Work to start on Swiss International Enyimba Hotel December

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 29, 2016

Construction of the five-star Swiss International Enyimba Hotels, Aba, Abia, will commence next month, an official said on Tuesday.

Dr Wasiu Babalola, Managing Director, Africa, Swiss International Hotels and Resorts, confirmed the commencement date in an interview with our reporter in Aba.

He said that there had been delay in the commencement due to “the need complete all the necessary paperwork” on the project.

“I can confirm to you that the engineer will move to site in less than 30 days.

“After we signed the MOU, the approval of the due diligence could not be located; so, we needed to process another one,’’ he said.

Babalola said that the company had got all the necessary government approval to begin the construction.

“We did not want to take things for granted. The fact that the government is there does not mean that we should not follow due processes.

“Since this is a foreign investment, due diligence needs to be properly done.

“In the next 30 days, work will start. We are tidying some things up to ensure that,’’ he told our reporter.

Babalola debunked the rumour that the construction was being delayed because Abia Government demanded bribe from the company.

“That is a blatant lie. The governor has been there although the project is not owned by the state government.

“I can tell you that the Abia State Government has been giving us all the necessary support on this project,’’ he said.

During the flag-off of the construction in August, Babalola had said that the work would last between 12 to 18 months.

However, with the delay, the construction of the hotel with 141 rooms, four residential suites, a banquet hall for 1,000 persons and a swimming pool will now extend to 2018.

Remove two zeros from legislators' entitlements to curb recession – Don tells government

By Ijendu Iheaka

November. 24, 2016 

Prof. Innocent Eleazu of Roxbury Community College, Massachusetts, USA on Thursday urged the federal government to start its moves to take the nation out of recession by removing "two zeros" from the entitlements of Nigerian legislators.

Eleazu who is a professor of Economics at Roxbury Community College, Massachusetts, USA, made this assertion in Aba at a lecture titled “Recession in a mono-economy, challenges and consequences” organized by the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA).

 

He said that following the “circular flow model” in economics, an economic problem created in one segment of the economy invariably affects and transfers to other segments.

According to him, paying a legislator a whooping N352, 756, 988.00 (Three hundred and fifty two million, Seven hundred and fifty six thousand, Nine hundred and eighty-eight naira) annually was hurting to the economy.

Defining economic recession as decline in economic activities, Eleazu said that the huge government payments to legislators were taking away funds that should build infrastructures to revive the economy.

Eleazu warned that should the alarming rate at which the gap between the poor and the rich in Nigeria was widening continue unchecked; the rich would soon lose their security.

He therefore called on the government to act quickly to arrest this trend before it became too late.

He called on the government to declare war on poverty stressing that it would be a mistake to declare war on corruption without first declaring war on poverty.

He said that although some Nigerians stole not because they were poor, it was still a known fact that poverty was often a precursor to corruption.

He urged employers to pay up their workers adding that paying workers’ salaries by government and non-government employers was a sure way of getting Nigeria out of a recession.

He said that paying workers’ salaries which ensured they worked more and spent more money would increase economic activity and in return revive the nation’s economy.

“Hoarding money and refusing to pay salaries or give loans to manufacturers was a sure way of escalating the effect of the recession and making it last long. This is unacceptable if we want the recession to go away soonest”, he said.

Eleazu also urged the federal government to do a census of Nigeria’s households to understand its population trends in order to help it plan for its people.

He said that it would be difficult for the nation to plan and prepare for economic challenges like a recession which could not be avoided if it did not have the statistics of its households.

He noted that the nation should not worry about economic recessions which were a part of a capitalist economy but should plan to ensure that they were always short-lived when they come.

In his address, the Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu thanked the scholar for bringing home his learning to his people and thus contributing to the state’s progress.

The governor said he was concerned in the welfare of the manufacturers in Aba hence the moves to ensure that they reaped the fruits of their labour without losing them to middlemen.

He said that at a time when leadership and structures in Nigeria were failing the people, the ACCIMA should live legacies of good leadership.

The governor was represented at the lecture by the Abia State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Osita Igbe.

Aba shoe manufacturers seek SON’s assistance to improve quality

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 23, 2016

Shoe manufacturers in Aba, Abia, have urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure thorough scrutiny of raw materials imported into the country.

Mr Goodluck Mmeri, President, Powerline Shoe Manufacturers Association, Aba, who made the call in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Wednesday, said such action would ensure quality production of goods.

