By Yunus Yusuf

Market Leaders and Traders Associaton of Nigeria (MALETAN) Lagos State chapter, has called on the Lagos State Government, concerned persons and groups to address the challenges affecting peaceful coexistence in the state.

It also said that it was necesssary to address some identified anomalies within the political and business space for the growth of the state.

Its President, Mr Christopher Okpala, made the call on behalf of the association at a news conference on developments in the state and as it affect its members in the trading community, on Thursday in Lagos.

The News of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Okpala was in company of his Vice, Benjamin Nweke and Secretary, Okey Enwuru.

He said addressing all the anomalies would help boost the progress recorded in the state and Nigeria at large.

He said the association, trader’s rights protection initiative, had been following recent developments in the state in the last eight months; prior to the general elections to date.

According to him, after careful observation, studies and evaluations, the association came out with the position that will help to heal all wounds and uproot ill feelings.

He noted that it equally removes all manners of divisive seeds of bigotry, redirects the patriotic zeal and passion of all stakeholders.

Okpala said that achieving this would help contribute to the drive of the mantra of excellence in the state and development of Nigeria in general.

Okpala, advised those being used by desperate politicians to have a rethink, be remorseful, retrace their steps, and desist from divisive politicking in the future.

As an organisation, he called the government not to allow the ugly incidents of the pre-election and election periods to be swept under the carpet.

The MALETAN boss then urged the government to prosecute anyone identified to have caused mayhem on innocent residents of the state during the period under reference.

“It is also important that the Lagos State Government should start building confidence in residents of the state whose trust in the state have been eroded due to the roles played by some politicians and their agents prior, during and after the general elections.

“A situation worsened by the recent comment of Hon. Mudasiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, during his inaugural speech, which suggested that there will be legislations that will be enacted for the protection of a particular set of people and against another set living in the same Lagos State.”

“We want to believe that governance should be people-oriented and not anti-people, and that those entrusted with leadership should live by example of statesmanship, expected of them,” he said.

Okpala said that the association condoles Lagos residents, especially its members in the trading community, who were negatively affected directly or indirectly during the electioneering period.

He called on all the affected to put the sad experiences behind, counting them as the price and sacrifices they need to pay for the good of Lagos State and development of Nigeria.

Okpala said, “And so, continue to build bridges of unity and peaceful coexistence across Lagos State; bearing in mind that many developed cities and countries of the world went through similar dark alleys.

“Not quite long, some buildings, housing many traders and their businesses, were demolished by the Lagos State government at the Fancy and Furniture section of Ojo Alaba International market, citing reasons of distressed structure and construction along drainage channel by Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA.

“Other sources claimed that the demolition was instigated by ethnic bias and reallocation of the portions of land to foreign developers who intend constructing a mega plaza or shopping complex on same plots of land.

“MALETAN wishes to weigh in on this matter by condemning the action of the State government who seemed to have taken a hasty decision to demolish the properties without taking into consideration the effect of such action on thousands of Lagos residents who carry out their businesses there.”

“However, while we commend the recent posture taken by the Lagos State Govermor, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu,who denied knowledge of such exercise, and thereafter, instructing a stop further demolition on the area, and constituting a committee to look into the matter.

“MALETAN hopes that the governor will follow through his promise by monitoring closely on the activities of the committee and ensure that those affected by the demolition are well assuaged by ensuring their properties are reallocated to them and adequate compensation paid on the properties destroyed; so as to assure Lagosians that the government of the day is people oriented and not anti-people.”

On the other hand, MALETAN boss advised members and all prospective investors to carry out due diligence before committing any fund on any properties, saying it would help to retain such in case of conflicts or contestations either by individuats, families or government agencies on such properties.

He also urged members to endeavour to diversify their investment to other green business viable states in the Southeast.

The president hinted that association would soon commence a preparation for a triple programmes which include “Handshake among Business Community” as an avenue to build bridges of unity between all ethnic groups in the trading community in Lagos.

Others are annual business award which is to recognise, commend and appreciate some stakeholders in the trading community, as well as International Traders Days to celebrate every trader.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Joseph Edeh

The FCT Unity Football Championship will kick-off on July 8 across the six area councils of the territory, with the grand finale scheduled to hold on July 29 in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

MOO Mohammed, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), of the Adedoyin Benjamins-Laniyi (ABL) Unity Championship 2023, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the championship would be used to discover young talents who would be nurtured and sent to clubs abroad to ply their trade.

Mohammed said that 12 teams, two each would be drawn from the six Area Councils of the FCT to compete at the second stage of the championship to be hosted in AMAC.

