Tag: Traders

  • Oyo Babaloja-General urges government support to avert food crisis

    Oyo Babaloja-General urges government support to avert food crisis

    Alhaji Sunmaila Aderemi Jimoh, the Babaloja-General of Oyo State, has urged the Nigerian federal government to provide incentives to farmers and traders in order to prevent an imminent food crisis. Speaking at a media briefing in Ibadan, Jimoh highlighted the need for government intervention to address the rising cost of transportation and the subsequent increase in food prices.

    Jimoh expressed concern that the recent removal of petroleum subsidy has led to an increase in transportation costs, which has, in turn, caused farmers to raise the prices of their produce. He emphasized that only the federal government’s support can prevent food insecurity and stabilize commodity prices, allowing the common man to afford two average meals per day.

    The Babaloja-General also emphasized the challenges faced by traders who are often unfairly blamed for the rise in food prices. He proposed the provision of interest-free loans to farmers and traders as a means of relieving them from the pressures of their business environment. However, Jimoh stressed the importance of implementing effective control measures to ensure prompt loan repayment and genuine utilization of funds for profitable ventures. He suggested the engagement of competent managers to oversee the loan process and supervise repayment.

    Jimoh’s call for government assistance to farmers and traders reflects the urgent need to address the increasing cost of living and prevent a potential food crisis in Nigeria.

  • FG doles out interest free GEEP 2.0 loans to 4,000 Farmers, Traders, market women in Bauchi

    FG doles out interest free GEEP 2.0 loans to 4,000 Farmers, Traders, market women in Bauchi

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    As part of efforts to pull out 100,000 Nigerians out of poverty, the Federal Give has began doling out interest free loans to more than 4,000 farmers , traders and market women in Bauchi state, under the second phase of the Federal Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme known as GEEP 2.0

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq made symbolic disbursements to some of the beneficiaries on Monday in Bauchi.

    The beneficiaries received amounts ranging from N50,000 to N300,000 and are expected to pay back without interest within one year.

    Also the minister who also disbursed Cash Grants to 5,679 beneficiaries charged them to deploy the funds into profitable small businesses to increase productivity.

    She noted that the programme implemented in close partnerships with State Governments shows the President’s commitment to work with all levels of Governments to address the issue of poverty which today has become a developmental hindrance confronting Nigerians.

    “We are here to flag-off the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) in Bauchi State, Azare and in Darazo. The GVG is a Buhari Manifesto fulfilment project to all vulnerable groups, to sustain the social inclusion agenda of President Buhari’s Administration on the poor, which is consistent with his compassionate and deliberate National agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.”

    Meanwhile 380 Independent Monitors were also engaged and issued employment letters aa well as specialized monitoring devices to enhance their responsibilities.

    600 Internally Displaced Persons will also receive N50,000 among whom will be Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens.

    “The flag-off payment of a one-off N50,000 grant is to selected IDPs under the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO), with the objective of enhancing their entrepreneurial activities for self employment, create wealth and generate jobs for others. In Bauchi State, 600 beneficiaries will be granted a token N50,000”, Farouq explained.

    Furthermore the Digitized Cash Transfer payment system for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme was launched to create reliable , transparent, accountable and accessible database for seamless disbursement to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer.

  • Traders Protests Demolition Attempt Of Bichi Market

    Traders Protests Demolition Attempt Of Bichi Market

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    Traders at Bichi market are resisting the proposed plans to demolish ancient Bichi market for re-construction where all the shop owners protests the proposal initiated by the member representing Bichi federal Constituency at the federal House of Representatives Engineer Abubakar Kabir Abubakar recently.

    Speaking to our correspondent at the market, the traders and shops owners through the former and pioneer chairman o Bichi market traders union Alhaji Umaru Isa, the traders lamented that the demolition would results to the loss of their shops which they are occupying for long time with all the necessary documentations.

    Umaru Isa added that ” on behalf of all Bichi traders that are having stalls and shops at Bichi market, we protests the proposed plans to demolish our shops for re-construction and we hope that all those who are having a hands on this issue to kindly rethink it over and leave our market without re-modelling because all our shops are well built”.