He said that the call had become necessary now that the State Government was working hard to ensure high standard and recognition of leather products from the Abia.

According to Mmeri, the impact of SON is not being felt by shoe manufacturers in the state.
Mmeri urged the organisation to support the effort Abia government in enhancing the shoe manufacturing sector in the state.

He said that the association had put some measures in place to check production of poor quality materials in the sector.

He listed the measures to include giving importers quality specifications for raw materials, ensuring that products leaving the market met certain standards and enforcing price controls.

The president also called on the Federal and State Government to assist the manufacturers in procuring quality raw materials and machines to enable them to improve the quality of their products

Conduct LG elections without bias, NGO tells ABSIEC

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 22, 2016

The Eastern Progressive Movement, an NGO, on Tuesday urged the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to conduct the Dec. 17, local government elections without favouring any candidate or party.

The Chairman, Mr Chinedu Duru, said in a statement made available to our reporter in Aba, the state’s business hub, that the association was in support of holding the local government elections, to move the state forward.

“This, we believe, will make the elected executives to be directly accountable to the people at the grassroots and ensure the independence of all tiers of government.

“This election must be held in accordance with the electoral guidelines and must be free, fair and credible too.’’

Duru also said that in line with the desire to take the nation out of recession, there was the need to act on development projects that would boost economic development in the country.

He decried the deplorable state of federal roads in the South-East and urged the government to immediately start work on roads in the zone.

He said that rehabilitating the roads would encourage economic revival through increased business activities that would lead to economic growth.

The chairman called for special attention to electricity generation and supply especially in business zones such as Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi.

He further demanded a revolutionary rural electrification project in the geo-political zone to expand the wealth-creation plan of the government.

Aba leather workers record increasing patronage

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 21, 2016


The President, Leather Product Manufacturers Association of Abia, Mazi Okechukwu Williams, says leather workers in the state are recording increasing patronage.

Williams disclosed this on Monday in an interview with our repoter in his office in Ariaria, Aba.

He said that the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration had added value to the perception and productivity of leather workers in Aba.

“With this present government, the governor has volunteered to be the chief marketing officer of LEPMAAS. He said it himself.

“If you enter his office, you will see samples of our products and he has been making concerted efforts to drive the demand within the finished leather goods sector in Abia state.

“There had been many orders coming in and business has been on the increase; we are having a sort of geometric rise in the last three years because we have done a lot of advocacy to enable us have more access to market and to finance.

“It is gradually paying off. We are experiencing a rise in demand and a couple of our good manufacturers are very busy so I would say things have been a bit fair in the last three years.

“Under Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s regime, there has been an improvement from what we used to have.

“However, what we have done over the years culminated in what we are having now in this regime,” he said.

Williams noted that Ikpeazu had assembled good and qualified personnel who were helping to lift their production in the state to the next level through getting them job orders.

He added that the Public Communication arm of the governor’s office under Mr Sam Hart had developed an online platform for made-in-Aba products to improve their visibility and advantage.

“Ikpeazu is also paying close attention to the finished leather goods sector of the state.

“This is opening up what we are doing here to the world and I think what we need is to improve on the level of our production capacity to match the demand for our products which will result from the exposure,” he said.

Williams therefore commended Ikpeazu for his effort at improving their market value and visibility, urging the governor not to relent until they reach the desired destination.

Our findings showed that some trained shoe manufacturers in Ariaria who became commercial motorcyclists because of lull in patronage have started returning to the business.

IPMAN promises steady petroleum product supply during Christmas

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 17, 2016

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Thursday said it would ensure steady supply of petroleum products to Nigerians during the yuletide.

Its National President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the executive meeting of the association in Aba.

“We have chosen the path of peace; the path of progress to ensure that members of our association here in Aba are not shortchanged,“he said.

He said the association, under the leadership of Chief Christian Ahukanna in Aba, had ensured that pipelines were not vandalised and marketers enjoyed supply from the Aba depot.

“With time, people will begin to see what we have achieved. Our duty is to ensure that there is a level playing field where everyone will be able to access the products without any problems,” he said.

He said that bad roads had become a challenge to them in making products available to Nigerians and expressed the hope that government would pay attention to them.

Okoronkwo said if the priority roads would be given attention, it would help easy access of products.

Mr Udo Alozie, the newly-elected IPMAN Eastern Zonal Chairman, said the association was committed to ensuring that Nigerians got constant supply of petroleum products.

Alozie said only Aba depot was functioning in the zone as others had been destroyed by pipeline vandals.

