Business
Food Processing Sector Can Replace Oil In Nigeria – NASSI
Chief Executive Officer,
Spectra Foods Ltd, Chief Duro Kuteyi, said yesterday in Lagos that the food processing business can replace oil in Nigeria.
Kuteyi, who is also the South-West Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), said this in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos yesterday.
He urged the Federal Government to monitor the activities of the development banks and the research institutes, in order to appraise the extent of the government’s efforts in supporting local food processors.
“Food processing in Nigeria is a viable business but there were too many challenges plaguing the sub-sector from lack of funds, market share, and also electricity supply.
“With adequate government support, we believe that the number of food processors in the country would have been doubled by the end of this year.
“The increase in the volume of the middle-class is causing the tastes and eating styles of Nigerians to change into a more convenient way of eating and they are also becoming more health-conscious.
“When you go to the malls today, people prefer to pick pre-packaged or pre-cooked food items, due to their busy schedules, while some even opt for home delivery.
“There is a lot of wastage of farm produce due to lack of adequate storage facilities, and this costs the nation billions of naira. Processing can help to reduce the level of wastage, so I dare to say that food processing is the new oil.
“The government should also endeavour to monitor the activities of the research institutes like the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), where there are countless research results on food and industrial items.
“Also, for the development banks like the Bank of Industry, where so many intervention funds have been channelled to, the government should ensure proper monitoring of such funds, so that it can be accessed by the people who truly need them,” he said.
Kuteyi also said that most of the packaged processed food items on Nigerian shelves are imported, which spells doom for the economy, should the trend of massive importation continue.
He said that given all necessary support, local manufacturers and food processors would be able to meet up with the standards of food packaging as most of them were already certified by the regulatory bodies.
Kuteyi said that millions of jobs could be created in the food processing value chain.
The changes in the tastes of the average Nigerian have brought about an increase in the demand for processing and packaging products.
A German Engineering Association, VDMA, in 2014 stated that Nigerian imports of food processing and packaging technology between 2010 and 2012, have increased from 198 million Euros to 275 million Euros,, an increase of 39 per cent.
In the same period, imports of agricultural machinery and equipment went up from 46 million Euros to 62 million Euros.
According to the PCI Film, a consulting firm, the Nigeria’s packaging industry has been growing at the rate of 12 per cent annually in the last five years.
The growth may be linked to the increasing demand for packaged food and cosmetic items.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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