Aba traders export N1bn worth of goods weekly –Ikpeazu

We’ll  continue to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, says Saraki

From Fred Itua and Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has disclosed that local manufacturers of shoes and leather products in Aba export at least one million shoes to Europe on a weekly basis.
governor made the disclosure during a trade fair showcasing Made-in-Aba products in Abuja, yesterday.

The fair was part of efforts  by the Federal Government to promote and boost local manufacturing.

Governor Ikpeazu who presided over the opening ceremony of the fair,  said  there are 15,000 shoemakers in Aba, who produce 300,000 shoes daily while one million of those shoes find their ways to Europe and other parts of the world on a weekly basis. The exports are estimated at about N1 billion weekly.

The governor said the state is happy that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had approved the garment making industry of the made-in- Aba sector.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was represented by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah said the Senate would continue to do everything to promote made in Nigeria goods. He said the Senate had taken it upon itself from last year to amend the Procurement Act to ensure local manufacturers benefit from the over N2 trillion government expenditure on procurement.

“On our part, we in the Nigerian Senate and the National Assembly as a whole, will continue to do everything within our mandate and powers to ensure that our domestic manufacturers and service providers have the enabling environment that they need to thrive. Working with the Federal Government, we will push for improved infrastructure, financial investment and technology to boost our domestic manufacturing value chain,” Saraki said.

Senator Na’Allah, in his own remarks said Nigeria  needs Igbo now more than ever before, adding: “If there is anytime Nigeria needs the Igbo, it is now.”

According to the Senator, the ingenuity of the Igbo hasd enhanced Nigeria’s production capacity over the years. He said the decision of governments over the years to neglect the productive instinct of the Igbo led to the backward state of the economy adding that “in God’s wisdom, recession has come to force us to look inwards.”

Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, said small and medium enterprises were responsible for 84 per cent of the Nigerian labour workforce.

He said: “In Nigeria, SMEDAN/NBS survey, 2014 estimated a total of 37 million MSMEs. These contribute total employment of 59.7 million persons (or 84 per cent of Nigeria labour force, 48 per cent to nominal Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and 7.3 per cent to exports respectively.”

He said 98 per cent of the MSMEs are micro enterprises, employing less than 10 persons, the SMEDAN has taken it upon itself to help grow their capacities to enable Nigeria realise her economic aspirations.

He said that so far, over 400 enterprises have showcased their products in the Made in Aba Trade Fair adding that with an average 200 persons visiting per day, the fairs were adjudged good and successful.

2019: We will declare free education for all when we take over – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamawa State chapter has promised free education for all Nigerians when it returns to power in 2019.

Chairman of the party in Adamawa State, Abdulrahman Bobboi while speaking with newsmen recently, lamented the havoc the APC-led government had done to Nigeria sine it assumed power in May, 2015.
recalled that before the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, a bag of rice was sold for N8,000 but now it had skyrocketed to N22,000.

He also recalled how a litre of fuel was sold for N87 but today, the story had changed as the product was now sold for N145 per litre.

On what to expect if the party returned to power in 2019, the PDP chieftain said, “By the time PDP takes over in 2019, we will declare free education for all the time PDP takes over in 2019 we will declare free education for all.

“Illiteracy is a major problem to any society and this government has made it difficult for Nigerians to have three square meals talk more of paying school fees.

“We are working with our economic team to develop models to jack up the revenue profile of the state when we take over.”

When asked about his party’s achivment after 16 years in power, Bobboi said, “During our time, we built about 12 universities in northern Nigeria; the Almajiri schools were built all over the country, all these were done to eradicate ignorance.

“It was a PDP government that established Adamawa State University, and during that time, the people of Adamawa enjoyed free education.”