He, however, promised to collaborate with NNPC, Police, communities, youth organisations, village heads and royal fathers to protect the pipeline for optimal performance.

The zonal chairman said NNPC had started work on some of the pipelines, adding that Enugu depot would soon receive products.

Alozie expressed the hope that there would be no petroleum product scarcity during the festive season, following the government’s efforts to support product import by marketers. 

Abia APC rejects ABSIEC’s plan to delay local government elections results

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 16, 2016  

The Abia chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the one-day gap between the local government elections in the state and the announcement of the results.

The Chairman of the party, Mr Donatus Nwankpa, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Aba on Wednesday that there was no need for the delay.

Nwankpa said that the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) should reverse the decision to announce the results of the elections a day after the balloting.

He demanded the immediate announcement of the results of the polls at the electoral wards to ensure free and fair elections.

Nwankpa said his party was worried by the commission’s planned delay, adding that such a gap would create room for manipulation of the results.

He called on the Chairman of ABSIEC, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas, to ensure that his agency delivered a credible election acceptable to all political parties in the contest.

“As far as APC is participating in the council polls, the result of the polls must be declared at each polling unit.

“The councillorship will be declared at the ward, the chairmanship election will be declared at the local government secretariat.

“All of them will be declared on the day of the election. Any postponement will give room for manipulation of the results.

“If they are not ready to conduct this election, they should continue with their transition committees. ABSIEC must obey the law, we won’t accept anything less,” he said.

The chairman further urged the police and other security agencies to be neutral and transparent during the Dec. 17 polls.

He called on them to ensure that the results reflected the wishes of the people, noting that the APC would win a landslide if one-man, one-vote was allowed.

“We have prepared well for the election and efforts are in top gear. We urge the police and other security agencies to remain neutral. ABSIEC must be willing to follow electoral procedures and avoid announcing results for the ruling party.

“We urge ABSIEC to be neutral, transparent and to ensure that the results will truly reflect the wishes of the electorate.

Clifford University to support education of indigent students

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 16, 2016

 The Seventh Day Adventist Church is opening an organization at Clifford University, Ihie, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State to source and receive financial help for less privileged students, the President has said.

 The Eastern Nigeria Union Conference President, SDA Church, Dr Bassey Udoh disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Tuesday.

Speaking on the fee structure of the newly approved University, Udoh said it would provide opportunities for less privileged students to study on scholarship schemes funded by organizations.

“We are going to open an organization in Clifford to network with NGOs to help less privileged to study. Today I see people who come to hospitals to pay medical bills for people who cannot pay their bills.

“We need to do this in Clifford University and we hope to offer this chance to Nigerians. We know there are many Nigerians who can do this.

“We are also looking at other measures to help. We will with time look for NGOs that can float scholarship schemes. We have a committee working on this.

“Can you imagine an NGO sponsoring 50 to 100 students? I am looking forward to a strong Nigerian putting up an education Trust Fund in Clifford University. I am using this opportunity to publicize this.

“We have many millionaires in this country. Where do they keep this money? Use it for the training of the socially challenged. This is what I see in many countries.

“I want to see NGOs, wealthy Nigerians, religious organizations; social clubs come to Clifford University to support education. This is one way to make university education affordable for all”, he said

Udoh said that the institution would be focusing on what it could offer students instead of looking at the cost of education therein.

However, he noted that apart from using scholarship schemes to support poor students, the university has plans to ensure parents of students with less economic power pay fees in two installments.

“Clifford University will be open to the rich, the poor and the middle-class. I overheard the planning session. Students may even be allowed to pay in two installments to accommodate those who are not economically very strong", he said.

Udoh, also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Babcock University called on Nigerians to invest it in social stability which could be achieved through education that builds the character of its beneficiaries.

He said that the university would start off operations culminating in commencement of studies as soon as it receives its charter particulars from NUC on November 22, 2016.

“As soon as we receive this charter, we will make public our plans to start studies in the university. We have to follow the NUC’s directives. The admission forms are ready.

“We want to use the month of November and December for recruitment and admissions. And I know JAMB is willing to assist us with admissions. We will partner with other universities”, he said.

Clifford University which became the 130th Adventist University in the world was approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) on November 2, 2016.

It is the second Adventist University in Nigeria coming after Babcock University located in Ogun State in Western Nigeria.

