Excitement as Nigerians look forward to the first Beer festival

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Excitement as Nigerians look forward to the first Beer festival

Beer lovers are set to experience a weekend of diverse, all-inclusive beer adventure plus a weekend to indulge in a lifestyle where their biggest decision will be how they pick which activity to attend. This is as Nigeria’s first ever Beer festival is billed to hold in Lagos.

The Lagos Beer Festival holds April 22-13, 2017 at the National Stadium Surulere-Lagos and promises to be the largest annual gathering of beer enthusiasts, connoisseurs, celebrities, bar crawlers and those just wanting to learn more about beer.

Announcing the festival at a world press conference in Lagos, Mr. Steve Ike the event director stated that “the Lagos Beer festival is designed to celebrate Nigeria’s shared beer culture and a love of celebrating life. It is a chance for brewers to connect with fans old and new, and also an ideal opportunity to put a face to the creator of their fans’ favourite beer”

The festival will hold side-by-side with the well-attended annual Lagos International Food and Drinks Festival. It aims at encouraging exciting but responsible beer consumption and while entry to the event is free, it is strictly for visitors 18 years and above.

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Ike said “at the festival, Beer fans can expect to experience the largest display ever of beer assortments (over 60 brands) in Nigeria. The lineup of Beer and Ale showcased at the festival will include lager, stout, ale, cider, porter, cooler, pilsner and breezer. And apart from beers, there will also be a massive array of wines and champagne, distilled spirits, vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey, gin, brandy, absinthe, ouzo and liqueur brands”

The weekend promises non-stop entertainment including a variety of brewers, food stalls, live music, games, comedy and sweepstakes and is set to become a highlight on the Lagos social calendar. While still getting a taste of the best of Nigeria’s contemporary brews, visitors would also join in the crowning the “king of Nigerian beers”.

Ike stated that visitors will go on guided beer tours with experts to ensure that they get the most out of their festival experiences. The Festival’s beer guides will take visitors around while they meet the brewers and sample a variety of beers, beer cocktails demonstrations and participate in blind tastings. And as if that’s not enough, there will also be a beer judging competition, beer merchandise for sale, lucky draws, and raffles.

At the festival, soccer fans will not miss out on any action and can watch live premier league actions on Saturday and Sunday on big screens at the Festival! Festival drinkers are encouraged to book tables of at least four people, and bring friends, family and work colleagues to enjoy barbeque and live music washed down with beer served by dedicated, pretty ushers.

(Beverageindustrynews)

Everything You Need to Know About the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI)

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Everything You Need to Know About the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI)

How it started:

In December 2016 the King of Morocco, His Royal Majesty Mohammed VI, paid a 2-day state visit to Nigeria. He was hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja. During the visit, the two leaders oversaw the signing of several agreements. One of these was conceived as Partnership between the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria, FEPSAN and OCP, a state-owned Moroccan company and a world leader in phosphate and its derivatives, in which OCP would supply discounted phosphate to Nigeria, to help support the domestic blending of NPK Fertiliser starting in 2017.

Following the signing of that agreement, the stage was set for implementation. President Buhari formally approved the commencement of the Initiative shortly after the Moroccan visit, and announced it in his #Budget2017 Speech on December 14, 2016. The stated goal was/is to achieve the local production of one million metric tonnes of blended Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK) Fertiliser for the 2017 wet season farming, and an additional 500,000 metric tonnes for dry season farming.

This Is What Nigeria’s Fertiliser Situation Looked Like pre-PFI…

The Nigerian Fertiliser industry possesses a blending capacity of 4 million tons of NPK annually and 2 million tons of production capacity for Urea, with the capacity to employ over 250,000 people in both direct and indirect jobs across the country. But, before the implementation of the PFI only 10 percent of the production capacities of the five blending plants in operation across the country were being utilised.

What this meant was that prior to 2017, most of Nigeria’s stock of blended NPK Fertiliser was shipped into the country as fully-finished products, even though Urea and Limestone, which constitute roughly two-thirds of the component of each bag, are available locally. To make the imported Fertiliser available to farmers at reasonable prices, a subsidy scheme was birthed, and which cost tens of billions of naira annually.

This Is How the PFI Is Altering The Status Quo:

Basically, the objective of the Presidential Initiative is to ‘disrupt’ this importation of blended Fertiliser status-quo, by directly negotiating discounted contracts to procure the 4 constituent raw materials for NPK Fertiliser — locally-sourced Urea, locally-sourced Limestone granules (LSG), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) imported from Morocco, and Muriate of Potash (MOP) sourced from Europe — and blending these locally to produce NPK Fertiliser at reduced cost.

