Peter Anosike
The Chairman of Ugomac Nigeria Ltd, importers and distributors of top industrial equipment, Ugochukwu Ozurumba, has appealed to the Federal Government to make importation of the equipment duty-free.
Speaking at the commissioning of his ultra-modern office complex located at Ugomac Plc on No. 151 Badagry Expressway, opposite Volkwagen of Nigeria office, he said that the current five per cent duty is still giving them tough time.
According to him, making industrial equipment duty-free is the best way to encourage industrialization of the country since the equipment would be made more affordable to those who want to go into manufacturing.
He commended the Federal Government for the introduction of easy way of doing business, saying that such policies if implemented to the letter would in less than no time put Nigeria in the league of industrialized nations of the world.
He said that Ugomac is already in the forefront of this endeavour by being one of the first companies in the country to start the importation of top industrial equipment.
The Ugomac boss said that apart from importing top industrial equipment into the country, his company has also a technical department that handles installations and maintenance of all equipment that they supply.
His words: “Ugomac is a pacesetter when it comes to the importation of top industrial equipment. We have been around for more than 35 years. We were incorporated in 1989 and since then have been in active business. We specialize in the importation, marketing and distribution of European and American equipment in the areas of kitchen/catering, laundry/dry-cleaning, bakery/pastry and refrigeration/creamery. We also deal in the spare parts of all the equipment. Our professional and delivery services are second to none as can be testified by the customers who have done business with us. It, therefore, will not be an exaggeration if I say that Ugomac is the centre of excellence in industrial equipment supplies, installations and maintenance.”
He said that the company is professionally run as they have six departments, comprising administration, finance, sales, engineering/maintenance and legal.
He said that all the departments work in synergy to achieve success in the organization.
He disclosed that their ultra-modern shopping complex is a way of serving their teeming customers better as it would enhance greater public relations and conduciveness while transacting business.
Onitsha inferno: Alaba Amalgamated Association President calls on Lagos govt to build fire station in market
Peter Anosike
The President of Alaba Amalgamated Association, the umbrella body of the 16 sections that make up the Alaba International Market, Ichie Fabian Ezeradi Ezeorjika, has called on the Lagos State government to establish a fire service station in the market.
According to him, this is to avoid a re-enactment of the petrol tanker inferno that happened at Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He disclosed that Alaba International Market has a population of over a million people, adding that such a population should not be left without infrastructure like a fire-fighting service station.
He also said that Lagos State government should ban petrol and gas tankers from going into densely populated areas like markets.
He noted that in other climes, the routes where vehicles carrying highly inflammable substances ply are regulated, saying that it is dangerous for petrol tankers to be coming into Alaba International market.
The Alaba Amalgamated traders boss said that though Ojo Local Government has started filling some of the potholes on the Alaba road, it is still not safe for vehicles carrying inflammable substances to be passing through densely populated market like Alaba .
His words: “Going by the constitution of Nigeria, the requirement for creating a state is 800,000 people. But here in Alaba International market, we are more than 1,200,000 people. This means that we are like a state and as such we deserve the treatment that is due to a state. We need a fire service station and other infrastructure. We have a very cordial relationship with the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and at our last meeting with him and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, which was facilitated by our own brother, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, we promised to give Lagos State government maximum cooperation. We will be paying our tenement and land use charges and other taxes whenever they are due.
“We will be helping the government in any way they feel necessary. On the other hand, the Lagos State government should come to our aid by providing for us a fire service station because it is ten times cheaper to prevent than to cure”.
In another development, the president of Alaba Amalgamated Association has warned investors or exhibitors who want to come into the market to make sure that they follow the right channel.
According to him, any investor or exhibitor who comes to Alaba without following the right channel should know that he or she was smuggled into the market and as such whatever happens is at his or her own risk. “It has come to my notice that some people go and collect money from investors and exhibitors and promise them that they would give them platform to show what they are doing. Alaba International Market is a well organized market and any such exhibitor that did not come through the Alaba Amalgamated secretariat is taking a very big risk,” Ezeorjika warned.
Ezeorjika who is also the Chairman of Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) said that the current executive of EDAN is building an ultra-modern secretariat which would enhance the cooperate image of the biggest electrical market in the whole of Africa.
He said that apart from enhancing the image of the association, the secretariat would also be generating revenue as it has a big hall for rentage, which would help to boost the association`s revenue.
Ezeorjika said that up till now, the only way of getting revenue in the market is through levies, which are used for electricity bills and security.
