Economy

Stakeholders Seek Lagos, Kano Synergy for Leather Industry

Published

5 years ago

30/10/2020

By Adedapo Adesanya

Stakeholders in the leather industry have advocated a strategic partnership between Lagos and Kano States to harness the potentials of the sector and improve its contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This call was made by stakeholders at a virtual summit themed Towards a Sustainable Leather Processing Industry in Nigeria: Kano Tannery, the Powerhouse on Thursday, October 29.

The summit was organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Kano State Governor on Lagos Affairs, Mr Anthony Oneya, in partnership with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and supported by Tannery Association, Kano.

Mr Oneya said the partnership between both states will forge a way forward to expand local trade by bringing together value addition ideas and investments.

“The partnership between Lagos and Kano is long overdue and this will help grow the sector to the level it ought to be,” he said.

Mr Oneya urged governments to support the improvement in the value of leather goods for both domestic use and exports through the provision of 21st-century technology.

He said an improved tanning industry for leather will improve exports and give the sector the needed boost, noting that 22 out of the 36 tanneries in Nigeria were located in the Centre of Commerce.

Mr Lawan Sule-Garo, Chairman, Tanners Council of Nigeria, in his remarks, appealed for intervention funds from the government to revive the sector and create jobs.

Mr Sule-Garo also appealed to governments to grant incentives to wholesalers to bridge the financial gap and give priority to the local tanning industry.

On the consumption of cowhides, popularly known as ponmo, which could be used for leather production, the Tanner Council Chairman said “We can continue to get leather from other animals apart from cows. We must not deter people from consuming ponmo because we want to sell leather.”

Mrs Toyin Umesiri, Chief Executive Officer, Nazaru LLC, called for the creation of a leather trade information desk to bridge the information gap in the industry.

“A classic example of the gap is that end users are not connecting with what is available in the leather market and so source for materials and finished products from other places.

“If others get it right before us, then people would buy from them instead of us. Therefore, we become irrelevant in that market,” she said.

She urged leather experts to understand the various rules of engagement in local, regional and global markets to benefit maximally from different trade opportunities such as provided in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is set to kickstart next year.

In his remarks, Mr Segun Awolowo, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), represented by Mr Abimbola Salami, a Deputy Director, said the leather industry could generate up to $1 billion in revenue by 2025.

Mr Awolowo stated that the footwear industry consumed 54 per cent of leather products globally and contributed about 25 per cent of Agriculture’s GDP, noting that the Leather Industry is a major earner which can drive the much-needed diversification from oil.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Toki Mabogunje, President, LCCI, advocated a holistic approach to developing the leather value chain for a long-term growth strategy.

Economy

NBA Demands Suspension of Controversial Tax Laws

Published

19 hours ago

24/12/2025

Modupe Gbadeyanka

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The federal government has been asked by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to suspend the implementation of the controversial tax laws.

In a reaction to the tax reform acts, the president of the group, Mr Afam Osigwe (SAN), the suspension of the laws would allow for a proper investigation into allegations of alterations in the gazetted and harmonised copies.

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged that some parts of the laws passed by the parliament were different from the gazetted copy.

To address the issues raised, the NBA said it is “imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process.”

“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the association declared.

It noted that the controversies “raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.”

“These developments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society,” it noted.

“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law. Such uncertainty is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law.

“Nigeria’s constitutional democracy demands that laws, especially those with profound economic and social implications, emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach. Anything short of this undermines public trust and weakens the foundation upon which lawful governance rests.

“We therefore call on all relevant authorities to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this controversy, in the overriding interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law,” the organisation stated.

Economy

MRS Oil, Two Others Raise NASD Bourse Higher by 0.52%

Published

20 hours ago

24/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Demand for hot stocks, including MRS Oil Plc, buoyed the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.52 per cent on Tuesday, December 23.

The energy company was one of the three price gainers for the session as it chalked up N19.69 to sell at N216.59 per share versus the previous day’s value of N196.90 per share.

Further, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc gained N2.95 to close at N56.75 per unit versus N53.80 per unit and Golden Capital Plc appreciated by 84 Kobo to N9.29 per share from Monday’s N8.45 per share.

Consequently, the market capitalisation went up by N10.95 billion to N2.125 trillion from N2.125 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) rose by 18.31 points to 3,570.37 points from 3,552.06 points.

Yesterday, the NASD bourse recorded a price loser, the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), which gave up 17 Kobo to close at N33.70 per unit against the previous trading value of N33.87 per unit.

The volume of securities traded at the session went down by 97.6 per cent to 297,902 units from the previous day’s 12.6 million units, the value of securities decreased by 98.5 per cent to N10.5 million from N713.6 million, and the number of deals remained flat at 32 deals.

By value, Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc ended as the most actively traded stock on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units exchanged for N16.4 billion. This was followed by Okitipupa Plc, which traded 178.9 million units valued at N9.5 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units worth N4.9 billion.

In terms of volume, also on a year-to-date basis, InfraCredit Plc led the chart with a turnover of 5.8 billion units traded for N16.4 billion. Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc ranked second with 1.2 billion units sold for N420.7 million, while Impresit Bakolori Plc followed with the sale of 536.9 million units valued at N524.9 million.

Economy

NGX All-Share Index Soars to 153,354.13 points

Published

21 hours ago

24/12/2025

Dipo Olowookere

By Dipo Olowookere

It was another bullish trading session for the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited as it closed higher by 0.59 per cent on Tuesday.

The market further rallied due to continued interest in large and mid-cap stocks on the exchange by investors rebalancing their portfolios for the year-end.

Yesterday, Aluminium Extrusion sustained its upward trajectory after it further appreciated by 9.96 per cent to N14.90, as Austin Laz gained 9.81 per cent to close at N2.91, Custodian Investment improved by 9.69 per cent to N38.50, and First Holdco soared by 9.35 per cent to N50.30.

Conversely, Royal Exchange declined by 7.22 per cent to N1.80, Champion Breweries shrank by 6.57 per cent to N15.65, NASCON lost 5.36 per cent to trade at N105.05, Sovereign Trust Insurance depreciated by 5.28 per cent to N3.77, and Japaul went down by 4.51 per cent to N2.33.

At the close of business, 29 shares ended on the gainers’ table and 27 shares finished on the losers’ log, representing a positive market breadth index and bullish investor sentiment.

This raised the All-Share Index (ASI) by 895.06 points to 153,354.13 points from 152,459.07 points and lifted the market capitalisation by N579 billion to N97.772 trillion from the previous day’s N97.193 trillion.

VFD Group finished the day as the busiest stock after it recorded a turnover of 192.0 million units worth N2.1 billion, GTCO exchanged 63.5 million units valued at N5.6 billion, Access Holdings traded 49.8 million units for N1.0 billion, First Holdco sold 45.8 million units valued at N2.3 billion, and Secure Electronic Technology transacted 38.3 million units worth N28.4 million.

In all, market participants bought and sold 677.4 million units valued at N20.8 billion in 27,589 deals compared with the 451.5 million units worth N13.0 billion traded in 33,327 deals on Monday, showing an improvement in the trading volume and value by 50.03 per cent and 60.00 per cent apiece, and a shortfall in the number of deals by 17.22 per cent.