Business

Onion price rises over 100%, flooding, inflation blamed

Published

3 months ago

December 19, 2024

Onion market

Onion price rises over 100%, flooding, inflation blamed

For many homes, onion is already an item that is too expensive to afford and an alternative is needed on their menu. This is even as the price of the nutritious vegetable is forecasted to remain high for a long time.

A Daily Trust market survey across three major cities showed that the prices of the spice along with others are on the upward trajectory.

In Kano, our correspondent revealed that a big bag of onion is sold at N250,000 as against last year’s price of N120,000 and the medium bag is now selling at N180,000 as against N80,000 last year.

In Jos, the Plateau State capital, our correspondent reported similar prices as a bag is now N250,000 while the half bag, is sold at N125,000, and that there are other varieties with prices ranging from N215,000 to N230,000 for the same size bag.

The secretary of Farin Gada Vegetable Market in Jos, Musa Ubale, said the current price of onions (N250,000 a bag) has remained so for some time now, while it was hitherto sold at about N170,000 for the same quantity.

For pepper, he said the big bag goes for between N40,000 and N45,000, while smaller ones are sold for between N30,000 and N35,000.

The leadership of onion farmers in Kano State told our correspondent that the current scarcity and high price of onion may remain beyond this year’s harvest due to several reasons.

However, the president of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Isa Maitasamu, told our correspondent in Sokoto that the increase was due to inflation which he said shot the price of seed to increase by 150 per cent – from N50,000 to N150,000 – as well as the high prices of chemicals and fertilisers.

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He also attributed the drop in supply to flood disasters experienced in the onion-producing belt and the scarcity of seeds, all contributing to the soaring price of the commodity in the country.

According to him, the flood disasters had affected Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Borno which were known for producing onions.

Musa Ubale, the secretary of Farin Gada Vegetable Market in Jos, also told our correspondent that part of the reason for the rise in the prices of the vegetables, especially pepper, is that people from neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Ghana do come to purchase them in large quantities.

But one of the onion farmers in Kano State, Alhaji Sama’ila Nura, cited another factor responsible for onion scarcity in Kano as the absence of onion supply from Gada in Niger Republic and some other places that used to complement the Nigerian onion production every year.

“Every year onion supplied from Niger Republic and some other places closer to Nigeria played a very vital role in complementing the Nigerian production. Unfortunately, with the military junta in Niger Republic, not a single supply was received from there.

“Moreover, the high cost of agro-inputs in Nigeria also contributed to the low production of onions during the wet season, with only Kano and Jigawa states producing onion during the wet season, coupled with poor storage methodologies,” he stated.

Currently, planting and other activities for dry season onion production for the year 2025 have commenced.

Our correspondent who visited the Kadawa irrigation site and Garun Malam irrigation site reported vast onion plantations for the season, even though farmers are still lamenting the high cost of inputs.

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The current prices of onion seed and other inputs are contributing to the high price heat felt in many homes.

A check conducted in the seed’s open market in Kano shows that a cup of onion seed is sold at N30,000 while a measure (mudu) costs about N130,000.

Sources at the market revealed that this is the highest price that onion seed has ever attained in the last decade. A single bed of onion seedlings is now sold at N100,000 to N105,000 as against N8,000 to N10,000 last year.

Another farmer, Ibrahim Abbah, opined that the chances that the price will go down as expected is very slim due to the increase in demand from other countries.

“It will interest you to note that demand for onion from Nigeria has been on the rise recently. Ironically, Nigeria now supplies Ghana, Benin Republic among other African countries. This is what caused the scarcity sooner than expected; because they have moped up all the excess onions we have here,” he said.

An ex-official of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, Malam Mustapha Adam, said there are various factors that have contributed to the current scarcity of onion in the country.

“The demand for onion has increased drastically; some sources were telling us that Nigerian onions are now being exported to countries like China and India. This development has contributed to its scarcity, and the high cost of seed and other agro-inputs have also triggered the price hike.

“Unfortunately, despite the huge revenue generated to states by onion farming, onion farmers have never accessed any form of grant from the federal government. We have never been included in the various federal government’s agricultural intervention programmes,” he said.

With this changing dynamic in the onion and pepper supply chain, Nigerian kitchens will have to brace up for the additional challenge.

