As Nigerians gear up for the Eid-El-Kabir celebration, ram traders in the Ibafo, Kara and Agege markets of Ogun and Lagos states on Wednesday lamented low patronage, blaming it on the rising cost and economic downturn. The traders who spoke separately with PUNCH Metro said there was a decline in patronage compared to what was applicable last year because of the …

Over 70 shops were ravaged by fire at the popular Aleshinloye market in Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident, which happened around 10:15pm, on Tuesday, in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state, has left the entire traders at the market devastated as they continue counting losses as of Wednesday. One of the affected traders, simply identified as …

Traders and producers of local fabrics known as adire in Ogun State have expressed their displeasure over the alleged failure of the federal and state governments to address the incursion of Chinese-made and adulterated fabrics into local markets. The traders raised the alarm that the Chinese were massively producing and shipping adulterated adire fabrics into Ogun State. According to the …

The Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has developed a comprehensive programme for the integration of the informal sector into the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS). NSITF managing director, Oluwaseun Faleye, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday by NSITF general manager, corporate affairs, Nwachukwu Ngige. Mr Faleye said that the fund would tap into the immense potential of the informal …

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the allocation of six-month rent-free stalls to itinerant and street traders in a strategic move aimed at boosting commerce and curbing street trading. The initiative, which offers shops at Oja Oba main market, Agric-Olope, and Awedele markets, is part of a broader effort to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration. This …

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has threatened to seal any shop or plaza closed on Mondays in compliance with the sit-at-home order initially declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra. Soludo issued the warning during an inspection tour of the Main Market in Onitsha on Monday, where he expressed his displeasure over the large number of locked shops and …

The Federal Government has urged traders to explore new ways of doing things by making maximum use of technology in a bid to grow and expand their businesses. The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, advised that “marketplaces should not only be spaces of traditional commerce, but hubs of innovation where traders can leverage technology …

Traders and commuters in Kano metropolis have expressed worry over the recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPCL Retail Management had on Tuesday approved an upward review of the pump price from N617 per litre to N897 litre, effective from 3 September This is amid economic hardship …

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has given one-month moratorium to traders and other market stakeholders involved in exploitative pricing to crash the prices of goods. The newly appointed Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said this at a one-day stakeholders engagement on exploitative pricing on Thursday in Abuja. According to Bello, the Commission will …

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has pleaded with the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to be civil with market women and men regarding complaints of invasion of shops and warehouses in markets across the state. Traders in the state had accused Customs officers of breaking into their shops and warehouses in a bid to search for smuggled goods. …