Business
Lagos Residents Laud FG For Increased Power Generation
Some residents of the
Lagos metropolis on Tuesday commended Federal Government’s efforts at improving the nation’s electricity supply as power generation increased from 2, 718 megawatts to 3,342 megawatts.
They spoke in separate interviews with our correspondent in Lagos, against the backdrop of the improvement recorded in electricity supply.
The General Manager, Media Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDCP), Mr Idemudia Godwin, said the power supply had improved when compared to previous weeks.
Godwin said that currently the company is receiving about 338 megawatts from Egbin, Para Electric and National Grid, compared to when they received less than 150 megawatts from the National Grid.
He said that power firms and government were putting in place measures to improve the sector.
Some artisans including welders, hair dressers, barbing salon operators also confirmed to our correspondent that supply had improved and had boosted their businesses.
Similarly, some operators of cold rooms at Ijora and Oshodi said the hours of supply had improved but they still complement the power supply with their personal generators.
The Chairman, Surulere Welders Association, Mr Fagbemi Abiodun, said that government should be commended over the improvement in power supply to some parts of Lagos State in the last few days.
Abiodun said that would go a long way in sustaining artisans in the state who had lost interest in power supply over the years.
He urged the government to sustain the tempo and improve on it, saying that the improvement would lead to job creation.
According to him, some manufacturers and big-time welders that fell under the industrial or maximum-demand customers, consumed the greatest volume of electricity.
“At the time of very low generation and supply, that category of consumers depended solely on generators.
Abiodun, who said that members were excited over the development, however, appealed to the authority to sustain and improve on the supply.
The President, Ijora Hairdressers Association, Mrs Augusta Cletus, who corroborated the improvement in power supply, said much was still required to make the desired impact.
Cletus urged distribution companies to effect repairs on damaged cables to enable small businesses to thrive.
“Most of our members that I spoke to on this issue, confirmed that there has been significant improvement in electricity supply unlike in the past when we may not have electricity for some days.
“I will like to advise the government not to relax, as so much need to be done. Government should ensure that there is adequate supply of gas, and at very affordable price.
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The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
King Onunwor