[size=14pt]Onitsha traders jubilate over lifting of ban on importation [/size]
From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

VOTE
Friday, December 3, 2010
There was wild jubilation yesterday in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, as traders took to major streets and roads in the city with placards commending President Goodluck Jonathan for lifting ban on importation.




http://odili.net/news/source/2010/dec/3/501.html

Daily Sun gathered that some of the major traders who went on jubilant parades were mainly those who deal on fabrics and importers of consumables while car dealers were still silent on the recent development. Some of the traders said the recent lifting of ban on importation of goods into the country by the present administration was a sign of good development, adding that they would now be allowed to transact their business without hitch.

According to Mr. Sunny Igboeze, who said he was one of the victims of the ban on imported goods by previous government, the recent development would boost his business. He said the ban had caused them great losses.

“When they said some of the major goods we imported had been banned, I was one of the persons who lost so many containers to the ban because we were importing goods from countries like Dubai , China and even Germany before they said that. But today, we the traders in Ontsha are grateful to President Jonathan for lifting the ban.

“I can tell you that with this, the prices of goods will fall abysmally and every one will be happy for it and even the government will benefit because no body will be dodging paying his tax of any other revenue,” he said.

Others who spoke to Daily Sun included Mr. Ibeabuchi Okeke who said he was importing clothes, popularly known as Okirika and recounted his ordeal any time his container arrived the shores of this country, stressing that the Nigeria Customs Service manipulated the opportunity to extort money from the traders.

He said “it has been a hell doing business in this country especially dealing on banned goods but one must have to survive. The Nigeria Customs Service used the opportunity to extort money from traders who tried importing those materials through illegal means. But today, one can easily import the genuine materials into the country with the customs doing their routine work, period”

Federal government had on Monday said it had lifted ban on some imported goods into the country which included toothpicks, cars, and other materials, which were regarded as contraband goods by successive governments.

Politics or not its all good. GEJ 2011

Jonathan should avoid making the same mistakes of the OBJ administration. The revenue from these imports should be channelled to a special fund to revive the local industries. If the products from the local industries become more quality and cheaper, then people will automatically begin to resent the imported ones.

At least you guys know that it is a ploy to get votes.

i think gej is not been fair we know that igbos are not the only business men in nigeria

lagos gets it's tax from the yoruba and hausas that sell traditional clothes there at least 70% of its gdp

igbos are small business owners

i am sure gej has lost some peopls vote for this

This is not a surprise. Any PDP man in power will always fumble. Nigeria is a country with no direction at all. The goverment does not think or plan how to develop our own product. I cry for Nigeria.
Well sha one day will be one day, yorubas will get out of this nation.

Clearly, it is.

this is bloody annoying! haba!, one step forward 10 steps backwards. so we cannot produce some of this stuffs in nigeria? so because GJ wants to be president, we would not move forward as a country? ha, na wa ooo!

of course it politics. it's up to the igbo's to reciprocate--with their votes

This is a pragmatic policy and people should stop associating everything with the Igbo vote.

The ban is not working simple.

GEJ will do anything for votes - There is no plan just a desperate move.

The next person after Jonathan will ban it again and so does Nigerian music chair economy keep going one step forward, seven backward.
Who in their right mind will invest into Nigeria in real term outside the usual vulture segment investment area where they change economic policies like underpant and it always comes with immediate effect?

Obusonjo closed the gate with no plan of resuscitating our industries. He just closed the gate. I must commend GEJ for opening it. Nice one - politics or no politics

Eziachi:

The next person after Jonathan will ban it again and so does Nigerian music chair economy keep going one step forward, seven backward.
Who in their right mind will invest into Nigeria in real term outside the usual vulture segment investment area where they change economic policies like underpant and it always comes with immediate effect?

gbammm

jabbok:

Obusonjo closed the gate with no plan of resuscitating our industries. He just closed the gate. I must commend GEJ for opening it. Nice one - politics or no politics

so the importation of okirika is better than the clothes we produce in nigeria?? or your concern is just the igbo businesses irrespective of nigeria.

jabbok:

Obusonjo closed the gate with no plan of resuscitating our industries. He just closed the gate. I must commend GEJ for opening it. Nice one - politics or no politics

think if the people have no imported cloth,,, wouldn't they wear clothes or are they going to be walking nake

also they would be forced to by local made clothes so that the business would grow for better quality





i remember when people do not like listen to nigeria music just because it is not american

but now that there are investment into the music industry , better quality of songs are coming out

Eziachi:

The next person after Jonathan will ban it again and so does Nigerian music chair economy keep going one step forward, seven backward. 
Who in their right mind will invest into Nigeria in real term outside the usual vulture segment investment area where they change economic policies like underpant and it always comes with immediate effect?

good question!

