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Minister of Works, Sen. Eng. Nweze David Umahi, has ordered the termination of the contract with Levant Construction Ltd. for the reconstruction of Benin-Sapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin—Imasabor), which is being executed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, due to non-performance.

A statement by the special adviser to the minister, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, said the decision was taken after a meeting with the chief executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd on 17 June 2025 in his office, Mabushi-Abuja, over the delay in the execution of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road project.

He said the minister of state for works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, and the directors of key departments were present at the meeting.

The minister expressed disapproval over Messrs Levant’s failure and/or neglect to live up to expectations in their contractual duties regarding the section of the road awarded to them.

He said, “We have three sections there. We have the Levant section. Unfortunately, Levant has not lived up to expectations. We even had to intervene and beg the Governor of Edo State to please get the worst sections of that route done. We divided the worst sections into two and told Levant to concentrate on one part.

“While the governor of Edo State intervened, which I think is about 23 kilometres for N35 billion, and that section the governor of Edo State intervened in is ongoing very well, Levant has since left the site. We gave them a series of warning letters. We also gave them the last termination notice.

When a termination notice is given to you, you have 14 days to go back to the site and begin to do those things you were not doing. This time is for them to remobilise to the site and for them to work, but they did not respond.”

Umahi, therefore, “directed the Permanent Secretary to get the job properly terminated and write them a letter for a joint measurement, and also to write their bank to request repayment of the APG, failing which the matter would be taken to the EFCC.”

According to the statement, the minister expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussion with SKECC Nigeria Ltd and Geld Construction Ltd regarding the need for them to step up work on the respective sections of the road project they are handling.

He commended the governors of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and Edo State, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, for their interventions on some kilometres of that road project.

“I have called the governor of Delta State, and I commend him for the very beautiful work he’s doing. Three flyovers at the same time, beautiful flyovers. In this country, we need such beauties. We have also learned from that design. So, we appealed to him to get any contractor within that zone to put in ten kilometres of reinforced concrete. He has agreed to do that. So, I commend him very highly, which means that the governor of Edo State is intervening in that section, and the governor of Delta State is intervening in that section. We are grateful to them,” he added.

The minister on the jobs by Messrs SKECC and Messrs Geld said, “SKECC has about one kilometre, which they started with milled asphalt. Yes, the money in the budget for SKECC within their own section, NNPC allocation, is exhausted. But we are pleading with them to go back and remedy this one kilometre, where they have milled the existing asphalt.”

For Messrs Geld, he said, “Geld has accepted to go back to their own section, and we’ve agreed to review their project to cater for the unforeseen circumstances that they encountered. So, they are going back to the site, and we’ve agreed to work very well with them. And we’re happy about that. And the second job they have, which is the Lokoja-Abuja Road, we’ve also agreed that they should go back to the site and review the project, because as of today, the asphalt cost is 9,000 per square meter, whereas asphalt is about 30,000 per square meter. So, they are going back to the site on trust, and we’re going to do that. And then you get to Itoki – Ikorodu Road, which is 34 kilometres. We’ve agreed with them on all the issues. They are going back to the site, and I thank Mr President for his interest in all the projects in the federation.”

Furthermore, Umahi, while reacting to statements by some groups who purport to speak on behalf of Northern elders, alleges that the Federal Ministry of Works is doing more projects in the South than in the North.

The minister debunked such impressions as false and misleading, noting that the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been consistently inclusive in implementing road and bridge projects across the six geopolitical zones, both in executing the inherited ongoing road projects and in distributing the Renewed Hope Road Legacy Projects.

He said, “In this ministry, we don’t count where anybody came from. We don’t count where projects are cited. We are using the example of Mr. President, who came on board. He took all the inherited projects of the ministry and continued to work on them. He didn’t want to know the lopsidedness of the projects. For example, this Tax Credit of NNPC is only 5% in South West and 4% in South East, Niger State has 26% alone. So, he didn’t want to care about where these inherited projects are. He had to, as a very unique leader, take over the entire thing, and he’s going on with them. And so we should stop looking at a project as it’s coming from the North, it’s coming from the South because the Southern people use the roads of the North, and the Northern people use the roads of the South. So, we should see ourselves as one people, one country, this is very important.”

