Here is the first part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part I

Today we shall be profiling the agricultural products and raw materials that are fairly abundant in Nigeria and which has demand outside the shores of this country and also their location locally.

SHEA NUT

History: Shea butter nut butter has been used for centuries in Africa for cosmetics, funeral rites, medicinal, soap making and as cooking oil.

Estimated National Production: 500,000 MT annually

Export from Nigeria: About 3% of the national production is exported.

Type: They are usually accessed based on the content.

Uses: They are used in the production of Shea butter which is used in the cosmetics, confectionery and other such industries.

Areas of Production: Shea nut is produced in Kwara State at Ode-Giwa in the Asa Local Government Area and also in Minna area of Niger state in Nigeria. Other states include Kogi, Oyo, Kebbi and Ogun State.

Shea nuts are the fruits of shea butter tree botanically know as Vitellaria. In Africa, there re two main commercial species namely: Vitellaria paradoxa; mostly found in West African in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali. The second specie is called Vitellaria nilotica is mostly in Uganda.

The fruit is usually 5-8cm long and 3-4 cm wide, elliptic; a yellow or green berry with thick, butter – like, mucos pericap contains one seed which is oval or round. The seed is usually surrounded by a fragile shining shell with large hillum on a broad base.

The following is the benchmark composition of the export of Shea nut.

Free Fatty Acid (FFA) Content: Less than or equal to 60%

Moisture Content: Less than or equal to 70%

Oil Content: Greater than or equal to 45%

Latex: 4-10%

The oil content is the most crucial element of the Shea nut as that component is an important ingredient in the composition of the butter that goes into cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) and other by products. If the oil content is higher and the FFA and moisture content is lower, then the exporter will receive a price premium.

In terms of market share, the Chocolate and Confectionary market represents about 95% while the Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals market represent 5% of the market share.

The return on investment on the export of Shea nut is estimated between 10% - 15%.

For enquiries kindly contact via WhatsApp the mobile Number 08094635254 or place a call to 07063396991

We carried out an independent research at a cement dealer shop and we asked him questions as regards the pros and cons of the building materials he has on ground. He sells Dangote 3X Cement and Lafarge Elephant Cement. He also has a Block moulding Factory.

We asked him which cement is preferably among his clients? he answered saying everyone comes with his her taste. None can be said is better than the other.

Market Dynamics
Dangote moves slightly faster than Lafarge at his store sometimes, though more expensive. Dangote Cement 3X is priced at N2,200 while Lafarge Cement is priced at N2,150. Lafarge is good for plastering, and has another brand entirely for plastering. See picture below. It's very smooth and seemingly the best in this field.

He said some people returned the Dangote they bought from him, but didn't explain further reason why. He says they're coming back to fetch them.

He said the Lafarge Cement is good for in block casting.

Blocks Moulding

He says he uses both cement brand for block moulding, but found out that Dangote cement when used for moulding blocks in the raining season dries faster than Lafarge Cement.

DANGOTE 3X CEMENT

• Price: N2, 200.

• Some customers returned their Dangote 3X cement.

• Good for moulding Blocks

• More expensive

WAPCO LAFARGE ELEPHANT

• Good for plastering, using it's plastering brand

• Good for in block casting

• Price is N2, 150

• Cheaper

These were all we could gather from our field study. If you have good experience using these building materials, kindly help others reading to give your own views and experiences. AskNigeria might have missed some important aspects of these 2 competing goods that you can help shed more light on.

DISCLAIMER
These are the views of an independent dealer. AskNigeria did not in any way influence research data.

For this review, we met a dealer of 4x4 Ceiling slates and Nigerite Roofing slates. These 2 building items have alternatives. Unfortunately, he doesn't sell any of the alternatives. They're the PVC Ceiling and the Zinc Aluminium Roofing Sheets.

He gave us his honest idea on the strengths and weaknesses of these building materials. And since he doesn't sell the alternatives, we couldn't take any snapshots.

PVC Ceiling

• PVC is made up of plastic

• PVC is less Expensive

• PVC Ceiling can easily catch fire, since it's made up of plastic.

• PVC cannot protect from Sun and Heat

• It's just for fashion

4x4 Ceiling

• It can hardly catch fire. Strong against fire.

• It is more expensive than PVC Ceiling

• It can absorb heat, protects from sun's heat

• A single Sheet costs N1,200 Naira

And so therefore, you be the judge, if you're building a house, would you go for PVC Ceiling or 4x4 Ceiling? I understand that because of the price, some would choose PVC Ceiling, and also because it's in vogue, but we at AskNigeria would like you to put your safety first and choose wisely.

We shall keep this page updated with the price of PVC Ceiling and it's pictures.

DISCLAIMER
These are the views of an independent dealer. AskNigeria did not in any way influence research data.

This Road is situated within Gowon Estate, between Egbeda Axis and Ipaja Abesan Federal Housing Estate. It links Gowon Estate, Gemade and Ipaja Abesan Housing Estate to Egbeda Idimu Road. This road has been in a state of disrepair for a long time, coupled with the rains that have increased of late.

Commuters groan under this situation, complaining that it's been in this state of disrepair for more than a year. This road is under the Mosan Okunola LCDA, which also falls under the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. See Pictures Below:

Status of Road: DILAPIDATED DISREPAIR

We call on the Good Administration of Governor Akinwumi Ambode to look into this situation.

VERDICT: ROAD IS AN EYESORE

UPDATE

Visit our Sister review App Website For a detailed Review with Google Maps and Charts.