Constitution of a bag of blended NPK Fertiliser:

  1. Urea = 36%
  2. Limestone = 27%
  3. Phosphate = 21%
  4. Potash = 16%

Note that the PFI is concerned only with the production of NPK Fertiliser, which is what is known as a “multi-nutrient” Fertiliser. Other types of Fertiliser exist, like ‘Single Super Phosphate’, and ‘Urea’, which are both examples of “single nutrient” Fertilisers, and are already being manufactured locally in Nigeria. Urea — which apart from being a single-nutrient Fertilizer, is also a component of NPK, is produced by Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals (IEFCL) Company and Notore Chemical Industries, both in Rivers State.

The discounts and savings accruing from the PFI negotiations with suppliers (OCP and by extension the Government of Morocco in the case of Phosphate, and private companies in the case of the others) are passed on to the blending plants and then the farmers. This is what allows the finished products to be delivered to Nigeria’s farmers at a starting price of about ₦5,500 per bag, compared to the ₦8,000 — ₦9,000 cost of imported fertilizer.

This is exactly how the PFI works:

Since the goal was to revive Nigeria’s well-below-capacity local blending industry, the usual thing to do would have been to ask the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide a low-interest Intervention Fund to the blending plants, under the auspices of the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

Instead of directly disbursing the Intervention Fund to FEPSAN, the CBN has designated the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to manage the 9 percent per annum Fund on behalf of FEPSAN. Because managing a Fertiliser Fund is not the NSIA’s core mandate, it established a Special Purpose Vehicle, known as NAIC-NPK Limited (where NAIC = ‘NSIA Agric Investment Company’), to carry this function out on its behalf.

As has been pointed out above, FEPSAN has already successfully negotiated substantial discounts with the suppliers/producer of the four main raw materials (the two from abroad, and the two sourced locally). For each batch of raw material required under the PFI, FEPSAN makes available to NAIC-NPK Limited the invoices from the suppliers.

NAIC-NPK Limited then pays the suppliers directly, on behalf of FEPSAN; takes delivery of the raw materials, and then supplies these raw materials to the blending plants, which it has already signed on as contract blenders. (For this contract-blending NAIC-NPK Limited pays the blenders a fee).

The blending plants then produce, bag and sell the finished, packaged fertilizer to Agro-dealers and State Governments at the cost of 5,000 per bag, and remit this revenue to NAIC-NPK Limited, for re-investment into the next phase of production. The PFI is therefore a self-sustaining revolving fund, in which the revenues are re-invested into subsequent production cycles.

To ensure that the blending plants do not default on their obligations to remit revenues to NAIC-NPK, they are required to submit to NAIC-NPK Performance Guarantees from their banks, as payment security for the raw materials they receive under the PFI. If they default, NAIC-NPK will swiftly move to redeem the Guarantees and recover its investment. The blending plants therefore have a responsibility to ensure that they fully collect their revenues from the buyers of the blended Fertiliser. Because of this, they make sure they do not sell on credit, and ONLY collect:

1. Cash advances from the Agro-dealers, and

2. Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) from the State Governments, certified by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

NAIC-NPK and the Blending Plants will only sell to a State Government an amount of Fertiliser that corresponds to the value of its certified ISPO (some State Government have chosen to pay cash up-front, like the Agro-Dealers).

This price of 5,000 per bag at which the blending plants are mandated to sell covers the blending plants’ labour, cost of production, cost of packaging, interest costs (the 9% interest on the capital), etc, alongside a modest profit margin. The price modelling of the PFI was carefully done such that the 5,000 factory selling price covers the complete cost of production (recall that this is possible on account of the generous discounts already negotiated with the raw materials’ suppliers, by FEPSAN).

The discounts are therefore passed on from the suppliers of the raw materials straight to the end-users of the Fertilisers, i.e. the farmers — and not the blending plants or the Agro-dealers.

The Agro-dealers and State Governments then sell the blended Fertiliser to the end-user farmers at the cost of 5,500 per bag, which allows them to cover transport costs and make a modest profit. This is how the PFI is able to sell the finished product at 5,500 per bag, compared to the 8,000–9,000 naira per bag at which imported, finished Fertiliser is sold.

This Is What The PFI Is Not:

It is important to note that the PFI is not a subsidy scheme; there is no subsidy along the production chain. The reduced price of the blended Fertiliser arises not from subsidies but instead from the generous discounts negotiated by NAIC-NPK Limited with the suppliers of the various raw materials, discounts passed on all the way to the farmers as price savings.

In fact, the PFI has abolished the subsidy scheme that the Buhari administration inherited when it took office. That much-abused subsidy scheme cost at least 60 billion naira annually to maintain, an amount that can now be used for more productive purposes. (The Buhari administration inherited 62 billion naira in unpaid Fertiliser subsidy arrears. Only recently — March 15, 2017, precisely — President Buhari approved the release of the final tranche of 22 billion naira to clear the balance of this inherited debt).

It is also important to note that the PFI is a no-credit scheme. At no point along the chain are purchasers encouraged or allowed to buy goods on credit. At every step of the way there is an advance cash payment or bank guarantee or ISPO that works to maintain the integrity of the chain, and ensure that every kobo invested is retained.

The PFI is also not a case, as some have alleged, of the Federal Government competing against the private sector. Instead it is the Federal Government partnering with and enabling and supporting the private sector to deliver low-cost Fertiliser to Nigeria’s farmers. The PFI is a Public-Private Partnership that has resulted in the resuscitation of several comatose blending plants, taken them to/near full capacity utilisation, and is creating tens of thousands of jobs and saving tens of millions of dollars in FX and tens of billions of Naira in subsidies.

This is What The PFI Is Achieving:

1. Securing a supply of quality Fertilisers by bringing in raw materials required for the production of the item in line with the crops and soils adaptable to Nigeria.

2. Stimulating local production of NPK Fertiliser by resuscitating moribund Fertiliser plants, and reviving the local blending Fertiliser industry.

3. Making Fertiliser available to Nigerian farmers at affordable prices and in time for the 2017 wet and dry season farming.

4. Projected savings of US$200 million in foreign exchange, and ₦60 billion in budgetary provisions for Fertiliser subsidy.

5. Enhancing food security as a result of the expected increase in food production

6. Reducing food-induced inflation and stimulation of economic activities across the agriculture value chain.

7. Creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs — so far a minimum of 1,100 factory jobs; and 2,600 transport jobs (truck drivers and drivers’ assistants). For each truck involved in the PFI — and there are more than 3,000 trucks — 15 day labourer jobs (loading and offloading) are created.

8. Strengthening capacity to ensure a timely supply of quality Fertilisers in adequate quantities and in a cost–effective manner to rural areas as well as an efficient supply chain and improvement of logistics management, including warehousing and transportation services; and strengthening the agricultural extension services system.

9. Stimulating product innovation and development through the deployment of the Moroccan expertise in producing scientifically recommended formulae adaptable to the needs of the Nigerian soil.

One More Thing. This is the PFI in Dates and Numbers:

December 2, 2016: Signing of the Phosphate Agreement between FEPSAN and OCP, on behalf of Nigeria and Morocco respectively.

February 4, 2017: First shipment of potash arrives Nigeria from Europe (Second shipment arrived early March)

February 12, 2017: First shipment of Moroccan phosphate berths at the ports in Lagos. (Second due at the beginning of April)

February 14, 2017: First output of blended NPK Fertiliser rolls out under the PFI

February 2017 — July 2017: Duration of the 5 cycles of the PFI that will produce a total of 1 million metric tonnes of blended NPK for wet season farming across Nigeria

September 2017 — December 2017: Duration of second segment of PFI, that will produce a total of 500,000 metric tonnes of blended NPK for dry season farming across Nigeria.

One million: Number of metric tonnes of NPK Fertiliser that the PFI will deliver, in 5 batches of 200,000 metric tonnes each, between February and July/August 2017, for wet season farming across Nigeria. Production of the first batch is expected to be completed by the end of March.

500,000: Number of metric tonnes of NPK Fertiliser that the PFI will deliver, starting in September 2017, for dry season farming across Nigeria.

20 million: Number of bags required for the packaging of the blended Fertiliser to be produced by the PFI in 2017

A Summary of the Key Players in the PFI:

· The Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN): Industry group; umbrella body of Fertiliser producers and suppliers. FEPSAN designed the PFI, in collaboration with the Presidency. It also signed the Fertiliser deal with OCP, on behalf of the Government of Nigeria)

· OCP (State-owned Moroccan Phosphate company, on behalf of the Government of Morocco)

· The Presidential Committee on Fertilizer Initiative (PCFI), established by President Buhari in 2016, under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and including the leadership of FEPSAN.

· Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)(Provided the Intervention Fund that served as seed capital for the PFI, and is used to open the required Letters of Credit for the suppliers of the raw materials)

· NSIA (The Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund), operating through a Special Purpose Vehicle, NAIC-NPK Limited.

· The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which inaugurated an 11-member National Fertiliser Technical Committee (NFTC), in March 2016

· The Blending Plants accredited under the PFI — currently 11 plants, with a plan to reach about 20 by the end of 2017

· The Agro-Dealers and State Governments who off-take the finished products from the Blending Plants and retail to the farmers

Conclusion

Beyond the broader goal of ensuring food security for the country by providing high-grade fertilizer to enhance harvest in the 2017 farming season, the Buhari Administration is by this initiative reinforcing its commitment to reviving and diversifying the economy, and creating growth, through a focus on agriculture.

(Government of Nigeria)

FG’s Auto Policy Gets A Boost As ANAMMCO Resumes Production

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FG’s Auto Policy Gets A Boost As ANAMMCO Resumes Production

Despite economic recession, the following first federal government’s objective of using the automotive policy to enhance local production of vehicles and develop the linkage industry, has continued to yield positive results.

Part of the gains of the policy is being recorded at the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) Limited, which recently resumed full production and assembling of a wide range of Shacman trucks, particularly for the Nigerian roads at its plant in Enugu, Enugu State.

Following the latest developments, automobile industry analysts have opined that the upsurge in production activities for locally made vehicles is a boost to the Nigerian auto policy {also called the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

So far, no fewer than 50 heavy duty trucks are assembled every week at the plant located at the Emene Industrial Layout following a manufacturing agreement between Transit Support Services Limited {TSS}, a subsidiary of ABC Transport, and ANAMMCO, to utilise the assembly facility.

TSS is the official representative of Shacman, a Chinese brand, in Nigeria.

It was learnt that with the return of increased production at the plant, majority of the technical staff who were kept on standby while skeletal operation lasted, have since been recalled, even as a number of the local content suppliers have been engaged to provide some of the needed components and accessories.

Confirming the rate of production, managing director of TSS, Mr. Frank Nneji disclosed that many truck buyers, especially big corporate users like construction companies, haulage and logistics firms and cement manufacturers, have realised that Shacman has an edge over competitors in terms of price-quality comparison.

“Shacman is the best truck brand from the Chinese auto industry. That is what many of the companies that used the trucks and trailer heads are coming back to us with large orders, with the result that the ANAMMCO plant is bursting again”, Nneji stressed.

Nneji described Shacman trucks as very strong and highly dependable vehicles, disclosing that the technology was originally MAN Diesel.

(Leadership Newspapers)

 

Mouka, Vitafoam restate commitment to enhancing quality health

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Mouka, Vitafoam restate commitment to enhancing quality health

Mouka limited, manufacturers of mattresses and complementary products have restated their commitment to providing quality products to enhance the health of its customers and the economy just as it commemorated the world sleep day yesterday.

Speaking in Lagos, the Managing Director, Raymond Murphy stated that the brand is adding comfort to the lives of Nigerians with their products. The brand, which celebrated the campaign with the theme “sleep soundly, nurture life”, is concerned with the well being of its customers and the economy.

The marketing director, Mouka, Ronke Osho noted that in addition to this years celebration, the brand is engaging its customers in a campaign with the theme “wake up to feeling good” to reinforce the importance of quality sleep to all Nigerians as they stand a chance to get rewarded with their products.

Also commemorating the day, Vitafoam Nigeria plc. kicked off with a ‘walk for safety’ from Falomo Bridge to its office along Awolowo way, Victoria Island to sensitize people on the health benefits and economic importance of quality sleep, just as it unveiled its new range of products.
(Guardian.ng)

Vitafoam Unveils New Vono Facility in Ogun State

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Vitafoam Unveils New Vono Facility in Ogun State

Vono Furniture Products Limited, a subsidiary of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, last week led top officials of the Ogun State Government on a tour of its factory at  Dalemo, Sango-Ota.

The entourage included the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Trade and Investment, Mrs. Babi Subair among others.

Speaking at the new Vono Facility, the Managing Director Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi thanked the special guests for coming to see the new facilities, saying   Vitafoam, which  recently acquired Vono Products Plc, had relocated the company’s operations from Mushin in Lagos to Sango Ota in Ogun.

He said that the relocation of Vono’s operation showed intent by Vitafoam to strengthen the company’s presence in Africa.

He said: For us at Vitafoam Group, what started more as a development experiment has grown and developed over the years from just a foam manufacturing company into complete home solution company with five business subsidiaries which produce a range of products.”

“It has also spread its tentacles to Ghana and Sierra Leone to service West African Regional Markets. Undoubtedly, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has left an indelible mark in the polyurethane/foam industry in Nigeria through its wide range of product offerings tailored made to meet the needs of consumers in different segments of the market. True to the purpose for which it was established; customer satisfaction through production of cutting edge products at a price that represents value remains our focus today.”

The MD disclosed that the company was taking corporate social responsibility very seriously, as they had acquired the property, which was previously abandoned and converted it for their use.

He stressed that the investment in manpower was significant, and that residential areas were created for the workers in the plant to reside, in order to improve work rate.

After inspecting the facilities, Ashiru  commended the company saying he  “very impressed with the facility and the fact that the company was producing local content in the state.”

“Nigeria is a country of many natural resources, so our goal should be to become an export-based economy, we have no business being an import based one. I am satisfied that most of the raw materials used in this plant are locally sourced, which has shown that the company is attempting to address the issue of the value chain,” he said.

Ashiru said state would continue to support companies like Vitafoam Nigeria and its subsidiary Vono Furniture Products Limited, which are helping to develop the local value achieve in line with the local content programme of the government.

Also speaking,  Ipaye commended Vono Furniture Products for its commitment to enhancing the nation’s economic activities pointing out that the company is filling a critical gap in the socio-economic development of the country.

The Commissioner for Health noted that for a state like Ogun State with health and education, the products of Vono Furniture Products will help government to achieve its objectives without depleting its scarce foreign exchange.

He assured that the government will consider products from the company in its purchase orders, advising the company to also consider concessionary prices for government’s orders given that such purchases are for the overall good of the people.

(Thisdaylive)

Nigerians 6th Happiest In Africa In World Happiness Report 2017

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Nigerians 6th Happiest In Africa In World Happiness Report 2017

Despite the economic recession, Nigerians are Africa’s sixth happiest people, according to a new report released on Monday that called on nations to build social trust and equality to improve the well being of their citizens.

Algeria leads the rest of Africa in happiness, followed by Mauritius. Strife-torn Libya is surprisingly ranked third, ahead of Morocco. And even a bigger surprise, another crisis-torn nation, Somalia is Africa’s fifth happiest country ahead of Nigeria and South Africa, ranked 7th. Tunisia is eighth and Egypt ninth, while Sierra Leone is tenth.

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At the bottom ten are Benin, Madagascar, South Sudan, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and the worst of them, Central African Republic.

(Please read the full African Report here: Africa- ranking of Happiness

On the global stage, Norway displaced Denmark as the world’s happiest country

The Nordic nations are the most content, according to the World Happiness Report 2017 produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012.
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Countries in sub-Saharan Africa, along with Syria and Yemen, are the least happy of the 155 countries ranked in the fifth annual report released at the United Nations.

“Happy countries are the ones that have a healthy balance of prosperity, as conventionally measured, and social capital, meaning a high degree of trust in a society, low inequality and confidence in government,” Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the SDSN and a special advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General, said in an interview.

The aim of the report, he added, is to provide another tool for governments, business, and civil society to help their countries find a better way to wellbeing.

Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden rounded out the top ten countries.

Germany was ranked 16, followed by the United Kingdom (19) and France (31). The United States dropped one spot to 14.

Sachs said the United States is falling in the ranking due to inequality, distrust, and corruption. Economic measures that the administration of President Donald Trump is trying to pursue, he added, will make things worse.

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“They are all aimed at increasing inequality – tax cuts at the top, throwing people off the healthcare rolls, cutting Meals on Wheels in order to raise military spending. I think everything that has been proposed goes in the wrong direction,” he explained.

The rankings are based on six factors — per capita gross domestic product, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, social support, and absence of corruption in government or business.

“The lowest countries are typically marked by low values in all six variables,” said the report, produced with the support of the Ernesto Illy Foundation.

Sachs would like nations to follow the United Arab Emirates and other countries that have appointed Ministers of Happiness.

“I want governments to measure this, discuss it, analyze it and understand when they have been off in the wrong direction,” he said.

According to the report, “the average ladder scores for over four in five African countries are below the mid-point of the scale. And only two African countries have made significant gains in happiness over the past decade. There are also considerable inequalities in life evaluations in African countries, and this inequality in happiness has increased over the past years”.

The report also shows that Africans are optimistic about the future, with Nigerians the leaders in this regard.

“The majority of African countries rate life at present below the mid-point of the Cantril ladder scale in the latest available Gallup World Poll.

“This is not the case for average future ratings. Projected ladder ratings in five years’ time are uniformly higher than present evaluations across all countries on the continent. In fact, the percentage increase in future expectations of life is often higher among some of the least contented nations.

“Nigeria’s track record of such positive expectations is well documented. Cantril’s 1960s study already reported a difference of 2.6 points between the country’s average present (4. and future (7.4) ladder ratings.

“Similarly, in 2016, there is a difference of 2.9 points between Nigeria’s present (5.3) and future (8.2) ratings in the Gallup World Poll. An international study of comparative ladder ratings in ten countries with large populations, including China, India and the United States, found Nigeria’s 2.6 point difference between present and future ratings to be by far the largest.83 Nigeria’s spirit of optimism may be exceptional by world standards, but not in Africa.”

BBC launches pilot chatbot from Nigerian developers

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BBC launches pilot chatbot from Nigerian developers

The BBC World Service has made available a new way for audiences to interact with BBC News via its Nigerian-designed pilot BBC Newschatta.

It is the latest stage of the BBC World Service’s activities in Africa, which has already seen pilots launched in Nairobi, Kenya and Cape Town, South Africa as the BBC looks to increase its global reach to 500 million by 2020.

BBC Newschatta is a chatbot developed by Nigerian technology company Codulab, which generates news stories based on the user’s input, using keywords and topics to send relevant news stories to them via the WeChat Messenger app.

The pilot was developed following an open submission process by BBC Connected Studio and the BBC World Service at an event in Lagos in February 2016. Similar events have previously taken place in Kenya and South Africa, from which ideas have been developed into live products.

A second pilot idea from the Lagos brief was also selected to go into development – named ‘Timerail’. This solution curates big news stories using multiple sources, which can then be presented to users with a compelling mix of content navigable by time and relevance. A working prototype is expected later this year.

“BBC World Service continues to harnesses local tech expertise in Africa that allows us to keep innovating with new formats, platforms and content distribution models, specifically targeted at young audiences through mobile,” Dmitry Shishkin, BBC digital editor for World Service Languages, said.

“Before coming to Nigeria we successfully collaborated with tech hubs and startups in Kenya and South Africa, bringing live products from both locations, and I am thrilled that the trend continues in Lagos. Given the massive editorial investments that the BBC is making in Africa, it’s important that digital innovation is a crucial part in that process.”

Stanley Ojadovwa, product developer at Codulab, said Newschatta is a chatbot that provides news content in a more personalised manner to young people across Africa.

“The aim is to deliver the latest news contents to users in a timely and interesting way that fits into the user’s current daily digital routines,” he said.

“Newschatta is targeted at young people in Africa aged between 16 and 34, living in urban areas. This audience has a high mobile use, not just for calls and social networking purposes, but for other aspects of their life such as emailing, banking, playing games and reading news.”

(Bizcommunity)

NAFDAC raids counterfeiter’s lair in Lagos, Abuja; impounds wines and spirits worth millions

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NAFDAC raids counterfeiter’s lair in Lagos, Abuja; impounds wines and spirits worth millions

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday raided a shop at the popular Oke-Arin market, Balogun, Lagos State and arrested a trader who allegedly manufactures and bottles counterfeit wines and spirits.

The agency said that they acted on a tip-off about some individuals who deal on counterfeit wines and spirits of popular brands.

The enforcement team of NAFDAC said they discovered labeling materials, corks, funnel, filters and empty bottles of registered liquor brands in a shop on Isa Williams Street, Oke-Arin Market, Balogun.

Speaking to the media after the raid, the Assistant Director, investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Mr. Uche Uzoma, revealed that the raid was part of a global exercise occurring simultaneously in all nations across the world called Operation Olson VI.

He added that the operation was jointly being run by Europol, Interpol and other law enforcement agencies including customs, police, and the military. The aim was to disrupt criminal network of food and drink product counterfeiters.

He noted that the agency had earlier raided a container apartment which was being used as a cold storage room for expired FanMilk brands such as yoghurt, milk, Fanyogo, Fan Chocolate and others.

“We recovered some yoghurt and other drinks that did not have the expected labeling information that they are supposed to bear, no batch number, no manufacturing or expiry dates.

“In such situations you cannot ascertain the quality, safety and the efficacy of such products and consumers are being deceived into consuming them. All the information which is very key in identifying an approved product by NAFDAC was not found on them,” he said.

Elsewhere, the agency raided and sealed-off four shops in Wuse Market, Abuja, which speacialise in the sale of fake and unregistered wine.

The agency valued the counterfeit wine in Wuse at N100m.

Some of the wines impounded includes St. Remy, Marteus Rose, Vino Joven Jordan, Toma Red Grape, J&W Cockktail, Dove, Cristalino, Cosecha, among others.

During the raid, the team found what was perceived to be a wine factory that had dozens of empty packets of Don Simon, opened bottles of Coke and sealed and unsealed cartons of wine.

The agency’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Shaba Mohammed, said that the products would be tested at NAFDAC’s laboratory to confirm their quality.

He added that the shop owners would be prosecuted for selling counterfeit wine.

Mohammed noted that the products in the sealed shops appear to be contaminated and had harmful elements that could cause liver cirrhosis, cancer and irregular heartbeats.

“We are after counterfeit products particularly wine. We came across unregistered and counterfeit products in four different locations in large quantities.

“We have decided to evacuate and seal the locations. We will conduct an investigation even though we already know some of them are counterfeit; from that, we are going to file the cases for prosecution at the Federal High Court.