Aba Products: Patronage drive to generate N300 million monthly

November 15, 2016 3:39  

By Ijendu Iheaka

Mr Sam Hart, Coordinator, Project Made-in-Aba, an agency promoting transactions between producers and buyers in Aba, Abia, says the new drive for patronage of Aba products would generate over N300 million to Abia monthly.

Hart gave the assurance on Tuesday in an interview with our reporter in Ariaria Market, Aba.

“Shoe manufacturers have done 1,000 pairs of school sandals to be distributed to students in Abia.

“No matter how low the price is, their money is in millions.

“The military boots contract they are handling added, you are looking at almost N250 million coming into Aba within a month.

“Cumulatively, you are looking at N300 million – N400 million coming within a month,’’ he said. 

Hart said that the government was working tirelessly to ensure sustainability of the project to encourage Aba manufacturers in their hard work and creativity.

He said that Project Made-in-Aba had been doing massive online publicity to showcase the creativity of the manufacturers.

“We opened a website (www.madeinaba.com.ng) where we display all products made in Aba; we are using social media platforms to publicize. We have attracted a lot of interests with that.

“That is the advantage we offer Aba manufacturers through Project Made-in-Aba. 

“You do not have to come to Aba to get products. You can stay wherever you are and send us photograph of what you want, and we produce it and send to you,” he said.

Lottery Commission to automate its operations – D-G

By Ijendu Iheaka
November 10, 2016 

National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), is working to automate internal and external lottery processes in Nigeria, the Director-General, Mr Adolphus Ekpe, has said.

Ekpe made statement on Thursday in Aba at the maiden national lottery forum held in the city to educate the residents on the processes of running a lottery business.

The D-G, who was represented by Dr Emma Jeminiwa, Director, Regulation and Monitoring, said that automation would make monitoring and enforcement activities of the commission easier and ensure wider participation by Nigerians.

He said that lottery could be the new money spinner for Nigeria, adding that it could be a source of revenue for building infrastructure and supporting other `good causes.’

Ekpe said that the laws establishing the commission allowed operators to obtain license only from the federal government which empowers them to operate in any state without interference.

He therefore called on officials of state and local governments not to frustrate the operators by asking them to produce another license.

In her remarks, Mrs Anagam Ononuju, the commission’s coordinator for Imo and Abia office, said that lotteries worldwide are utilised in funding `good causes.’

She listed some of such causes to include road construction, sponsoring athletics, assisting educational institutions among others.

Addressing the participants, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu charged the operators to be open, transparent and fair in their businesses. 

He urged them to be conscious of the character and personality of their agents if they wish to grow the business in Abia.

Ikpeazu, who was represented by Mr Greg Esotu, his Special Adviser on Small and Medium Scale Industries, promised that government would provide an enabling environment for the lottery to thrive in Abia.

He urged the operators to pay the government its percentage of their earnings.

Over N22 million lost in Aba Shopping Complex fire

Over N22 million lost at Aba Shopping Complex fire

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 8, 2016

 A mid afternoon fire on Sunday razed down two big shops with goods containing over 22 million at the Ekeoha market also known as the Aba Shopping Complex.

The burnt shops located at Zone 11 of the complex housed new and fairly used television sets and Video Players, foreign upholstery seats and tables.

In one of the shops dealing on electronic products belonging to Chibuike Igwe, only debris and contorted television boxes were visible with few of them untouched by the fire.

However, the other shop owned by Sunny Onuh which was stocked full with upholstery seats, tables and accessories had nothing left to retrieve except rusty steel frames.

Onuh recounting the disaster said “I had some little goods in that shop until Saturday. However, I took delivery of much larger quantity of goods which I packed into the shop on Saturday.

“Then after Church service on Sunday, I got several calls telling me that the Shopping Centre was on fire. When I ran down here, I saw that my shop was involved.

“I asked what happened and was told that one woman called “Prapra”, who sells food in that area, came to the market on Sunday to cook meat.

“She was allowed by security men to enter to boil meat she would sell on Monday. After putting the meat on fire, she left for her house and before she could return, the place had been burnt down”, he said.

Onuh said that the fire was so fiery that when he came to his shop at the complex, about 1 pm, all he did was to join others to douse it and save other shops from burning down.

He said that even when the Aba Fire Service personnel came, the fire had little life left which they helped to quench finally.

 Igwe on his part could hardly contain the pain of his loss saying “I do not know how to start telling my story on this loss of my properties and others left in my care by my customers”.