He said that there would be a scouting team that would be on ground at the quarter, semi-final and final to scout for the best legs in the tournament.

In a remark, Benjamins-Laniyi, the initiator of the Championship, said that it was a privilege to convene a football tournament in Abuja.

“It is my privilege to be the initiator in the Centre of Unity, the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to convene and engage in a football tournament in the spirit of unity.

“ The most critical ingredient of any game is the power to drive with your team the courage of that goal.

“Once you can do that, you don’t see colour, you don’t see age, you don’t see religion, you don’t see your church’s denomination. All you see is the goal. Can I score the winning goal?

“The winning goal for Nigeria is the unity, that we may be one; unity through sportsmanship.

“You know, the power of sportsmanship is what you find played out in political advocacy. You go against all the odds to emerge a winner“, she said.

She urged the Super Falcons to make the country proud by winning the trophy at the 2023 FIFA Women world cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Benjamins-Laniyi advised them to go all out to compete without fear of their opponents when the hostility begins on July 20 to Aug. 20.

In attendance were the representatives of the Chairman of the FCT Football Association, FCT Social Development Secretariat among others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former Super Eagles players, Kanu Nwankwo and Femi Ajilore are the ambassadors for the ABL -Unity Championship 2023. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh/Uche Anunne

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS,) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with five African multinational commercial banking groups for seamless cross-border trade payments.

The groups include Standard Bank Group, Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, and UBA Group.

These significant partnerships aim to revolutionise the settlement of cross-border transactions across Africa, leveraging on the vast network of subsidiaries and representative offices across major economic centres across Africa.

These MOUs were signed on Monday, June 19, 2023, at the opening ceremony of Afreximbank’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations and 30th Annual Meetings held in Accra, Ghana, a statement by Brandcomms Agency said.

It was in the presence of Heads of State and Prime Ministers from Africa and the Caribbean, Heads of continental policy and governance institutions as well as international institutions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the platform will, for instance,  allow a business in Nigeria to trade with another in, perharps, Ghana, using the Naira and Cedi respectively.

Again, PAPSS makes cross-border payments easier, such that  transactions don’t take days or weeks to settle.

Transaction executed using PAPSS are expected to be secure, promote financial inclusion, and most importantly – unite Africa.

The signature of the MOUs signified a monumental step forward in the pursuit of seamless cross-border trade payments throughout the almost 40 countries covered by these Banks.

“The broad collaboration between PAPSS and African commercial banks will pave the way for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and reliability in intra-African settlement.

“ The adoption of PAPSS’s cutting-edge settlement model will streamline operations and empower businesses by providing a secure and technologically advanced platform for cross-border transactions,” the statement said.

As part of this partnership, Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, Standard Bank Group, and UBA Group will collaborate closely with PAPSS to ensure seamless integration of PAPSS into their existing systems, it said.

This collaborative effort will include opening up all their African footprints for PAPSS.

Also,  facilitating settlement of transactions, encouraging the participation of Fintech in PAPSS via the banks and expanding PAPSS to all the banks’ current digital channels such as mobile app banking and e-banking.

Prof.  Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, commented.

“The signature of these MoUs marks a remarkable step towards the realisation of the aspirations of Africa’s fore leaders, who envisioned the creation of a payment and clearing union about six decades ago.

“ It also draws us closer to domesticating cross-border payments by enabling payments for cross-border trade in African currencies while strengthening African currencies.

“By leveraging on the vast continental coverage of these African commercial banks, PAPSS will seamlessly facilitate cross-border trade and payments and boost intra-African trade and investments”.

The Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, Mr Mike Ogbalu III, expressed enthusiasm about these collaborations.

“These partnerships with Access Bank Group, Ecobank Group, KCB Group, Standard Bank Group, and UBA Group mark a significant milestone in the journey toward a more integrated and efficient African banking landscape.

“ By embracing PAPSS’ Commercial Bank Settlement Model, these banks are helping build a robust continental platform for fostering cross-border payments, thereby paving the way for financial inclusion and substantial continental economic development.”

Also commenting on the signing was H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA.

“The introduction of the new PAPSS Model for onboarding African Commercial Banks and the signing of the MoUs with the five African Commercial Bank Groups signifies a bold step towards the full operationalisation of PAPSS.

“For the benefit of African traders and SMEs in the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MOUs will be put into effect gradually in partnership with central banks in the countries where the five Group Banks operate.

Customers of the banks in Africa will be informed through the usual channels of communication as soon as the service becomes available in their countries.