“Most of the products are contaminated and some of them have contents that shouldn’t be found inside drinks. These have effects on the liver, which can cause liver cirrhosis, cancer, some other unusual situations and also deaths in most cases.”

(Beverageindustrynews)

GAC Motors to unveil GS8 SUV, honours Idhalama, Okpala

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GAC Motors to unveil GS8 SUV, honours Idhalama, Okpala

GAC Motors, one of China’s largest automakers, is set to unveil the GS8, a c-level high-end SUV self-developed by GAC Motor in Abuja this is just as its supported the Nigerian creative industry by hounoring legendary actor Chika Okpala, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya of the New Masquerade fame and Somkele Idhalama, a rising and talented actress with GS4 SUV, GA3 sedan. Somkele Idhalama In December 2016, GAC Motors in Lagos unveiled its high-performance compact sport-utility vehicle, the GS4 but the Abuja unveiling according to the company will redefine what Upscale Design and Intelligent Technology means to the average car user saying that the GS8 which is c-level high-end SUV self-developed by GAC Motor integrates the GAC production system, global R&D network. GAC Motors’ Partnership with the Nigerian Creative Industry.

In an industry where no local or international brand has made such a mark, GAC Motors stepped to the forefront, supporting Nigeria’s Creative Industry. In 2016, GAC Motors gave out two GS5 Trumpchi cars to winners at the AMVCA and Star actress and filmmaker Stephanie Linus who won the Best Overall Movie in Africa Award was one of the lucky winners. Her advocacy movie on the rights of the Girl Child and Obstetric Fistula, DRY,  won awards across the world and was screened in several International Film Festivals including the Pan African Film Festival, USA and the Montreal International Black Film Festival, Canada. Also young, highly talented and versatile actress Kemi Lala Akindoju won the Trailblazer Award which is an award presented to a talented star who made a good impact within a short time in his or her acting career. In the same year, GAC Motor presented a cheque of One Million Naira to one of Africa’s most celebrated filmmakers, Kunle Afolayan during the launch of the GS4 in December. This was to encourage his amazing productions which have raised the bar for filmmaking in Africa. Speaking about the decision to sponsor the award ceremony for the second time, Chief Diana Chan, chairman of CIG Motors said, “Here at GAC Motors, we stand for excellence, innovation, creativity and style. These are qualities we have seen exhibited by talents in the Nigerian Creative Industry which informs our decision to sponsor. Thanks to our partnership with Multichoice DSTV, we found the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award a worthy-enough platform to support. This is the second time we are doing so and we have not regretted our decision.” The company presented two luxury cars to two exceptional winners at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award which took place in Lagos early March. The actors were formally presented with their cars at the GAC Motors Head Office in Victoria Island, Lagos just three days after the award ceremony. Chief Diana Chan, Chairman of CIG Motors – sole distributors of GAC Motors’ cars in Nigeria – who was at the presentation congratulated the winners and assured them of an exceptional riding experience with their new cars. She also promised that GAC Motors will continue to support the Nigerian Creative Industry.

“I am a Nigerian at heart and I have followed the growth of Nollywood over the years and I must say that am very impressed with the progress of the industry,” she said. “At GAC Motors, we take it as a cause to support people like you who are creative and exceptional and we will continue to do so in every way we can.” The lucky car winners were legendary actor Chika Okpala, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya of the New Masquerade fame and Somkele Idhalama, a rising and talented actress. They both won the Industry Merit Award and Trailblazer Award respectively. While Mr Okpala won the new luxury SUV – the GS4, Mrs Idhalama won a classic sedan – the GA3. The Future for GAC Motors in Nigeria The acceptance of the GAC Motors brand in Nigeria not only paved the way for improved sales, but also attracted international attention by stakeholders of the brand worldwide. In 2016, the General Manager of GAC Motors, Yu Jun attended the unveiling of the GS4 in Lagos, Nigeria and promised that the company was going to do more to strengthen the Nigerian market. “We are poised to score more ground breaking achievements, not only in Nigeria, but also worldwide,” Mr Jun said. “I am pleased to tell you that GAC Motors will be entering the US market in 2017. With our new GA8 Sedan, we hope to achieve what no other Chinese auto maker has a viable presence in the United States of America.” The GS8 which was unveiled and well received by Americans will be making its debut in Nigeria soon. Nigerians are eagerly anticipating this landmark event. GAC Motors, one of China’s largest automakers, rose into global prominence in recent years as it successfully expanded into overseas markets. Ever since it made its entry into the Nigerian market, it has been well received. GAC Motors’ own brands have already been endorsed by customers in the Middle Eastern and South Asian market and the carmaker is now planning a foray into the North American and European markets. Nigerians are very keen about the GS4, not only because of its quality and efficiency, but because it is a car made for Nigerians in Nigeria. The GS4 model is the first GAC-branded vehicle to be assembled in Nigeria since the auto firm ventured into the Nigerian market in 2013. Rather than importing directly from its plant in China, GAC Motor partnered with the SKD Project to build a plant where the vehicles were assembled locally. The SKD Project was introduced in Nigeria through CIG Motors, the sole distributor of GAC Motor in Nigeria.

