Business
Ikoku Spare-Parts Dealers Count Losses …As RSESA Re-Opens Market
Ikoku motor parts dealers at Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt have lamented over the huge business losses incurred as a result of the recent temporary closure of the place by the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority (RSESA) due to poor sanitary condition of the area.
The market which was shutdown on December 29,2009 was reopened for business on Monday January 11, 2010 (barely 14 days).
Speaking to one of The Tide’s sources a motor parts dealer at Ikoku said the imposition of sanitation exercise on the traders within the two weeks period is a welcome development that has changed the face of the area positively.
He thanked RSESA for their courage to intervene into the poor sanitary condition of the area lately, shifting the blame of the traders woes on the scrap dealers who would litter disused motor parts on the major Olu-Obasanjo Road and drainages thereby causing serious traffic hold up on daily basis, also blocking the free flow of drainages to Ntawogba River.
He regretted that this singular act has caused the entire traders loss of huge sum of money as they could not operate their businesses for two weeks.
Also, Mr Agbaso Wagbara who alleged that the state government has imposed a levy of N1 million monthly on the dealers as sanitation fee and compulsory sanitation exercise in the area every Thursday of the week, urged the state government to review the alleged N1 million levy saying that the possibility raising such amount may not be visible due to lack of a leadership body in the market.
He cautioned that the issue should be handled with care so as not to allow some groups of persons use the avenue to dupe others.
Motorists who ply Olu-Obasanjo Road as well as those who patronise the spare parts market expressed their displeasure over the closure of the road and the market by RSESA saying that at this time of fuel scarcity a journey they were supposed to make in 100r 15 minutes intervals now took them hours because they divert to Okija street before heading to Waterlines or the Garrison Junction loading points. They respectively said that the opening of the road has reduced the burden imposed on their transport business in that route.
They commended RSESA for clearing the scraps and disused motor parts obstructing the flow of traffic along the road as well as improving the overall sanitary condition of the place.
Commenting on the issue, Press Secretary to the chairman of Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority Executive chairman, Mr Olanikan Ige said that the resolve to shutdown Ikoku spare parts market was muted out of poor sanitary condition that besieged the area lately, stressing that scraps and disused vehicles were seen disrupting free flow of traffic along Olu-Obasanjo Road, also blocking the drain lives which led to regular flooding of the area.
He debunked the rumour that RSESA imposed a monthly N1 million sanitation level on the traders, saying that meetings and negotiations are ongoing between RSESA and the traders to fashion out the way forward and the basic amount to be paid as sanitation level. “You know that waste generation attracts payment” he added.
He explained that the temporary shutdown of the market was to enable government and the traders chart a course toward sanitising the area.
The press secretary lamented over the situation where the traders make huge sums of money without contributing a dine to the improvement of the business environment where they make the money, pointing out that no responsible government will allow that. He confirmed that government has declared every Thursday of the week as sanitation day in public places like markets, parks, etc, noting that this is to ensure that business place are kept clean always.
Meanwhile, the Ikoku market has been opened temporarily while dialoguing and negotiations continues, he asserted.
In a concerted effort to tackle racketeering and reduce inflated transportation costs in the Nigeria’s seaports, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) has trained Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders on the use of its Ètò electronic call-up system.
The training was held recently at Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and supported by the leadership of the Joint Association of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders (JALCAFF), Apapa Command.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed appreciation to TTP for facilitating the training and emphasized the need for customs agents to take personal ownership of the Ètò booking process.
“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu declared.
He noted that empowering agents with hands-on training was key to dismantling racketeering networks that have plagued access to the ports and frustrated efficient logistics processes.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, said the engagement was critical to the ongoing push to reduce cargo transportation costs and ease business operations at the Apapa Port.
According to a freight forwarder, “The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò call-up system through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port.
“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves. We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.”
Earlier, Head of Operations at TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman, talked on common misconceptions about ticket pricing, reaffirming that the cost of Ètò bookings had remained consistent since its inception.
“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers”.
Towards strengthening small businesses and promoting a more supportive regulatory environment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it will hold the 2025 edition of its flagship MSMEs Fair on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The event, themed, “Galvanising MSMEs for Economic Growth and Stability”, will take place at NECA House in Lagos.
According to NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, the fair seeks to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises with essential tools, resources, and strategic networks to thrive in Nigeria’s challenging business climate.
He emphasised the vital role MSMEs play in national development, describing them as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.”
Oyerinde noted that the fair is designed to offer entrepreneurs practical solutions to navigate economic uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and business scalability issues.
A major attraction of this year’s event is the keynote address by the CEO of FATE Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, a prominent advocate for MSME development.
She is expected to share transformative insights on innovative strategies for sustaining and growing small businesses in Nigeria.
A unique feature of the fair will be interactive sessions with key regulatory bodies. Entrepreneurs will engage directly with agencies responsible for licensing, compliance, taxation, and business registration.
NECA said these sessions aim to demystify bureaucratic processes and foster a more enabling business environment.
It also said the fair will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services, connect with potential investors, and explore new markets.
It added that participants would gain critical knowledge on digital transformation, access to finance, and strategies for sustainable business growth.
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· NECA stressed that the fair aligns with its broader mission of promoting enterprise development and economic resilience.
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· “By empowering MSMEs with the right support and information, the organisation aims to stimulate job creation, innovation, and long-term economic stability”, NECA said.
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· The 2025 MSMEs Fair is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including financiers, tech experts, regulators, and industry leaders, all united in advancing the growth of Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says over two million passengers have been transported on the Blue Line Rail since its launch, while state-run buses move an average of 42,000 commuters daily.
Osiyemi, who disclosed this during the Year 2025 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on Tuesday, noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, was now in its implementation phase, focusing on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
“On rail development, Phase One of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has served over two million passengers, with Phase Two (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) in progress.
“Phase One of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stocks procured, while Phase two (Oyingbo to link Blue Line at National Theatre) is underway”, he said.
The Commissioner said in the state-owned bus operations, over 60 million commuters have been served since 2019, with daily ridership exceeding 40,000.
He also said plans were on to deploy new buses with Quality Bus Corridors under construction, adding that the Abule=Egba Bus Terminal had also been commissioned.
“For water transport, 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries have been launched and are in operation, with the Ijegun Egba Terminal now open.
“The OMI EKO project, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), will deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries.
“Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards”, he said.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner said 49 junction improvement projects had been completed, including ongoing ones at Ikorodu, Iju, as well as Allen-Opebi-Toyin axis.
He added that solar-powered Traffic Signal Lights, road markings covering 67.9km, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking lots had also been provided.
Additionally, Osiyemi announced that the deployed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras had detected over 470,000 traffic violations and that the Vehicle Inspection Service issued over one million roadworthiness certificates.
He also said that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute trained more than 32,000 drivers in the past 13 months.
The event marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, showcasing major strides in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos