Business

Challenges Of ESI Women Drivers In Rivers

Published

16 years ago

January 15, 2010

Transportation sector has been described as one of the lucrative business areas in both developed and developing countries of the world. Its activities span across land transportation which includes wheelbarrow, bicycle, truck, tricycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle and chariots.

Sea transportation covers canoe, flying boat and ocean-moving vessels classified as marine transport. While air transportation known to be the aviation sector deals with movement aircrafts.

The major objective of the transport industry is centred on the movement on human and materials from one destination to another, with a view of accelerating interaction, relationship and transactions between individuals, communities, states and countries.Transport business in the world has been largely dominated by the male sex, creating gender equality in the system.

And in a bid to bridge the gap posed by gender inequality, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Her Excellency, Dame Judith Amaechi roled out her pet project known as Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) aimed at empowering and encouraging women partake in the transportation business.

Besides, the project also tend to reduce poverty, improve their income base, create job and make them self reliant. No wonder Her Excellency insisted that women should drive the vehicles allotted to them, to ensure that the gender inequality gap is bridged, as well as proof to the world that women can compete men favourably.

Speaking with the beneficiaries of the scheme, the woman driver who gave her name as Patience, told The Tide that she found joy competing with men on the road as driver of her own car, noting that she make as much as N6,000 to N7,000 daily.

She said that, she programme her business time to suit the domestic affairs of her household so as to maintain a balance in the flow of income.

The woman driver lauded the initiator of the scheme Dame Judith Amaechi for empowering women in this magnitude of a saloon car other than the usual gas cooker, sowing machine, hair dryer etc experienced in the past administrations.

Another beneficiary of the transport scheme Mrs Ibiene Orupabo who ply Lagos bustop-Aggrey-Borokiri route told our correspondent that inspite of the fuel scarcity and like in the price of the product, she said that somedays the income margin stands at N10,000, while some other days between N8,000 and N9,000 depending on how serious. According to her, “I never knew that transport business is so lucrative and with my experience as a taxi driver, I intended to expand to full time transporter as soon as I pay the agreed sum (the cost price of the car).

We are in a capitalist world where competition and hardwork form the foundation of our survival, therefore, women should stand firm and contribute to the economic growth of our respective families and the state at large”, she asserted.

She said that Rivers State Government has done so much to rekindle the potentials in women through the wife of the Governor by wooing them into the driving profession which is worthy of emulation by other states.

Mrs Orupabo expressed her pleasure over the level of patronage accorded them on their route by the passengers, saying maybe it is because we are women drivers or that their cars are neat, new and air conditioned.

Speaking on the daily challenges facing the operation of the women drivers in the state, Mrs Janet Ihunwo noted with dismay the incessant harassment of the woman drivers by the traffic marshals, citing the recent assault meted out on a woman driver along Aba road by the staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission which she said the case is in the court.

She said that they are always envied by the male counterpart who dominated the sector, adding that sometimes they are quirked, abused and threatened. Also, “you have to meet your domestic obligations, take the children to school, bring them back, cook and maintain the domestic affairs of the family as well as go out for the days business”, she noted.

She urged government to increase the number of the beneficiaries this year and improve the road network to ease the flow of traffic within the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs.

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.