Business
Xmas: Prices Of Foodstuff Stable In Warri
Head of Service, Barr. Samuel LongJohn (left) in a handshake with a retiree after the presentation of refrigerator at a sendforth party for retired staff of his office.
Few days to Christmas, the
price of rice, vegetable oil and spices have remained stable in Warri, Delta, a survey conducted by The Tide has shown.
The survey showed that though the price of these food items was stable in major markets in the commercial city that of onions, tomatoes and pepper witnessed marginal increase.
In Ogbe-Ijoh Market, a 50kg bag of rice cost between N8,000 and N10, 000, depending on the brand.
A rice dealer, Mrs Joy Harrison, said a 50kg bag of Mama Gold rice was still sold for N10, 200 while the same quantity of Royal Umbrella rice remained N10, 000.
Harrison added that a 50kg bag of Ade rice cost N8,000 while Mama Africa and Stallion brands sold for N8,700 per 50kg bag. The dealer, however, decried low patronage.
‘’Customers are not coming, people are not buying as if we are not in a festive season; this is because there is no money in circulation,’’ she said.
In Dugbaleh Market in Udu, the prices of various brands of rice were the same, but transaction was low.
Mrs Augusta Osayande, a dealer on vegetable oil in the market, said four litres of Favour vegetable oil sold for N1, 000 while the same quantity of Ginos sold for N1, 500.
Osayande told newsmen that the same quantity of Kings, Turkey and UAC Power brands of vegetable oil was also sold for N1,500.
She told the survey that the price of these food items did not change despite the fact that Christmas was around the corner.
Mr Dafe Ideh, the Chairman, Onion Sellers Association in Igbudu Market, told newsmen that there was slight increase in the price of the commodity.
He said that a bag of onions cost between N33,000 and N35,000, as against the previous price of N30,000.
He said that the cost of transporting a bag of onion from the northern part of the country to Warri had risen from N1,400 to N2,200.
Ideh attributed the increase to the security challenges in the North-East which, he said, had affected the production of onions.
‘’Most of the people cultivating onions in the north have been displaced while some even lost their lives to the Boko Haram insurgency,’’ he said.
A tomato seller in the market, Mr Tanko Zakari, said the price of a basket of tomatoes ranged between N4,500 to N7,000, depending on the size. Zakari told newsmen that the cost of a basket of the commodity cost between N3,000 and N4,000.
He said a bag of pepper cost between N6,000 and N8,000 as against N5,000 and N6,000 in 2013, depending on type.
He also attributed the increase in the price of tomato to the insecurity in the North-East and cost of transportation.
“A lot of farmers are afraid to cultivate tomatoes because of the insecurity and the outcome of the 2015 elections.
‘’I tell you tomatoes will be expensive next year because there is less cultivation this year.
‘’My customers also complained that there is no money in circulation and that has led to the low patronage we are experiencing,’’ he said.
Zakari urged government to find a lasting solution to the lingering security challenges in the country.
Mrs Margaret Maxwell, a tomato retailer, said sales were low as some of her customers complained of delay in payment of December salary.
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