He added, “They talked about Second Niger Bridge. They talked about Lagos-Ibadan. They said Lagos-Ibadan is ₦195 billion. What they didn’t know is that ₦195 billion is the total contract sum from the past administration, and that what this administration is putting to complete the project is only ₦33 billion. So, it’s not ₦195 billion. They talked about Second Niger Bridge. This section II A is ₦134 billion, and section II B is ₦174 billion. Now, if you look at the projects in the North, just to properly inform the people, you look at the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Sections I and III. It’s ₦252 billion. 30% is already paid for that job. And it’s being done with the same quality as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The job is ongoing. Section II is 164 kilometres, and it is ₦525 billion. And it’s being done with concrete, the same quality as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Mr. President has approved a 30% payment, which is ₦152 billion, and work is ongoing. You come and see the project that was awarded in March 2023, which is the Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna, a total of 750 kilometres, with an initial cost of ₦825 billion. That project is ongoing. There was no shovel on the project before we came on board. It’s Mr President who is doing the project. In the Sokoto axis, by August, CBC would have completed about 50 kilometres on the Continuously Reinforced Concrete, the same quality as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. We have the Mothercat. We have the Tracta. We have the Sectraco working, and major top companies are doing the project. We have the Zaria-Nkru project, which is 152 kilometres. That project is ongoing. We have a project that covers the BUA Tax Credit, which is 256 kilometers, and goes through Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina. It’s also under the BUA Tax Credit. We have the Kano Northern Bypass. That project is ongoing. We have Section L of Kano-Maiduguri, 100.9 kilometres by Tracta. That project is ongoing. We have the Dikwa project, which is 52 kilometres in Borno State. That project is ongoing under Dangote Tax Credit. You have the Bama project in Borno State, which is 49 kilometres away. That project is ongoing under Dangote Tax Credit. We have section V of the Kano – Maiduguri project being done by CCECC, which is ongoing. We have the fourth Renewed Hope Legacy Project of Mr. President, which is the Akwanga- Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Superhighway, 439 kilometres. We are completing the design at the directive of the President. It was on flexible pavement. The president said, “No, I want it double carriageway, three lanes each, concrete pavement. We have the Maraba-Keffi project, 43 kilometres by two, ₦73 billion by China Harbour. That project is ongoing. We have the Makurdi down to 9th mile Enugu, 260 kilometres by two, which is about a billion U.S. dollars project. That project is ongoing. We have the Manado project in Kebbi State. That project is ongoing. Time will fail me to read out the projects that Mr President is doing in the North and also in the South. So, when you look at the four legacy projects of the President, the North has 52%, and the South has 48%. Let me tell you something. People talk about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Yes, we procured Section I, which is ₦1.068 trillion; 30% has been paid. We procured Section II, which is the flyovers of Section I and Section II, passing through Dangote Refinery, passing through a swamp, which is about ₦1.6 trillion. Yes, we have procured Section III A and III B, which is the end of the project, in Akwa Ibom and Cross River, which is about ₦1.33 trillion. When you aggregate this thing, this is about 3 point something trillion Naira. But then you get to Kebbi, we have 258 kilometres of one carriageway, which we procured for about ₦958 billion, only one section. The second carriageway is going to the FEC. So, when you put the two together, you have about ₦2 trillion on the Kebbi axis alone. Then, Sokoto is 120 kilometres away, where my brother, the honourable minister of state for works, hails from. We’ve already procured ₦454 billion for the 120 kilometres. And by the time you procure the second one, you’re almost a trillion. So, the two together are about ₦3 trillion. It is done with the same quality as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The one coming from Cross River to Ebonyi, to Benue, to Kogi to Nasarawa, to Abuja, Section I has been procured which is ₦362 billion for 118 kilometers. It is being procured, and we are just reviewing it to include an additional 5 kilometres of road because of underlying factors. So, Mr. President is very committed. I’ve never seen such a unique President.”

Also responding to those criticising the pace of work on Eleme-Onne project, under Tax Credit project, he explained, “When we came on board, the total cost was ₦156 billion for 30 kilometers of the road, plus decompile towards Akwa Ibom section of the East West road, and then also a bridge at Aleto, and then four flyovers. One flyover has been started at refinery junction, and then Aleto Bridge is ongoing, very beautiful design, 80-meter span there, which is a beauty to behold. Let me say that the contractor, RCC, after the initial fight with them,they are behaving very well and doing beautiful work now. People were saying that we did not complete one carriageway. We’ve completed one carriageway. But they now say, “Oh, if you’ve completed, why are you doing asphalt on the same carriageway? If you go and check where we are doing asphalt on the same carriageway, you will find out that it is on the location of the flyover. We are not supposed to do that. But because we wanted a seamless traffic movement, we said, “Okay, come and do asphalt in those locations.”