However, he said with the completion of the secretariat which has reached advanced stage, resources would be coming that would be used for the transformation of the market.
Cutix acquires Adswitch in Nnewi
David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Adswitch Plc, Nnewi, Anambra State has authorized the Cutix Plc to acquire its substantial equity of not less than 50 per cent.
The resolution was reached on Friday during Adswitch Plc’s extra-ordinary meeting held at the company’s premises. Directors of the company, in a statement, were authorized to perform all such acts or things as might be necessary to give effect to the resolution without limitation “complying with the directives of the regulatory authorities and to seek confirmation from the Federal High Court.”
The company noted that for a long time, the shareholders of Adswitch had not been receiving any dividend from the company. It said that the acquisition would enable the shareholders to realize significant value for their investment, saying that the board, therefore, strongly recommended that shareholders voted in favour of the resolution being proposed by the extra-ordinary general meeting.
To seek the shareholders approval to give effect to the resolution, the board of directors of the company invited them to the meeting either in person or by proxy.
Shareholders who were unable to attend the meeting were given the opportunity to complete an attached proxy form and return it in accordance with the instructions provided.
“As you are aware, our company held its last annual general meeting in 2012 and has not been in operation for some years now. As a result, employees of the company were laid off while shareholders no longer receive returns on their investment in the company.
“In order to realize shareholders value on their investment, the board of directors of the company entered into negotiations with some investors for acquisition of substantial equity of the company. The board has found an offer by Cutix Plc to acquire, and if possible, all of Adswitch Plc,” the statement read in part.
Adswitch Plc authorities at the meeting were Mr Sam Nsoedo, chairman; Emeka Etiaba (SAN), company’s secretary; EDC Registrars Ltd, Registrars and Alatta Nzewi Onyeka & Co, Auditors.
Ogbaru market stakeholders report LG Chairman to Obiano over wheelbarrow levy
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Stakeholders of Ogbaru Main Market, a suburb of Onitsha, Anambra State, have appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to prevail on the chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Hon. Arinze Awogu, over his incessant attempts to foment trouble in the market.
Spokesperson for the market stakeholders, Mr Izuchukwu Okeke, said this has become imperative to stem the tide of likely breakdown of law and order in the market.
Awogu was alleged to have recently led a horde of hoodlums comprising former members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to the market to commence the collection of wheel barrow tolls, which the traders vehemently refused.
Okeke said the chairman and the thugs were accompanied by one Onyeka Chiakpari, who adds Obiano to his surname to instill fear on people because he hails from Aguleri, but not related to the governor.
He alleged that the thugs had started collecting tolls from three women, who the thugs carted away their wares and money, with people scampering for safety.
Although, the market leadership called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Okpoko, Mr Onyeka Adinuba, but his action was not encouraging, hence the invitation of soldiers from 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha.
Okeke revealed that the soldiers later arrested seven of the hoodlums with their charms and machetes and took them to Okpoko Police Station, where they were allegedly released immediately without subjecting them to thorough interview or investigation, in spite of the magnitude of their offence in one of the biggest markets in the state.
Okeke, therefore, advised the governor not to allow people destroy his relationship with traders and all he has built in Anamtbra State, recalling that Obiano had since banned wheelbarrow levy in Anambra markets.
One of the elders in the market, Sebastine Uweodina, said that Ogbaru market has gone through a lot in the hands of the recently redeployed Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Christian Madubuko, the LG Chairman, Arinze and Onyeka in the recent past and should be allowed to have their rest.
“We appeal to the governor to note that market is very sensitive. If there is any job the governor wants to be done, the executive was ready to do it and pay the money into government’s coffer,” he said.
When contacted, the Ogbaru LG Chairman, Hon. Arinze Awogu denied the accusations, saying that there was no skirmish in the market.
“Our local government doesn’t deal with thugs or unofficial persons, and we don’t collect revenue or issue papers too. I’m the chief security officer of the local government and cannot do anything untoward. Ask from the board of internal revenue to find out whether they gave me any revenue window.
“There was no altercation in the market, only that some agents of the state government (not LG) were at the entrance of the market to collect legitimate revenue, but some people attempted to block them,” he explained.
But the Chairman of the market, Chief Nwawuzie, said his position was to carry out the directive of the government and that of ASMATA President-General, Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu.
“I know the governor will do justice to those things that happened. He has never disappointed traders before,” he said, adding that nobody would intimidate them in the market.