Business

Mixed reactions trail 37th Enugu International Trade Fair performance

Published

5 months ago

April 1, 2026

Preport

Marvico Foods stand at the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair 1.jpg

A cross-section of participants at the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair have expressed mixed reactions over patronage and visitation to the fair.

While some participants complained about the low turnout of exhibitors and visitors, others commended the “sterling performance” of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

They attributed the low turnout and patronage to the dwindling economy occasioned by the recent fuel hike.

Other participants who thumbed up the fair’s performance noted that it demonstrated the resilience of Nigerian businesses, notwithstanding economic downturns.

One of the participants, Caleb Ezenwa, who works with the cosmetics arm of the Ekulu Group of Companies, said he was happy to be at the fair but lamented that patronage was still low this year compared to previous years.

Another participant, Friday Olabisi, who deals in textiles, noted that the fair was well-organised but could be improved with wider publicity.

Mr Olabisi urged the fair’s management to invest more in advertising through radio jingles, television, and newspapers to build a strong audience and attract more participants to the next trade fair.

A shopper, Uchechukwu Ikegwuonwu, said she was at the fair to buy goods and that buying there was less stressful than in the open market.

Mrs Ikegwuonwu applauded the chamber for creating a conducive environment for shoppers, especially with the newly built, fully air-conditioned 3000-square-metre tent.

On his part, Solomon Ani said he came to the fair to see some innovations and ideas, as well as to interact with manufacturers, which he did.

A dealer in body spray and perfume, John Udekwe, said that although the turnout at the fair was initially not encouraging, his company still managed to make modest sales.

Responding, the Director-General of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Uche Mba, attributed the fair’s moderate attendance of exhibitors and visitors to the current socioeconomic situation.

Mr Mba said that some companies that earlier declared their intention to participate in the fair withdrew due to the current high cost of petroleum products nationwide.

The director-general, however, said this year’s fair was an improvement over last year’s despite the socioeconomic challenges.

He noted that there were new offerings, including free business-class for youths and start-ups, a daily lottery, and free transportation, which helped increase participation and made them more active at the fair.

He enumerated some of the challenges faced at the fair, including power outages and the high cost of diesel for the generators at the fairground.

The fair, with the theme “Empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Global Competitiveness,” kicked off on 21 March and was meant to last for 10 days.

However, it was extended by two days, bringing its closure to 1 April after organisers granted the request of most exhibitors, who appealed for more days to make more sales ahead of the Easter festivity.

(NAN)

Related Topics:Enugu International Trade Fair performance Trade Fair

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NDLEA arrests India-bound Businessman with cocaine, recovers N3.6b Colos, codeine in Lagos

Published

15 hours ago

August 16, 2026

Preport

BY NKECHI BAECHE-ESEZOBOR—A 48-year-old businessman Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi who liquidated all his assets to chase a dream of quick riches in the illicit drug trade has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, while heading to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within the side walls and railings of his bag.

Nwankwo who deals in marbles in Lagos was arrested at the departure hall of terminal II of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India. A search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine factory-fitted in the walls and railings of his bag.
In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million. With his assets gone, and Nwankwo’s dream of transiting from a marble trader to a drug kingpin effectively shattered following his arrest, the suspect remains in custody awaiting prosecution and likely time in jail.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu street Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos, where a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup was discovered. A total of 3,776 cartons, comprising 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at over N2.6 billion, were recovered between Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2026.
In yet another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 14th August raided the residence of a 55-year-old kingpin Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare street, Ipaja estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of Nine Hundred and Seventy-Two Million Naira (N972,000,000). Also recovered from the suspect were a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car.
In Kwara, two suspects: Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were on Thursday 13th August arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96kg skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL recovered, while two other suspects: 70-year-old grandpa Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were nabbed by NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ibadan, Oyo state on Wednesday 12th August. Recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA, include: 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
A total of 124,100 pills of tramadol; 786 bottles of codeine syrup; 2,598 tablets of rohypnol;
4,800 tablets of diazepam; 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from two suspects: Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along Onitsha/Asaba expressway on Thursday 13th August, while another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was nabbed with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and monetary exhibit of eight million naira (N8,000,000) only along Kwale/Ozoro expressway on Wednesday 12th August.
A Toyota Corolla car with registration number MKD 341 EA was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Riyom/Jos road, Jos Plateau state where 239,490 caps of tramaforce, a brand of tramadol were recovered and a suspect Kasum Sherif arrested.
In Kano, six suspects were arrested on Monday 10th August by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria-Kano road. They include: Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39. Large consignments of opioids were recovered from them include 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and others as well as 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Also in Kano, NDLEA operatives on Friday 14th August raided the Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso LGA, where they recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arrested two suspects: Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24 in connection with the seizure.
A total of 4,628.9775kg skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms that measured 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state where a suspect Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested in one of the farms during a raid by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 12th August. Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was nabbed with 25.857kg Loud and 93 grams of meth during a raid of drug joints at Oluku area of Benin city on Friday 14th August.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School, Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos state, among others.
While commending the officers, men and women of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

