Business

RMRDC Advises SMEs Operators On Loans

Published

14 years ago

January 4, 2012

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has advised entrepreneurs to approach non-commercial banks for loans that would enable them to start their Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) using indigenous technology.

Prof. Peter Onwualu, the Director-General, said this at a forum in Abuja, recently.

He said that the council had funded a lot of research works with results yet to be fully integrated to businesses.

Onwualu observed that that many Nigerians had been contacting the council on how to apply those technologies for commercial purpose but lack the required funds to acquire the needed machines to execute such projects.

He noted that most of entrepreneurs shy away from approaching non- commercial banks such as the Bank of Industry, the Nigeria Import and import Bank, to acquire soft loans that could assist them to start up SMEs.

Onwualu said that any interested investor or entrepreneur that approaches these banks with good proposal would be granted the required loans.

“And unknown to this entrepreneurs they can actually approach Bank of Industry and say I have this technology that raw materials have developed and I want to use it to produce a product but I don’t have teh funding.

“And Bank of industry will say, send in a proposal and if it meet their criteria and they checked and see that that technology can actually produce something.

“From what I hear and what I see, they can actually give entrepreneurs loans at an interest that is not as high as what you can find in commercial banks and they can begin to produce.

“That is one way I believe that these technologies can leave our laboratories so that we can concentrate on doing more research, while business men can pick up these technologies.’’

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Some of these technologies, according to him, include clothes driers, salt driers as well technology applications such as cassava processing, sesame processing, moringa products for water treatment and production of break-pads from natural resources.

The Director-General expressed dismay that long ranges of these results were yet to be commercialised.

“I must say that a number of our research results have actually be utilised in the economy but I must also say that I am not yet satisfied, I will be satisfied when we get to a point where we have over 100 of our research results being used by industries.

“Over the years we have 100 of these projects, but this year alone we have completed about 22 or 23, and these are things that can hit the market, we want to hit the market.

“We have funded researches that have come up with upgraded technologies, when I say up graded technologies, it means looking at how our people do it now, injecting little bits of technology and coming up with process that you can find the machine locally.

“So we have quite a number of these technologies that have not hit the market.’’

He noted that RMRDC, within its mandates, was also giving grants and technical assistance to investors who were interested in promoting its research results, to ensure that they were fully commercialised.

He, however, stressed the need for private and cooperate investors to take up these technologies as grants from the council.

“All over the country we are also giving grants to assist SMEs to start their own businesses but as a research organisation and government organisation, we can only assist to certain level.’’

He said that the council had also provided a documented technology profiles from its visibility studies on cottage level of investment opportunities in Nigeria, for interested investors to be well informed on existing technologies within the country.

Transport

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

Published

4 days 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

4 days 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

4 days 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