PAPSS and the banks will be working to make the service available toward the end of 2023. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Jumia, a leading pan-African e-commerce platform, has reiterated its commitment to driving economic growth through the expansion to secondary cities and rural areas to close the inequality gap.

Mr Massimiliano Spalazzi, the Chief Executive Officer, Jumia Nigeria, said this at the launch of its Rural Area Report titled: “E-Commerce in Rural Areas” on Tuesday, in Lagos.

According to him, the report highlights Jumia’s remarkable achievement in penetrating underserved regions and bringing e-commerce opportunities to overlooked populations.

Spalazzi added that the report showed the company’s dedication to driving sustainable growth, empowering communities, and closing inequality gaps across the continent.

He said that bridging the digital divide and empowering communities with access to a wide range of products and services through online platform was a testament to the company’s mission.

He stated that the company had adopted a two-pronged approach that allowed Jumia to rapidly extend its reach beyond major cities, bringing the convenience of online shopping to even the most remote areas of Nigeria.

The approaches, according to him, are Pick-Up Stations (PUS) and Jumia Force agents (JForce).

“We take immense pride in revolutionising shopping in the country, enabling SMEs to grow, and creating job opportunities for the youth.

“With an unwavering commitment to providing a comprehensive shopping solution, Jumia has successfully established a physical presence across the entire country, including remote areas, through its extensive network of 285 PUS in hundreds of towns.

“By collaborating closely with select logistics partners, Jumia has streamlined its supply chain operations, ensuring seamless delivery of products to these underserved markets,” he said.

Spalazzi explained that the pick-up stations were very convenient because they had been strategically placed at the closest location where customers reside, allowing them to pick their items with less delivery fee.

He added that the report underscored the important role played by JForce, a network of over 43,000 independent sales consultants, in educating consumers about Jumia’s offerings.

“They approach customers, identify their products needs, explain how to place their order on the Jumia app, and support the customer in the transaction till the items are delivered.

“Through localised and offline marketing channels, JForce introduces rural populations to the world of e-commerce, fostering growth and driving brand adoption.

“Jumia has become a catalyst for thousands of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, offering them the opportunity to become their own bosses through e-commerce.

“These entrepreneurs earn commissions through sales on the Jumia platform, contributing to their economic empowerment.

“We have seen the growth potential in this approach and we look forward to expanding in the coming months,” he said.

Mr Robert Awodu, the Head of Public Relations and Communications, said that Jumia’s online marketplace provided an extensive selection of affordable products, with consumers stating competitive pricing as the major reason for shopping online.

Awodu, presenting the report, cited phones, beauty and perfumes, men’s clothing, furniture, bedding, and men’s shoes as the most demanded categories by consumers in secondary cities and rural areas in Nigeria, with phones being the most ordered communities.

He noted that the demand for accessible, innovative, and affordable online services across various sectors was on the rise, reflecting the evolving consumer preferences and lifestyle changes in the nation.

“Nigeria embraces a dynamic and youthful demographic, with a significant portion of the population comprising tech-savvy individuals eager to explore the benefits of online shopping.

“Recognising the potential impact of e-commerce on Nigeria’s economy, Jumia has adopted a two-pronged approach, utilising the JForce foot soldiers and Pick-up stations across the nation to meet the increasing demand of the populace,” he said.

Awodu added that Jumia’s platform had helped in areas of job creation, digital inclusion and women empowerment.

“Through the use of Jumia’s platform, people who previously had limited exposure to digital technologies can gain digital literacy skills, such as online shopping, online payments, and navigating e-commerce platforms.

“By promoting digital inclusion and literacy, Jumia helps bridge the digital divide and enables communities to fully participate in the benefits of the digital age.

The report also cited cities with the highest population outside Lagos to include Kano (4,103,000); Ibadan (3,565,000); Port-Harcourt (1,865,000) and Benin (1,782,000), with 47 per cent of the population residing in rural areas.

“Nigeria, as the largest oil producer in Africa, is home to a significant portion of its populace, with 47 per cent residing in rural areas, as reported by the World Bank in 2021.

“This makes rural areas a critical segment within the overall addressable market.

“Jumia’s presence now extends across more than 250 PUS located in several towns throughout the country, reaching even the remotest corners such as Modakeke, Ilaro, Offa, Uromi, Nkpor, Keffi and Owo town.

“Additionally, Jumia has a strong alliance with selected third-party logistics partners (3PLs) throughout the country, fostering a streamlined supply chain operations,” the report read in part. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma