News

Traders In Edo Protest Middlemen Activities, Seek Govt Intervention

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

Traders under the auspices of Ekiosa Market Traders Association, on Monday protested what they tagged activities of ‘evil middlemen and women’, which according to the protesters are causing price hike and artificial scarcity in Benin markets.

The protesters also protested against the neglect of their market (Ekiosa Market)by concerned authorities, which according to them got burnt in 2019.

The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions as ‘evil union in Edo market are responsible for hike in food;’ Edo people say no to evil union in our market;’ Edo State government ban evil union in Edo markets;’ ‘we say no to evil union in Edo market,’ lamented that many of them are stranded due to government failure to rebuild their market that got burnt, adding that the middlemen and women are making them unproductive.

Speaking during a peaceful protest to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, Lucky Orukpe, President of Traders Welfare Union, accused the middlemen and women of causing artificial scarcity in Edo market and also price hike in farm produce.

He alleged that these middlemen and women who form unions among themselves are making sure that whoever fails to join their union does not have a place to sell in the market in Benin City.

He said: “Today, in our market, if you bring your farm produce to sell, we have people we call middlemen and women in our market in Edo State. They will compel you to join a union before you can sell your garri; they will compel you to join their union before you can sell your yam.
If you are not in their union, and you are bringing produce to sell, no vehicle will carry you. When they succeed in compelling you to join their union, they give you time to come to their market.

“Today, farmers are scared to bring farm produce to the market. So, these evil unions are causing artificial scarcity in our market in Edo State.”

Ourkpe who alleged that the ‘evil middlemen and women just devised a new means of operation recently, lamented that due to their activities, food prices are lesser in states that Edo supplies food.

He further lamented: “We carry food from Edo State to other states but food is cheaper in these states, this is because of the activities of these middlemen.”

Ourkpe who said these men are not government agents but individuals, urged the state government to as a matter of urgency address the issue before it got out of hand.

On his part, Anthony Agho, president, Ekiosa Market Traders Association, lamented “we the Ekiosa Market traders are stranded in the streets. We have no where to trade. And they forbid us from selling on the walkway, so how are we going to survive.

He continued: “In 2019, Ekiosa Market got burnt, and since then we have been managing. In 2020, Oredo Local Government came and said we should leave the place and that they want to renovate it. Then in January 2024, the local government came and told us that we should leave and that between 4 months the work will be completed, and since then we have been waiting.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.