Viju Milk
Price : N100
What people are saying: I Love the taste it's thick and refreshing
Rating: 2 People love this

Nutri Milk
Price: N100
What people are saying: Watery and has absurd taste
Rating: 1 Dislike

Bobo Drink
Price: N50
What people are saying: It is quite good and because of the taste of milk in it.

Review Location: Lagos

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of independent research.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared business man, Goodie Ibru, wanted.

The anti-graft agency said he was wanted in connection with a case of “conspiracy, capital market fraud, stealing, diversion of funds, and money laundering”.

“He allegedly diverted billions of naira and assets belonging to Ikeja Hotels Plc, owners of Sheraton Hotel, Lagos; Federal Palace Hotel; Capital Hotel; and Sheraton Hotel, Abuja,” the EFCC added.

Source: Punch NG

With the Black market rates hovering around N467/N473, How much does your bank charge you per dollar? Do they charge you at black market rates or Interbank rates?

Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been released by her kidnappers.

Sources at the Police High Command told our correspondent Margaret and four others were released around 1am on Saturday (today).

Margaret, three women and a driver were attacked on Thursday along the Benin-Agbor Road and dragged into a nearby bush while their vehicle was abandoned.

The kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom of about N100m.

A police source said, “The kidnappers released the victims around 1am. We found them around the bush beside the expressway where they were kidnapped. Investigations are ongoing.”

Source: Punch NG

It’s something we’re all guilty of. You’re suddenly awake in the middle of the night and decide – for no reason whatsoever – to check your phone .

Be honest with yourself, are you expecting a cheeky little booty call (in which case, as you were)?

Is there a transatlantic work situation which is about to blow up at 3am GMT?

Or, is it just one of those little habits you have?

If so, you’re really not alone. According to a Deloitte report, one in three of us are so addicted to our phones we check them during the night.

And if you’re in the 18 – 24 category, this number goes up to one in two.

It may seem harmless – but it’s incredibly damaging.
Yes, that sneaky little look at Facebook you have in the wee hours of the morning is seriously bad for you.

Don’t take it from us. Sleep experts, the Metro reports, have warned us over and over how looking at our phones at night can compromise our health.

How does my mobile phone affect my health?
It’s all to do with the blue light our phone’s screen gives off.

This light tells our body it’s daytime, which means when we do eventually fall back to sleep, that quality of sleep is not as good as it should be.

The blue light “shifts” people’s sleep schedules by up to three hours found researchers at Harvard. Other studies also showed how it prevents people from getting the most restorative REM sleep they need.

Paul Lee, head of technology research at Deloitte told the site, “What smartphones enable people to do is to keep tags of what’s happening, what people are saying, what people are posting.

“You can do that throughout the day and what smartphones are encouraging people to do is to do that at night.”

So unless it’s a matter of life or death, make sure you get some good shut eye. Facebook’s not worth it.

Source: Nairadays

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said it was sheer madness for anybody occupying public offices to be looking for money.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari told him repeatedly that at his age, his only heart’s desire was to see a great Nigeria.

He said Buhari had no other objective in office than that.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke while receiving a delegation of Christian Ministers Welfare Initiative also known as the Pastors’ Forum, Taraba State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“This morning, I had a meeting with the President and he repeated to me twice, he said ‘at my age, there is only one thing I am looking for, I want to see a great Nigeria.’ He has no other objective and I feel very inspired by that,” Osinbajo reportedly told his guests.

He said anybody who had the opportunity of being the President of the country should only be thinking of how to improve the lot of the people.

Osinbajo said, “It is madness for anybody in our position to be looking for money.

“According to him, God put people in a position of authority for them to be able to do something for their people.

“I think if any Nigerian gets the chance to be President of the country, there is nothing he/she is looking for anymore, except that, while there, you improve the lot of the people.”

Osinbajo reiterated his position that no economy could tolerate the level of corruption seen in Nigeria without the consequence.

He regretted that while Nigerians were being killed by the Boko Haram fighters, people could not account for $15bn meant for the purchase of security equipment to fight the insurgents.

The Vice-President also explained how vandalism of oil installations had contributed to the recession being witnessed in the country.

He said Nigeria had lost several millions of barrels of crude oil due to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

On power, the Vice-President said the country was producing 5,000MW of power for the first time by early 2016, but by February 2016 the Forcados terminal was destroyed by militants.

As a result of the vandalism, he said 40 per cent of the gas used to fire the power plants was lost and the country was down to 2,500MW of power.

He observed that at the time the militants started blowing up oil and gas installations, the amnesty stipends were still being paid, insisting that they went violent because of ongoing investigation of corrupt persons.

“Nothing changed, the only reason is that we are investigating people who have stolen money,” Osinbajo said.

He added that the country was losing one million barrels of oil a day, nothing that, that was 60 per cent of the country’s revenues, and there was nowhere such an amount of revenue would be lost that people would not experience economic challenge and recession.

While expressing optimism that the country would come out of the recession, Osinbajo stated that “there is no question at all, God has a reason for bringing us in at this time and God helping us, we will see a change in this country.”

He urged the Church and all religious leaders to stand up against corruption, stressing that if this government had been doing the right thing by fighting corruption, the Church should support it.

He also assured his guests that the Federal Government was working hard to end the problem of the ravaging herdsmen.

Osinbajo said the President had instructed the police and the military to act and deal with the herdsmen’s menace.

He said those behind the herdsmen’s violence were criminals.

While calling on honest men in the country to work together, Osinbajo said God had structured Nigeria in such a way that no one could dominate another.

Source: Punch NG