He wondered how the fire came into the shops since the market was disconnected on Saturday evenings to avoid fire from electric sparks and businesses are prohibited there on Sundays.

“I was returning from a journey when I got calls telling me of the fire incident but when I reached here, what I saw overwhelmed me. I must tell you that my spirit is yet to return to Aba since Sunday”, he said.

Igwe said that he lost over N1.5 million in the inferno while Onuh said his own losses were over N20 million.

Both men asked for the help and the support of the government and well-meaning Nigerians to stabilize and be able to feed their families again.

Efforts by our reporter to speak with the market authorities met brick wall as the Chief Security Officer, Mr Louis Nwogwugwu referred him to the Abia State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Chief Henry Ikoh for details of the accident.

When contacted the Police PRO, Ogbonnaya Nta said he was not aware of the accident but asked to be called back toenable him get the details.

However, several calls put to his phone later were not responded to.

Association calls for policies to protect local industries, SMEs

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 8, 2016.

Mr Okechukwu Williams, the President of Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (LEPMAS), Aba, has called for new policies to protect local industries in Nigeria.

Williams made the call in a statement made available to our reporter on Tuesday in Aba.

He said that the absence of policies that could protect young industries in Nigeria was opening them up to unfair competition from imported products.

“There are lots of substandard and damaged goods dispatched and unchecked from Asian countries entering into Nigeria and making the country a dumping ground.

“In this regard, they are rendering our locally manufactured products uncompetitive to the foreign ones,” he said.

Williams called for adequate documentation of made-in-Nigeria goods shipped outside the nation’s shores to boost its earnings.

He also stressed the need to upgrade the nation’s transport infrastructure to ensure timely delivery of goods, save money and man-hours being lost on bad roads, especially in the South East.

Williams particularly called for concrete actions to boost the growth of SMEs in the South East and the country in general through adequate funding, export and import grants, technology development and capacity building.

He said that these would give indigenous SMEs comparative advantage in foreign markets.

Strengthen SMEs to get Nigeria out of recession – Ogbeh

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 8, 2016

The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that Nigeria’s Small and Medium Scale Enterprises must be strengthened to bail the nation out of recession.

The Minister made the assertion on Tuesday at the 3rd Abia State Small and Medium Scale (SME) forum in Aba, Abia state’s commercial hub.

Ogbeh said that although the nation since the 1970s had created various opportunities to grow its SMEs, it was still fraught with low productivity, reduced economic contribution and high business failure.

He, therefore, called for local technological support, access to finance, training, open markets, adequate infrastructure, reduction of interest rates and trade liberalisation to grow the SMEs.

Ogbeh represented by the South East Regional Director in the ministry, Mr Chima Ibezim, thanked SMEDAN, Bank of Industry, other financial institutions, investors and agencies for contributing to the steady development of MSEs in Nigeria.

In his address, the Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu, said that the State government had set in motion a process to eradicate multiple taxation in order to encourage growth of SMEs.

He said that at the completion of the process all business concerns in Abia would receive a maximum of two demand notices for fees; adding that his office should be alerted if it exceeds two.

Okochukwu said that a monitoring team had been constituted by the state government to search out persons defrauding Abia residents in the name of government to enable their arrest and prosecution.

In his contribution, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa called on business people in Abia state to collaborate with government to get what they needed to run their businesses.

He added that government alone could not give all they required to grow their businesses.

He said that unless government sees the problems of SMEs from the eyes of the businesses, it would be hard to solve their problems.

He stressed the need for constant interaction between business owners and government agents to solve their problems.

An Aba-based businessman, Chief John Udeagbala, urged the participants to join business associations in the city such as ACCIMA and MAN to benefit from collective fight for their rights and better business opportunities.

He said business owners must buy into the current plan by governments to grow SMEs by giving them loan facilities through government agencies.

He said that he utilised such opportunity in early 1970s to create four thriving companies today.

First Container lands at Ntigha Dry Port in December 2017 - Shippers' Council

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 7, 2016


The South East Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr Christian Chimezie has said that the first container would land at Ntigha Dry Port in Isiala Ngwa North by December, 2017.


Chimezie said that the new committee inaugurated by the Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was working hard to realize the December 2017 target for the delivery of the port.

The zonal coordinator of NSC disclosed this in Aba on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba.

He pointed out that the government was committed to realizing the Ntigha Dry Port in order to boost businesses in the South East Zone and decongest Onne Port.

