Business

A Case For PH International Market

Published

13 years ago

May 4, 2011

Trading in various goods is one business in which most Nigerians are engaged, especially in the urban centres like Kano, Lagos, Aba, Ibadan and Onitsha among others, which host markets of various sizes to accommodate the teeming army of traders. In these trying times, trading, a free enterprise which could be embarked upon by anyone who has some capital and is not afraid of competition, is so pervasive, no thanks to the high rate of unemployment in the land. This accounts for the high number of traders of every hue, to the extent that among their ranks are graduates of various disciplines from our tertiary institutions who have become traders as a way of keeping body and soul together. However, the dispersal of markets around Port Harcourt where street trading is rife, following the reconstruction of the Rumuwoji Market or (Mile One Market) and the ultra modern township market in the old Port Harcourt Township by the Rivers State government, has for sometime now constituted a problem to town planners and environmentalists.

As a result, traders on assorted goods, fabrics, electronics, building materials, motor spare parts and vehicles, have taken over every available space and some residential areas in Port Harcourt, thus prompting calls for an international market that would accomodate a vast majority of the traders. It is noteworthy that apart from defacing the city by converting every street corner or available space into a market place, the activities of traders have contributed to the high tenancy rate of residential houses whose landlords prefer traders or shop owners who may pay higher rent. This development which did not go down well with the state government prompted its intervention in the building of the modern Rumuwoji market in Diobu area after the old make-shift market was razed by fire, while reconstruction work is ongoing at the ultra modern Port Harcourt township market along Creek Road, which was allegedly torched by unidentified elements.

However, since the completion of the first phase of the mile one market the authorities seem to have problems allocating the stalls to traders for want of an agreeable allocation formula among stakeholders. Some of the disagreements, sources say, include proper identification of traders who were displaced to give way for the new edifice, identification of new and genuine stall seekers, accommodation of the interests of the “sons- of -the-soil”, rate changeable for the stalls, the interests of other stakeholders, among others.

The Rivers State government has, no doubt, spent a huge sum of money in building this modern market, not for the purpose of enhancing the landscape of Rumuwoji community, but for the purpose of providing a platform for the citizenry to participate in the economic activities available to them. Besides, the market is expected to generate revenue for the government to help it develop the second phase. Thus, leaving the market fallow for longer than is necessary would not be in the best interest of the people and the government that needs money to develop the second phase. Mindful of this need to clear whatever clogs that are militating against just and fair allocation of the stalls, the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi recently accepted to meet with the parties with a view to resolving the issues. It is therefore expected that during the meeting which would have the Allocation Committee Members, representative of traders and government in attendance all the knotty issues blocking the allocation of the stalls so far, should be settled. This move would boost economic activities in the state as more converts would become traders as a way of checking unemployment.

It is pertinent at this juncture to note that in allocating the stalls, the interests of those misplaced therefrom should be accorded some significance, even as the stalls may not be let below current market value. Granted that some indigent traders would be affected by this requirement, the need to form co-operatives so as to pool their resources together to meet government demand would make some sense. It should also be instructive to guard against allocating stalls to non-traders whose main interest would be to get the stalls either through community patronage or by government allocation, only to sublet them to real traders at very exhorbitant rates. This practice should be discouraged, because it works against government intention of improving the economic well-being of its citizens. Besides, such move eventually contributes to the high cost of goods as the traders must pass on the incidence of high cost of stalls to buyers.

When the second phase of the market is done with government should as a matter of urgency consider the building of an ultra modern international market in the state to raise economic activities to another level.

Apart from being a money spinner for government the international market has the potential to mop up motor car dealers, car spare parts dealers, dealers on building materials and assorted electronic goods now occupying residential buildings. In addition to forcing down the high cost of accommodation in Port Harcourt, moving certain categories of traders to the international market would help us realise more fully our dream of a Greater Port Harcourt City where change which everyone could see is being unravelled.

Business

Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN threatens shutdown over bridging claims

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Depot Chairmen Forum, has exonerated its members from the current fuel scarcity in the country.

According to IPMAN, this is caused by its inability to source petroleum products.

The IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum also threatened to withdraw its services over non-payment of N200 billion bridging claims by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to its members, since 2022.

Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, the Chairman, of the Forum said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.

Alhassan said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) was the sole importer of the product, but the marketers could not source products from NNPC Ltd. deport, rather from the private depots at high rate.

“We cannot buy fuel from the private depots at N950 and transport the product from Lagos to the North and other parts of the country with N2 million and still sell it at N900 or N1, 000.