The post NDLEA arrests India-bound Businessman with cocaine, recovers N3.6b Colos, codeine in Lagos appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

Eno leads pre-delivery inspection of Ibom Air’s third Airbus A220-300 aircraft in Canada

Published

1 day ago

August 15, 2026

Preport

Gov Eno during pre delivery inspection at Airbus facility in Mirabel Canada.jpg

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has led a delegation of State Executives and members of the Ibom Air’s management team to a pre-delivery inspection of the airline’s third Airbus A220-300 aircraft at the Airbus production facility in Mirabel, Canada, ahead of its formal delivery and reception in Akwa Ibom.

This is contained in a press statement issued by Aniekan Essienette, the group manager, marketing and communication, Ibom Airlines Limited, on Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to the statement, the inspection marks another significant milestone in Ibom Air’s fleet modernisation and growth strategy and is part of the acceptance process before the aircraft enters commercial service.

The aircraft is Ibom Air’s third Airbus A220-300 and the second A220 to be received under the airline’s firm order for 10 Airbus A220 aircraft placed in 2021. Its addition marks a further step in Ibom Air’s commitment to expanding capacity, strengthening connectivity, and operating one of Africa’s most modern fleets.

The delegation was received by Guillaume Chevasson, head of the A220 Programme and chief executive officer of Airbus Canada, during the inspection, which formed part of the formal acceptance process ahead of the aircraft’s delivery.

Speaking on the significance of the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, said, “This pre-delivery inspection represents an important milestone in our fleet expansion programme and brings us one step closer to welcoming this aircraft to Nigeria.

“As demand for air travel continues to grow across our markets, we remain focused on investing in modern aircraft that deliver superior operational efficiency, reliability, safety, and passenger comfort.

“The Airbus A220 continues to be the ideal aircraft for our network strategy, and we look forward to deploying this latest addition into our network in furtherance of our growth objectives.”

Eno speaks of govt’s commitment to Ibom Air’s growth

Commenting on the development, Governor Eno, said, “The inspection of this aircraft reflects the state government’s commitment to the continued growth of Ibom Air as a strategic asset for Akwa Ibom State. This investment aligns with the ARISE Agenda and our vision of establishing Akwa Ibom as a leading aviation hub, supported by world-class infrastructure and a modern airline.

“We look forward to formally receiving this aircraft in Akwa Ibom State and to the economic opportunities that enhanced connectivity will create for trade, tourism, investment, and regional development.”

Speaking on the partnership with Ibom Air, Mr Chevasson said they were honoured by Ibom Air’s trust in Airbus and the A220 family.

“The A220 is the ideal aircraft for the airline’s fleet modernisation, thanks to its exceptional operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and performance across domestic and regional networks, and we look forward to supporting Ibom Air’s continued growth for many years to come,” he said.

The aircraft also incorporates features that further support Ibom Air’s commitment to continuous improvement in operational capability, efficiency, and customer experience.

Upon completion of the delivery processes, the aircraft will be ferried to Nigeria, where it will be officially received into the Ibom Air fleet in Akwa Ibom before commencing commercial operations.