Onion price rises over 100%, flooding, inflation blamed

Daily Trust

Business

Naira strengthens, gains N29.89 against US dollar

Published

1 day ago

March 15, 2025

Trends Admin

Naira strengthens, gains N29.89 against US dollar

The Nigerian Naira closed the week on a positive note, appreciating by N29.89 against the US Dollar in the official market.

According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Naira traded at N1,517.93 per dollar on Friday, reflecting a 1.9% increase from Thursday’s closing rate of N1,547.82.

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The currency’s recovery comes after a period of decline since March 5, offering a sign of relative stability. In recent months, the Naira has traded within a range of N1,500 to N1,900 against the dollar across both official and parallel markets.

This uptick suggests ongoing efforts to stabilize the currency may be yielding results, as market watchers remain hopeful for sustained improvements.

Naira strengthens, gains N29.89 against US dollar

Auto

How to lower fuel consumption of your car

Published

1 day ago

March 15, 2025

Trends Admin

How to lower fuel consumption of your car

When President Bola Tinubu announced an end to fuel subsidy at the inception of his regime in 2023, many motorists were jolted by the expected impact it would have on the cost of keeping their vehicles on the road.

Many Nigerians were also concerned about the impact it would have on the cost of living, especially the prices of goods, services and transportation.
And their fears were genuine; prices of goods went up astronomically and there were complaints of hardship all over the country.

This led to a swift drop on the sales of big cars, especially Sport Utility Vehicles. Many Nigerians quickly parked these cars in their homes and some immediately put up theirs for sale while others quickly bought smaller cars that they presumed would consume less fuel. They forgot that the rainy season would not be fair to the roads and their new small sedans, especially the bumpers and underneath the cars.

Those living in flood-prone areas like Lekki and some seasonally flooded areas in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states can attest to the advantages of SUVs over sedans from their expenses. With some of these expected challenges, it didn’t take long for the average Nigerian motorist to adjust and live with the negative impacts of the fuel subsidy removal.

Though the challenge persists, coupled with the poor state of the roads across the country, it has been almost impossible for Nigerians to totally do away with their big cars and SUVs which are renowned for higher fuel consumption. It is the classical case of choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea.

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Today, Vanguard offers you some tips on how to ensure maximum fuel economy in your vehicles at a time like this. It is clear that by improving your car’s fuel economy, you’re helping to reduce the drain on your wallet. With some simple driving tips and habits, your fuel can take you further. A combination of good driving habits, and proper vehicle maintenance of your car is essential.

The Tips

*When driving, accelerate and brake gently, quick starts and stops waste fuel, but smooth driving boosts your kilometres per litre. Driving at slower speeds leads to better fuel efficiency.

Reducing speed by 10-20 kph can help. Keep a steady speed, you may use your cruise control on motorways because when you drive at a consistent speed, you save fuel.

•Watch the traffic ahead, it will help you predict what other drivers will do or intend to do. This helps you to avoid braking and speeding up.

•Also avoid idling your engine for long periods even when it is stationary as it wastes fuel. Switch off the engine if you need to stop for more than a minute.

•Also limit short journeys, and be aware that cold starts use more fuel.

•As a motorist, ensure that your tyres are appropriately gauged. Soft tyres cause drag and waste fuel. Check pressures often and inflate correctly.

Many drivers don’t know that proper inflation of their car tyres contributes significantly to the fuel economy. Under inflated tyres have a higher rolling resistance on the road. This means that your tyres generate more friction and rolling resistance and will increase fuel consumption.

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If your four tyres are underinflated by 10 psi, this could increase your fuel consumption by 10 per cent. Car manufactures always have the recommended tyre gauge inscribed on the drivers door frame. Gauge your tyre accordingly and reduce your fuel consumption.

•Correct wheel alignment is vital. It reduces tyre wear and drag. This also saves fuel.

•Many motorists carry all sorts of things in their boots which they hardly need and this adds to the weight of the car, this should be avoided. Note that every extra 50kg of load in your car increases fuel consumption by about two to three percent.

Some used cars from abroad come with a heavy bar attached to the rear for pulling boats and other heavy objects from where they have been imported which is hardly needed in this part of the world. It is advised that you remove them to avoid unnecessary weight.

Some people however believe that this serves as protection when another vehicle hits them from behind, unknown to them that they are paying more to fuel their cars. Lighten your load and remove extra weight from the car. Less weight means better fuel economy.