    Furthermore, the traders called on the lawmaker to change the decision of demolition Bichi famous market and bring out other important projects across his Constituency in order to spreads more devidends of democracy for the benefits of his electorates like what he was elected to offer.

    In conclusion, Alhaji Umaru Isa called on all the traders to be patience, law abiding and peace loving while they are struggling to ensure that justice prevail especially when the market contributes to the economic progress and providing employment opportunities to write a number of citizens of all categories.

  • Traders lament alleged selective demolition of shops by UNIUYO

    Traders lament alleged selective demolition of shops by UNIUYO

    Traders and shop owners at the town campus of the University of Uyo, have expressed displeasure over selective demolition of some shops in the campus annex by the management of the institution.

    Correspondents gathered that a demolition team of the institution led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo had last March visited the premises and pulled down some container shops, leaving out others.

    It was further gathered that the victims were not given the opportunity to evacuate their property as the VC allegedly instructed the bulldozer to demolish the containers with the contents.

    Investigation revealed that the school management had pasted a two-day notice on the fence directing owners of ‘illegal structures’ to vacate their shops or face the consequences.

    One of the victims, Treasure Okon who spoke with journalists in Uyo yesterday, explained that her computers and photocopiers were destroyed during the process lamenting that her means of livelihood has been shut as well.

    Okon expressed surprise that many other shops in the same vicinity with extensions as alleged by the University authorities as reason for the demolition still have their containers and shops intact.

    “Officials of the University including the Vice Chancellor came with a bulldozer and demolished everything. I was even working when they came, they switched off my generator, they brought a cartarpillar and destroyed everything,

    “It was not only my place, it was up to 15 places, they said the place is illegal and before I knew what was happening, the Chief Security Officer directed the bulldozer to destroy the shop.

    “So the next day I went to the CSO, he said my place was illegal and I showed him all the receipts. He said I should go and meet the VC that he was the one that gave the directive, since then I have been looking for somebody to help me because they destroyed everything in the shop, they didn’t even allow me to remove anything from the shop.” She said amidst tears.

    She further added that the authorities later apologized to her and other victims for the demolition.

    But the University Registrar, Aniediabasi Udofia had in a letter to Okon’s lawyer said she acted against the directive of the University for owners of illegal structures in the University premises to remove them.

    “It is correct that your client Mrs Treasure Okon applied to the Registrar for space in the Annexe Campus to build a container for a business shop. She was correspondingly issued with a business Venture Payment Permit by the Directorate of General Administration to operate her business in the Annex Campus.

    “From the representation in your client’s application, she wanted a space to build a container for her business. She therefore had permission, though impliedly to erect a container and nothing more, to do her business. Your client by erecting something else other than a container had rendered that structure illegal. She was so informed.

    “In any case, the University had issued adequate and sufficient notices to business owners/operations in the University, your client inclusive to remove all illegal structures on the University land. Your client had enough time to have acted wisely, but she blatantly disregarded the notices.” The letter had explained.

    The Registrar who was later contacted through phone noted that the only people affected were those who did not get direct approval from his office before erecting shops and have not been paying directly to the university coffers.

    He hinted that design for a permanent structure has already been done adding that the University would reallocate shops first to those who were legally and genuinely assigned shops earlier but were affected.

  • Traders lament alleged selective demolition of shops by UNIUYO

    Traders lament alleged selective demolition of shops by UNIUYO

    Traders and shop owners at the town campus of the University of Uyo, have expressed displeasure over selective demolition of some shops in the campus annex by the management of the institution.

    Correspondents gathered that a demolition team of the institution led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo had last March visited the premises and pulled down some container shops, leaving out others.

    It was further gathered that the victims were not given the opportunity to evacuate their property as the VC allegedly instructed the bulldozer to demolish the containers with the contents.

    Investigation revealed that the school management had pasted a two-day notice on the fence directing owners of ‘illegal structures’ to vacate their shops or face the consequences.

    One of the victims, Treasure Okon who spoke with journalists in Uyo yesterday, explained that her computers and photocopiers were destroyed during the process lamenting that her means of livelihood has been shut as well.

    Okon expressed surprise that many other shops in the same vicinity with extensions as alleged by the University authorities as reason for the demolition still have their containers and shops intact.

