealing houses to ensure that they comply with laid down rules and regulation in their operations”, said Bello.

Apart from the management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) led by its Chief Executive, Oscar Onyeama, others that met with Bello at the weekend in Lagos, included the executive of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) led by its President, Murtala Ariyo Olusekun, leaders of the Association of Stockbroking Houses Owners of Nigeria (ASHON) led by its President, Emeka Madubuike and the leaders of the National Association of the Securities Dealers (NASD) led by its Chairman, Olutola Mobolurin, who is also a former president of CIS.

Others included Henry Olayemi, Mike Itegbogie, Dipo Aina and Dipo Williams who have also presided over the CIS in the past as well as the Registrar and Chief Executive of CIS, Mr. Oluwatoyin Olorunleke and the first Deputy President of CIS, Emmanuel Ohanwusi.

Also, the various trade groups in the market met with the acting SEC DG in another separate meeting, where Bello re-affirmed his mandate and appealed for their support. The groups included registrars and Institute of Capital Market Registrars led by its President, Bayo Olugbemi, Portfolio Managers, Trustees and Investment Advisers among others.

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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.