“It is expedient for us to state that we are more pained by the non-availability of petroleum products in the country, which has given rise to another round of untold hardship for Nigerians.

“Contrary to claims that IPMAN members are hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as fuel, we would like to categorically state that PMS scarcity is wholly triggered by inability to get fuel from NNPC and not IPMAN,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye said the disruption was due to logistical issues which had since been resolved.

“We currently have an availability of products exceeding 1.5 billion litres, which can last for at least 30 days. Unfortunately, we experienced a three-day disruption in distribution due to logistical issues, which has since been resolved.

“However, as you know, overcoming such disruptions typically requires double the amount of time to return to normal operations.

“Some folks are taking advantage of this situation to maximise profits. Thankfully, product scarcity has been minimal lately, but these folks might be exploiting the situation for unwarranted gain,’’ Soneye said.

He however, said the lines would clear out soon.

On the non-payment of bridging claims, the IPMAN forum said it was distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the NMDPRA towards the survival its member’s businesses, arising from its refusal in paying the claims.

“It is with deep frustration that we have assembled here today as the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum. It is also disheartening to note that some of our members have completely shut down businesses and retrenched employees.

“As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running on a daily basis across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria in order to serve the teeming population of Nigerians,’’ Alhassan said.

He recalled that Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), at a stakeholders meeting in February mandated the NMDPRA management to clear the entire debt in 40 days.

“However, today, we have crossed the 40 days’ time lapse given to the NMDPRA to clear the debt, and it is shameful to state that only the paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid, ignoring minister’s directive.

“We are not happy with the indiscriminate increment in the issuance and renewal of Sales and Storage Licence, by the NMDPRA, and the subsequent delays in acquiring the licence, which our members are recently subjected to.

“We are also calling on President Bola Tinubu to look into this unwholesome figure which is highly detrimental to our business and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses.

“We are poised to take far reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria if our demands are not met within the shortest period of time.

“We are collectively prepared to withdraw our services, shut down every single outlet, and suspend lifting of products forthwith till our demands are fully met, and the consequences will be terrible.

“We call on our members to however remain resolute and law abiding, even as we draw close to the immediate ultimatum for our demands to be met by the NMDPRA,’’ the chairman said.

Reacting to the IPMAN’s claims, the Acting Head, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, Seiyefa Osanebi said the bridging claims payment was ongoing.

“The bridging claims payment is always an ongoing process,” she said.

Maritime

Shippers’ Council Registers 160 Port Operators

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) says it has registered 160 Port stakeholders into its Regulated Port Service Provider and Users platform since the initiative began in 2023.
Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Pius Akutah, made the disclosure on the sideline of a sensitisation programme by the commission for port operators in Lagos, with the theme, “Regulated Port Service Provider and Users”.
Represented by the Director, Consumer Affairs, Chief Cajetan Agu, Akutah emphasised the significance of the programme for stakeholders.
He said the sensitisation programme was the second edition after its commencement during the last quarter of 2023.
The Secretary said the 160 registered port operators consist of agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies, individual port users as well as service providers.
“We invited the ports stakeholders for enlightening them on the processes for online registration of Regulated Port Service Provider and Users.
“We have demonstrated to them how to register and how to make payment and we were able to present before them the various categories of the registration.
“The rate of payment is also in the registration. The payment of each group depends on the operation. A shipper pays N30,000, terminal operators and shipping companies pay N300,000, truckers also pay N30,000, while some pay N50,000 and N100,000.
“The Council was able to intimate them on the benefits, because port users benefit more as we help to interface on reducing port charges from time to time”, Akutah said.
He said that there was a need to continue to work with port operators to stop delays and eliminate high costs to make the port efficient.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Stakeholders, Service, NSC, Mr Celestine Akujobi, said “the sensitisation exercise was important for the council to enable us bring all the port stakeholders together”.
According to him, this is to avoid challenges during the implementation of the council’s responsibilities.
“By the time we introduce sanctions on defaulters, no operators will complain that he or she is not aware of the registration.
“I’m happy with the turnout of this sensitisation. This shows that the operators are well informed of the statutory friction of the council as the port regulator.
“The final implementation will commence as soon as we discover that all the operators have keyed into the portal.
“We are engaging other ports across the country and we’re hopeful that before the last quater of 2024, the council will implement sanctions on defaulting operators”, Akujobi said.
Earlier, Vice Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwards (NAGAFF), Dr Ifeanyi Emoh, said port challenges were enormous, adding that they originated from some of the government agencies.

Emoh urged the council to look into regulating other government agencies, so that there could be a window through which they can collect port charges collectively instead of indiscriminately.

By: Chinedu Wosu