AljHarem, we all know u are a dimwit but must u make it so obvious? Banning is not what Nigeria needs. If u are going to ban then have a better alternative or replacement program or better let people do their business and make their income. OBJ only did what he did due to his rabid hatred of the Igbo @ the detriment of economy of naija economy itself. Biting off ur nose just to spite some1. Provide the environment and poplicies to help ppl open up industries and there won't be a need to ban imported products coz I'm sure many will buy / use our own made products.

haba 

udezue:

AljHarem, we all know u are a dimwit but must u make it so obvious? Banning is not what Nigeria needs. If u are going to ban then have a better alternative or replacement program or better let people do their business and make their income. OBJ only did what he did due to his rabid hatred of the Igbo @ the detriment of economy of naija economy itself. Biting off your nose just to spite some1. Provide the environment and poplicies to help ppl open up industries and there won't be a need to ban imported products coz I'm sure many will buy / use our own made products.

i am not going to insult u

but do u know that when obj made that ban, it affected the northerners and also the yoruba business men and women in lagos selling clothes which bring about 70% of lagos tax revenue so u saying obj hate the igbo is very wrong

secondly do u not know that u there is importation of goods which is already made in the country would kill the small business

if u have a company that make clothes(which they have in lagos and kaduna but i have forgotten there names) and some people import cheaper form of the clothe , how do u hope that ur business would grow so u can reinvest it to make better and cheaper product

udezue pls think here

No one holds a monopoly to imports so why don't you join in the importation business instead of crying here.

The lifting of the ban is good, why ban when you cannot or do not have plan to manufacture an alternative.

jason12345:

this is bloody annoying! haba!, one step forward 10 steps backwards. so we cannot produce some of this stuffs in nigeria? so because GJ wants to be president, we would not move forward as a country? ha, na wa ooo!

Bullcrap.
This is the argument always given for banning importation of certainn items. And each time the ban is put in place, Nigerian manufacturers fail to step up to the task. Even when the local fellows start to fill the gap, they take advantage of this to stuff inferior quality and expensive items down our throats.

Lets not bring Igbos into this decision.
I am for restricted imports for reasons which has been discussed on this forum, but most importantly we need to create avenues for our local companies to be able to be innovative and efficient in production. If you run a local business, seek a market for your products and compete.

texazzpete:

Bullcrap.
This is the argument always given for banning importation of certainn items. And each time the ban is put in place, Nigerian manufacturers fail to step up to the task. Even when the local fellows start to fill the gap, they take advantage of this to stuff inferior quality and expensive items down our throats.

Thank you!

G.Ebere.J as an Easterner, understands the plight of Easterners more than all those other presidential aspirats put together.

Andre Uweh:

G.Ebere.J as an Easterner, understands the plight of Easterners more than all those other presidential aspirats put together.

texazzpete:

Bullcrap.
This is the argument always given for banning importation of certainn items. And each time the ban is put in place, Nigerian manufacturers fail to step up to the task. Even when the local fellows start to fill the gap, they take advantage of this to stuff inferior quality and expensive items down our throats.

How do you expect them to step up to the plate when the foundation is not there?. Nigerian manufacturers are not to be blamed here until our government provides energy, roads and the adequate climate for them to function properly.

jason12345:

so the importation of okirika is better than the clothes we produce in nigeria?? or your concern is just the igbo businesses irrespective of nigeria.

Name the fabrics we produce in Nigeria solely without help from imported raw materials?.

Aloy_Emeka:

Name the fabrics we produce in Nigeria solely without help from imported raw materials?.

cotton and linen in the north

jason12345:

cotton and linen in the north

Where do you produce linen in the North? Can you name the company with links? Always telling lies and fairy tales.

igbobuigbo:

Where do you produce linen in the North? Can you name the company with links? Always telling lies and fairy tales.

my bad about the linen. but yeah, cotton is produced in the north!