    “Officials of the University including the Vice Chancellor came with a bulldozer and demolished everything. I was even working when they came, they switched off my generator, they brought a cartarpillar and destroyed everything,

    “It was not only my place, it was up to 15 places, they said the place is illegal and before I knew what was happening, the Chief Security Officer directed the bulldozer to destroy the shop.

    “So the next day I went to the CSO, he said my place was illegal and I showed him all the receipts. He said I should go and meet the VC that he was the one that gave the directive, since then I have been looking for somebody to help me because they destroyed everything in the shop, they didn’t even allow me to remove anything from the shop.” She said amidst tears.

    She further added that the authorities later apologized to her and other victims for the demolition.

    But the University Registrar, Aniediabasi Udofia had in a letter to Okon’s lawyer said she acted against the directive of the University for owners of illegal structures in the University premises to remove them.

    “It is correct that your client Mrs Treasure Okon applied to the Registrar for space in the Annexe Campus to build a container for a business shop. She was correspondingly issued with a business Venture Payment Permit by the Directorate of General Administration to operate her business in the Annex Campus.

    “From the representation in your client’s application, she wanted a space to build a container for her business. She therefore had permission, though impliedly to erect a container and nothing more, to do her business. Your client by erecting something else other than a container had rendered that structure illegal. She was so informed.

    “In any case, the University had issued adequate and sufficient notices to business owners/operations in the University, your client inclusive to remove all illegal structures on the University land. Your client had enough time to have acted wisely, but she blatantly disregarded the notices.” The letter had explained.

    The Registrar who was later contacted through phone noted that the only people affected were those who did not get direct approval from his office before erecting shops and have not been paying directly to the university coffers.

    He hinted that design for a permanent structure has already been done adding that the University would reallocate shops first to those who were legally and genuinely assigned shops earlier but were affected.

  • Northern Tomato Farmers, Traders Lose Over ₦10 Billion In One Week, Cry Out

    Northern Tomato Farmers, Traders Lose Over ₦10 Billion In One Week, Cry Out

    Following the blocking of foodstuff by northern traders to Southern part of Nigeria, our Reporter has gathered that the traders have lost over 10 billion naira in one week.

    Reporter had reported that members of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria across the Northern part of the country have started diverting their goods and all consumables to the neigbouring countries of Niger Republic and Cameroon

    They have also begun blocking trade routes to the South by stopping food item-laden trucks from going south.

    A trader, Musa Tijani said they have lost over N10Billion in just one week and pleaded with the group to allow them bring their foodstuff to the Southern part of the country.

    According to him, “most of the perishable foodstuff have spoiled because even the countries that we are moving the goods to have the items”.

    “So, what happens is that when we get there, they won’t buy most of the foodstuff till we will just dash them or dump them there.”

    “We need stop this blockage and see ourselves as one. There is no difference between an Igbo man, Hausa, Yoruba and Fulani if we our leaders can unite us” he told our correspondent.

  • Traders destroy Niger deputy governor’s house over demolition of their shops

    Traders destroy Niger deputy governor’s house over demolition of their shops

    Ayinde Minna Residents of Brighter Road in Minna Niger State were thrown into confusion on Tuesday morning as irate youths who joined traders shopping in the area’s mini-market destroyed the private residence of the Niger State Deputy Governor in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    The incident, according to a source, happened around 11.00am when the youths and the traders whose shops were demolished by the Urban Development Board unleashed their anger on the deputy governor’s house.

    A source who craved anonymity told this medium that the marketers alleged that they were not given any quit notice by anybody but only to saw caterpillars demolishing people’s shops without allowing them to pack their goods and valuables that were inside.

    The source also noted that the traders who demanded justice and equity also demanded the demolition of the house of the deputy governor as it is in the same place with the shops marked for demolition.

    The source revealed that the traders lost millions of naira to the demolition as they could not pick even a pin from the site.

    One of the shop owners, Mallam Muritala, lamented that the state government has brought him down totally, adding that they never gave him any noticed.

    He said they came early yesterday morning and asked him to come out of the shop before they started demolishing it without even allowing him to pack his cash, goods and valuables.

    He said, “I was just sitting in my shop and they said come out – their bulldozer was stationed in front of my shop – and immediately they brought me out forcefully. They brought down my entire shop without allowing me to pack my cash, goods and even other valuables. They have taken me back to zero levels, I’m left with nothing.”

    Another trader whose shop was also demolished, Moses Dunia, accused the Niger State government of being power drunken for protecting the house of the deputy governor while making life hard for the common man in the area.

    While reacting to the incident, the acting general manager of Urban Development Board described the allegation as baseless, adding that all the illegal structures in the area were duly served with notification of the demolition of illegal structures in the state.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: Traders switch to foodstuff business in Enugu

    COVID-19 lockdown: Traders switch to foodstuff business in Enugu

    Some traders in non food items in Enugu have switched to foodstuff businesses as the lockdown imposed by the state government to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) persists, Daybreak reports.

    Daybreak recalls that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu had on April 1, imposed an initial 14-days lockdown on the state to contain COVID-19 and later extended it by another 14 days on April 15.

    The lockdown order, however, exempted essential workers and traders in food and medical consumables.

    Some of the traders  who switched over to foodstuff business told daybreak on Saturday in Enugu that they opted for the foodstuff business to save their families from hunger and depression.

    Mrs Cecelia Ude, a dealer in babies’ clothings at Ogbete Main market, who now sell garri and palm oil, said she w got frustrated staying at home with her family during the first two weeks of lockdown.

    Ude added that she was forced into the new trade by insufficient food and money for her family upkeep.

    “In fact, nobody told me to start foodstuff business at the New Market as hunger was about to set into my home.

    “I am happy doing this garri and palm oil business because it was almost difficult for me to feed my four children before I join the business,” she said.

    Miss Chioma Okoye, a dealer in kitchen utensils at Garki Market, who at the moment sells dried fish and crahfish, said that she went into foodstuff business for sustenance.

    “I did not waste time to switch over to foodstuff business immediately I heard that food items and medicine sellers should continue selling.

    “I changed to dried fish and crafish business, I got myself a table in front of my shop for the business,” Okoye said.

    Similarly, Mrs Uju Nebo, a fashion designer at Achara Layout,  said she started selling sweet potatoes and breadfruit generally called ‘ukwa’ in Igbo language outside her compound to assist her husband financially in the family.

    “I decided to go for sweet potatoes and ukwa because this is their season and I have already started experiencing huge sales in the business.

    “Since many women in my street are selling potatoes, I decided to add ukwa to my own business to make a difference,” Nebo said.

  • 15,000 Kasuwan Barci traders fault Kaduna Govt. on 3 days quit notice

    15,000 Kasuwan Barci traders fault Kaduna Govt. on 3 days quit notice

    The Secretary of Kasuwan Barci Traders Association in Kaduna, Alhaji Muhammadu Usman, has appealed to Kaduna State Government  to review the three days notice issued to them to quit the market.

    Usman made the call on Sunday in Kaduna while speaking with journalists on the quit notice.

    15,000 traders are earning a living in the the popular second hand market, and already some have them had started evacuating their goods from the market.

    The quit notice was issued and pasted on some shops on March 6.

    Usman explained that the state government did not consult with them or provide any alternative before issuing the sudden quit notice.

    He maintained that considering the strategic position of the market, the quit notice would adversely affect traders of the market.

    The Secretary therefore appealed to the State Government to meaningfully engage with the traders with a view to resolving the matter amicably, stressing that they would continue to remain law abiding.

    Also speaking, Chairman Arewa Peoples Unity Association, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu appealed to the state government to consider the present economic realities.

    Aliyu noted that Kasuwan barci hosts traders from neighbouring African countries, who engage in import and export activities.

    He also called on the state government to allow the matter to be decided by the court.

    Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), issued the quit notice on March 6, which was pasted on some shops in the market.

    Part of the quit notice reads: “In view of Urban Renewal Projects by Kaduna State Government upgrading of Kasuwan Barci Market; you are hereby given three days quit notice to remove all your valuable and vacate the site.

    “Failure to comply with the above directive will leave the authority with no option than demolish.

    “Remove your stall at your expense according to section 60 of the Kaduna State Urban and Regional Planning law of 2018”.

    The quit notice was signed by KASUPDA Director General, Ismail Dikko. (NAN)