“The issue of the Ntigha Dry Port is making a tremendous progress. Right now the Committee has been working since the 25th of January 2016 the Abia State governor; Dr Okezie Ikpeazu inaugurated a new committee to take charge.

“Since then, we have held four meetings. The level we have reached now is that the concessionaire has secured funds to build the facility.

“What remains now is just to get the approval to clear the site because the foreign company that is to build the facility said that they are going to investigate the site to find out if its soil can carry the project.

“So last week we went to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Development, Abia State and we have given them about 15 documents relating to the approval of that site.

“Once they release it and we give it to the construction company, East Gate, they will start the construction. The target of the committee is that by December 2017, the first container will drop at the Ntigha Dry Port” he said.

 In January 2016, Ikpeazu inaugurated the Ntigha Dry Port Implementation Committee to ensure the realization of the port which had delayed its take-off since 2010.

Fashion designers seek inclusion in Abia industrial cluster development

By Ijendu Iheaka

 November 4, 2016 

The Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers (ATFAD) has called on the Abia government to include them in its programme aimed at promoting local businesses through creation of industrial clusters.

The call followed the state government’s allocation of about 35 hectres of land at Umukalika community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia state for the leather products industrial cluster.

The request is contained in a statement made available to our reporter in Aba on Friday and signed by ATFAD President, Mr Onyebuchi Nwaigwe.

“The industrial cluster system we are asking for is good for developing economies and micro, small and medium scale enterprises which plays a key role in economic growth.

“It also ensures equitable development in developing economies like ours through their contribution to employment generation, poverty reduction and wider distribution of wealth and opportunities.

“The potential role of our association in developing the nation’s economy is often not realized because of problems associated with our size and scattered businesses of our members who have difficulty achieving economies of scale in purchasing raw materials.

“It also affects our businesses by discouraging collaborative efforts in purchasing equipment, gaining access to financing opportunities and human capacity development”, the association said.

ATFAD said that the cluster would enable them take advantage of available market opportunities requiring large quantity production, uniform standardization and regular supply which would boost Nigeria’s economy.

They also pleaded for a well-equipped Common Facility Centre (CFC) to train their personnel and create large scale exportable quality garments.

The group begged the government to help give its members access to business funds to purchase state-of-the-Art equipment and access to markets which had hindered their development for years.

The group said that if their requests were granted, the outcome would be increased high quality production which would increase foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.

Aba chamber asks govt to stop VAT on imported goods

By Ijendu Iheaka

November 3, 2016

The Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) has called on the Federal Government to stop indiscriminate charges on imported goods.

The chamber said its members were being harassed by several agencies of the government at different points to pay VAT on goods brought in from other countries.

The Vice President of the chamber, Chief Jerry Kalu, said at a one-day workshop organised by the South East zone of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Aba that the charges constituted an aberration.

“VAT is charged on manufactured goods with added value but a situation where VAT is charged on imported goods, most of which are raw materials, seems to be an aberration.

“This issue needs to be looked into, Kalu said.”

He also asked the government to repatriate export proceeds from abroad, provide roads for transportation of goods and for the completion of the Ntigha Dry Port to decongest Onne Port.

The vice president also asked for a hault to the harassment from government agencies extorting the importers through their goods.

In her address, the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mrs Kate Nwosu, promised that the government would join hands with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure the promotion of made-in-Nigeria goods.

Nwosu, who was represented by the Director of Commerce in the ministry, Sir Sam Nwagbara, thanked the council for living up to expectation by enlightening exporters in the area.

Mr Akintunde Makinde, the Acting Director of Inland Transport Services at the Nigerian Shippers Council, said the workshop was organised for Aba business people because of their contribution to the nation’s economy.

Makinde said that following the port reforms of 2006, which gave the council an additional role as the regulator of ports, it had repositioned to establish an enabling environment for the sector.

He said there had been setbacks and achievements which included increased operational efficiency, infrastructural developments, security and safety of cargo and capacity building of operators.

The Zonal Cordinator of the council, Mr Christian Chimezie, said the workshop was aimed at engaging stakeholders and building capacity to enable them succeed in global shipping business.

He urged the stakeholders to collaborate with the council to proffer solutions to indentified challenges and liaise with the Federal Government to make shipping easier.

He thanked the Abia state government, the organised private sector, the chamber and other trade groups for supporting the council.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Alex Adaelu, said the major problem of the shippers in Aba was not with their international business partners but government agencies and their activities.

He urged the government agencies to do what was right and encourage the shipping trade in the country.