BUA is Killing Nigerian Economy-NSDC

The federal government has raised the alarm over continuous sabotage of its economic policies by local business conglomerate, BUA group.   The regulatory body charged by the federal government to see to the transformation of the sugar industry in the country from one dependent on massive importation to an integrated producer of the essential commodity, the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), which made the claim, said some companies especially BUA had flouted the terms and conditions for obtaining a three-year low tariffs for sugar importation into the country. 

The Executive Secretary of the council, Dr. Abdullatif Demola Busari, said in January 2013, that the federal government approved concessionary low tariffs of 5 per cent duty and 5 per cent levy for raw sugar imports for three companies including the BUA Group as against the 5 per cent duty and 70 per cent levy contained in the National Sugar Policy. 

The Executive Secretary said though the high tariffs for refined sugar import into the country was deliberately designed to discourage importation and encourage local production of sugar, the concession became necessary in order not to hike the local price of the commodity since the country has not achieved self-sufficiency in sugar production yet. 

He noted Nigeria still depended on sugar importation to meet 90 per cent of local consumption, which led to the plea by stakeholders that if sugar is to be imported at that high tariff, the cost of sugar will be prohibitive. The concession was then given to Dangote Group, BUA Group and Golden Sugar companies all of who had signed a Backward Integration Programme (BIP) commitment with the federal government in which the money saved from the concession will be invested in their cane sugar farms and integrated sugar processing. 

This move was expected to slowly lead to the phasing out of the massive importation of sugar in the medium and long term and transforming the country into one that is self-sufficient in sugar production and consumption. Overall, the target is that by the year 2018, the three of them will be capable of integrated production of 700,000 metric tonnes of sugar sourced locally from their farms. 

The purpose of this plan of the federal government is obvious. By maintaining the status quo, the economic activities generated in the process of refining dirty brown-coloured raw sugar imported from Brazil and transforming it into white sugar crystals is only about 5 per cent of the gamut of farm jobs, out grower-farmers schemes, sugar cane suppliers and large numbers workers needed for fully integrated processing of sugar straight from sugar cane harvested locally from Nigerian farms. 

The extensive value chain created from fully integrated sugar production is therefore essential for the nation’s economic growth, while the little value addition of sugar refining currently being carried out does not do the economy much good. According to Busari, the NSDC chief executive: “One particular refiner, the BUA group, has not lived up to expectation. 

Just about three weeks ago, the Sugar Council had to apply a sanction. The sanction is simple. Recall the concession of 5 per cent levy, 5 per cent duty because you are expected to put the savings back to your BIP and we’ve been monitoring the BIP and nothing has happened in BUA’s investment.” Investigations revealed that the BUA Group’s BIP site in Kwara State has nothing to show for the three years the company enjoyed concessionary low tariffs for sugar imports. 

“By now, it supposed to have over 400 hectares of planted sugar cane in the site. It is supposed to have brought in its machineries by now. That is, by March 2015, it is supposed to have imported it’s machineries but nothing like that has happened,” Busari  said.  

Anderson & Lovette Otegbola To Perform At Gala Dinner Hosted By The Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

MTN Project Fame Season 8 runner-up, Anderson, has been tagged as the headlining artist performing at a Gala Dinner organized by the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, as part of its 2015 French Week.

Also performing, will be MTN Project Fame Season 8 dance coach, Lovette Otegbola, who will be performing with her dancing group, Lovette's BITS Dance Company.

Parents donate Items to King’s College Lagos

In recognition of their primary role to ensure good and comfortable condition of learning for their wards, a group of parents under the name, ‘concerned parents’ of King College , Lagos recently donated some items to alleviate the challenges the students are facing in the school. The items donated include, a generator set, Fridge, steriliser for the school clinic among others.

   

L-R : Ralph Omeili, Adeyemi Aseperi, Chidi Okereke,  Otunba Dele Olapeju (Principal, Kings College, Lagos), Obisike Nwosu, Mrs. Funmi Oluyobi, (PTA Vice Chairperson , Kings College Lagos) and Tony Okenwa, all members of PTA, Kings College, Lagos at presentation of materials to the College by the group of ‘Concerned Parents’ recently :Photo Concerned Parents of KC

At the presentation which was made on behalf of the parents by Ralph Omeili, Adeyemi Aseperi, Chidi Okereke,  Obisike Nwosu  and Tony Okenwa to the school principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju and the PTA  Vice Chairperson,

Lagos Fashion and Design Week Founder Covers Mania Magazine Latest Issue

This edition celebrates the cover girl, Omoyemi Akerele as the Lagos Fashion and Design Week platform clocks five. In this spirit of this celebration, we also celebrate the creatives in the fashion industry who have work relentlessly, passionately and consistently.

We've also gone ahead to demystify the fashion industry for the non-fashion crowd. This edition reads like a beginner's manual for all interested and curious about the possibilities of this trillion-dollar industry.

Cover
Photographer:  Kelechi Amadi-Obi
Fashion Editor: Godson Ukaegbu
Makeup: Bimpe Onakoya
Hair: Mannix Idam
Dress: Nuraniya.

Beauty
Photographer:  Kelechi Amadi-Obi
Stylist: Godson Ukaegbu
Makeup: Bimpe Onakoya

Just Yesterday
Photographer:  Chukwudi Ademu
Fashion Editor: Godson Ukaegbu
Makeup: Bayo Haastrup
Hair: Mannix Idam
Models: Tomisin Ariyo, Doyin Haastrup, Warebi Martha, Lola Buttons, Oby Ezenduka, Fome Edumudo

Find X
Photographer: TY Bello.
Fashion Editor: Godson Ukaegbu.

Nollywood couple, Olu and Joke Jacobs celebrates 30 years wedding anniversary

Olu Jacobs and his beautiful actress wife, Joke Jacobs celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary recently with their sons. Here is what the message Joke wrote beneath the picture she posted on her instagram page.

And it has loaded..30 years ago on 16th November 1985 we said "I Do". It is a day of thanks To our Heavenly Father for all those who made those 30 years doable..my late mum and dad. Chief Afolabi Silva and Dr (Mrs) Abimbola Silva. They both tried to be fair...

GISTMASTER:GISTING WITH NAETO C

By Niyi Tabiti

Naeto C is unarguably one of the best rappers Nigeria ever produced. Despite his privileged background, Naeto said it has not affected the way he sees life. "I am focused on doing my own thing,creating legacy for myself in the entertainment industry"

  Naeto’s mum was a federal minister of Transport. She was later appointed minister of Aviation durning President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure. She was also Nigeria Ambassador to Ireland before coming back home to serve as National Woman leader of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

  

Just last week we set up a meeting on his forthcoming album.As usual,Naeto was punctual to the meeting point at Rhapsody,Ikeja City Mall.Time was 5 pm.

He was wearing this well tailored native attire.No piercing,no tattoo and no sagging.He knew what i meant when i said he is 'normal' unlike most hip hop artists who have pierced their ears,customised

Bishop (Dr.) Chris Kwakpovwe Celebrates Birthday with visitation to motherless babies home,provision of free medical services

The popular publisher of daily devotional booklet, Our Daily Manna, and general overseer of Manna Prayer Mountain, Bishop (Dr.) Chris Kwakpovwe is a year older on Sunday 15th November.

To celebrate and honour the Ughelli, Delta State born preacher, different activities like visitation to Motherless Babies homes, free medical services to the aged have been lined-up ahead of the ceremony billed to hold on Saturday November 21st at Our Daily Manna headquarters in Lagos.