•Also, reduce drag by removing roof racks as they increase wind resistance which wastes fuel.

•Use your air-conditioning system. Driving with an air-conditioner has an advantage to fuel economy but most drivers think otherwise.

Apart from keeping the interior of your car clear of dust and ensuring the safety of the driver from attacks, it also saves fuel. Driving with windows down at a speed faster than 80km/h causes a lot of wind resistance and more fuel consumption. It is more fuel efficient to drive with your air-conditioner on.

•Maintain the right speed. Avoid over speeding and going slowly too.

While both have safety consequences, they also have an impact on your fuel consumption. It has been established that on highways, your engine works hard to overcome wind resistance.

This means that you will burn up to 15 per cent more fuel at 100km/h and 25 per cent more at 110km/h. On the other way round, if you drive at a speed slower than 50km/h your engine would drop to a lower gear thus using up more fuel. It is advised that driving between 50km/h and 90km/h gives optimal fuel efficiency.

•Many people accelerate their cars as if they are running at Formula 1 Race thereby wasting their fuel unknowingly. Avoid revving your accelerator to a high revolution per minute (RPM). Your engine uses less fuel when it is revolving slower at a lower RPM.

•It is also important to note that aggressive braking is not only a disadvantage to the brake pad but increases fuel consumption.

Slamming on the brakes increases fuel consumption as the car needs to accelerate again. Give a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you have been driven by a pilot before, you would understand what it means to drive with caution.

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They are very cautious of the vehicles in front of them and avoid them from afar. I am sure that if we take count of professionals who hardly get involved in traffic accidents, the pilot would take the number spot.

•Avoid hard acceleration when moving your car from complete stop or climbing hills as it increases fuel consumption. Most people who drive vehicles with automatic transmission hardly know the advantage of one special feature in the car called cruise control.

If you are driving an automatic car, you can make use of cruise control to keep your speed constant. But if you are driving a manual car, maintain a higher gear when appropriate. This ensures that your engine goes through less revolutions per minute, RPM and ensures less fuel consumption.

•Driving in traffic causes higher fuel consumption. Stop-start traffic puts a lot of pressure on your engine and burns more fuel. Avoid peak traffic if possible. Turn off your engine when it is parked. As long as your engine is on, the fuel is burning. The choice is yours to keep the engine steaming when that car is not moving. It is your fuel that is burning which you can use to cover some kilometers.

•Regular servicing with quality engine oil is key to the longevity of your engine. If your engine is poorly maintained, it will lead to sludge and corrosion build-up which will prevent the engine from working smoothly. Regular maintenance is key.

•Follow your vehicle’s schedule, a healthy engine works better. A clean air filter lets the engine breathe freely. Good airflow improves fuel use. Use the right oil type to reduce friction and boost engine performance. When buying a new car, think about fuel efficiency. Pick a model that fits your needs. If your car has a fuel-saving mode, then use it.

How to lower fuel consumption of your car

Vanguard

Business

Electricity: TCN blocks access to data from DisCos

Published

1 day ago

March 15, 2025

Trends Admin

Electricity: TCN blocks access to data from DisCos

Different interest groups in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) yesterday raised the alarm as the Independent System Operator (ISO) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) blocked access to distribution companies (DisCos) daily load profile on its website.

The section of the website has been inaccessible for over a month with no one offering explanation.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah did not answer calls to her mobile line. She also refused to respond to the WhatsApp message sent to her for inquiry.

Responding to the situation, Sage Consulting, Lead Power Sector Analyst, Mr. Bode Fadipe said the fact that the TCN barred access to the DisCos load profile for this long raises the question if it has something to conceal from the stakeholders.

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He described the website’s daily load profile as the tool with which customers and other members of the public can assess the performance of the energy distributors.

Fadipe stressed that platform should be a validation measure for holding the DisCos accountable.

He said allowing the DisCos to operate without access to the load profile could aid them to reject load.

His words: “If other information is accessible on that platform and it is not a technical issue what could be responsible for that? Do they have anything to hide?

” If they have resorted to that, we call for greater transparency so that it can help us to see performance. I think it is not a very good sign because the power sector is supposed to be a transparent industry where people can pick up information and the public can monitor all the time and be able to hold DisCos responsible.”