(vanguardngr)

 

Recession: Job losses extend to expatriates in multinationals

Brand Spur
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Recession: Job losses extend to expatriates in multinationals

As workers in the country continue to experience job losses as a result of the shrinking economy

The wind of redundancy sweeping across the labour force in the country has affected expatriates employed in multinational companies, investigations have revealed.

It was learnt that most of the affected expats, who were majorly citizens of India, China, the United Kingdom and. the United States, were employed in the food and beverage sector as well as the oil and gas sector.

According to sources, while some of the expatriates have been disengaged, others have simply been redeployed to the home countries or other nations where the companies are in operation.

As a cost-cutting measure, many employers have embarked on massive sacking of workers, a move which labour unions have vehemently opposed.

Findings revealed that many employers that could not sack their workers resorted to slashing of salaries and/or allowances.

The drop in oil prices and the country’s output has affected Nigeria, whose revenue generation is 90 per cent dependent on oil, adversely impacting its foreign exchange inflow. The scarcity of forex to import raw materials has caused many manufacturers to record low capacity utilisation and reduce their workforce.

A source in a foremost oil and gas servicing company said that 90 per cent of the expatriates in the company had been asked to go in the past year, with the firm said to have saved about 40 per cent of its annual expenses as a result.

Some employers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that they were forced to declare redundancy on account of the poor state of the economy, adding that the move affected both junior and managerial employees as well as Nigerians and foreigners.

The country officially plunged into recession in August 2016, when the National Bureau of Statistics released the Gross Domestic Product result for the second quarter. The economy shrank by 0.36 per cent in the first quarter and 2.06 per cent in the second quarter. The GDP growth rate weakened to -2.24 per cent in the third quarter and recorded a modest improvement to close the fourth quarter at -1.30 per cent.

An official of an International Oil Company operating in the country said that the expatriation had been going on in the past four years in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010.

The Act seeks to increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry by setting, among other things, minimum thresholds for the utilisation of local manpower, services and goods in order to stimulate growth of indigenous firms.

However, the source said since there were limited resources to cater to the needs of foreign workers, the quota scheduled to be repatriated in 2016 was increased.

According to the source, transportation, salaries and security expenses on expatriates have greatly reduced.

He said, “Some of them are redeployed to their countries. Virtually all the oil companies were put on a plan to gradually reduce the number of expatriates and that plan has been on in the last four years, because of the Nigeria local content law.

“Some companies, which had plans to repatriate 50 expatriates every year, increased it to 75 when the recession came. But 50 were actually programmed to leave. This has reduced personnel and logistics costs related to the expatriates. For those on rotation, for example, who fly in every two months, we are not bearing that cost again and for those who need security, we don’t spend on that anymore.”

For ongoing projects, the source said Nigerian workers were made to occupy the vacated positions of the expatriates, while the expats for discontinued projects were simply sent away from Nigeria.

One of the expats who was disengaged in 2016 by Ace Loggers Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited, Mahaveer Singh, alleged that the company had dispensed with the services of some foreigners in it employment without regard to the three-month notice stated in their appointment letter.

Singh, an Indian expat, who was recruited in October 2014, was disengaged in May 2016.

However, it was gathered that some IOCs had refused to comply with the local content law and had embarked on the recruitment of expatriates to replace Nigerian workers.

The Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ExxonMobil branch, Mr. Paul Eboigbe, said that the ongoing separation of workers in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited had not in any way affected the expatriates.

Rather, he explained that more foreigners were brought into the company in the past year to take up the jobs of Nigerian workers, mainly in the security and marine departments of the company.

Eboigbe said, “The separation that is going on started in December last year and the union had been resisting it. It is not concluded yet. They brought in many to the security and marine departments to take over the work of many Nigerian workers. The salaries and allowances of one of them can pay the salaries of 20 workers.

“What is going on now is that they are filling up the managerial positions with expatriates and removing Nigerian managers. We hope it will be concluded amicably and the company moves on peacefully.”

To check the violation of the expatriate quota, the House of Representative had last year directed oil and gas companies applying for expatriate quota to get approval from the Nigeria Content Development Management Board before forwarding their applications to the Ministry of Interior.

(PunchNg)

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