The minister expressed commitment to the ministry’s mission of restoring Nigerians’ confidence in the road infrastructure nationwide and thus making the people appreciate the transformational power of Mr President’s renewed Hope administration.

Killings: PFN Urges Tinubu To Take Decisive Action

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to end the persistent killings and kidnappings in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of the country.

PFN president Bishop Francis Wale Oke described the situation in Benue State as a national tragedy and urged the federal government to intervene urgently and effectively.

Bishop Wale-Oke stressed the need for the government to reclaim territories allegedly taken over by terrorists and restore them to their rightful indigenous owners. He noted that the continuous attacks on innocent civilians had led to widespread displacement and trauma, especially in Benue State.

“The PFN sympathises with the Governor and people of Benue State over the relentless killings. We are deeply concerned about the alarming state of insecurity in the nation, with Benue being a critical flashpoint that has suffered for too long,” he said.

Faulting the current security architecture, the PFN President said a comprehensive overhaul was urgently needed.

“The current security system has failed us. Killings are taking place across the country, and the carnage has been relentless. What is happening in Benue is not a case of two parties fighting; it is an invasion by illegally armed bandits seeking to displace and dominate indigenous communities,” he stated.

The cleric further condemned the repeated attacks on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, describing them as “heinous acts” against vulnerable citizens who should have been under state protection.

“This is not about Benue people killing themselves. These are external invaders committing atrocities. If any state deserves a declaration of emergency, it is Benue,” he added.

While acknowledging President Tinubu’s recent directive for special security forces to move into Benue, Bishop Oke said the action appeared belated and insufficient given the scale of the crisis.

“It is not enough to visit as a ‘Mourner-in-Chief.’ The President must act with the full weight of his office and protect the lives and land of the Benue people. Treating this as internal conflict is misleading and dangerous,” he warned.

He also extended the PFN’s concerns to Plateau, Taraba, and other regions suffering similar attacks, urging the Federal Government to restore law and order across affected areas.

“The federal government owes Nigerians a duty to restore peace and security. We believe President Tinubu can handle the situation if he acts boldly and decisively,” Bishop Oke emphasised.

He called for credible, impartial leadership in the security sector, saying, “We cannot continue to ask the cat to watch over the meat. The time has come to appoint the right people responsible for protecting Nigerians.”

The PFN reiterated its prayers for the people of Benue, Plateau, and the nation at large and urged the presidency to take swift and genuine action.

Sen. Imasuen Breaks Silence On Alleged US Disbarment, Denies Misconduct

The senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, has denied widespread online allegations claiming he was disbarred from practising law in the United States over a $150 million client fraud.

In a recent interview with Arise TV, monitored in Benin, the Edo Senator dismissed the claims as “completely false,” clarifying that his disbarment in New York was not connected to any criminal misconduct or theft, but stemmed from a civil issue rooted in alleged negligence.

Reports circulating online had alleged that Imasuen was disbarred by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010 following a petition by one Daphne Slyfield, an American who accused the senator of collecting legal fees and failing to represent him in court.

However, Imasuen explained that the matter was grossly misrepresented, attributing the incident to the unauthorized disposal of sensitive legal documents by his former landlord in Brooklyn during his vacation in Nigeria.

He said, “The landlord had permitted me to store the closed files in the subbasement of the office at 310 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. But while on vacation in Nigeria, without notifying me, the landlord proceeded to discard the closed files on the sidewalk for disposal.”

He said the discarded documents included confidential materials, which prompted a complaint to a local television station and subsequently drew the attention of the Bar Association. “The New York Bar retrieved the files, and upon my return, I offered a full explanation. But by then, proceedings had begun,” he said.

Imasuen stated that although he had grounds to appeal the Bar’s disciplinary action, he chose not to pursue it, citing his decision to move on from legal practice in the US.

“It’s a civil issue of negligence, not a criminal case. If you read the ruling, it clearly states there was no stealing or misconduct—just mishandling of files left by my landlord. The process of reinstatement is already ongoing,” he said.

Speaking on the issue, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, said the chamber had not debated on Senator Imasuen’s disbarment because such a report was not before it. He added that, “Again, there has not been any local, national or international report against the senator before us,” Mr Adaramodu, also a senator, said.

He continued: “You can ask for my personal opinion on that. But the opinion of the Senate is that something that’s not before us, we cannot just go to plenary and start debating or talking about it.”

He suggested that the disbarment was immaterial given that Mr Imasuen is “a Nigerian senator, not an American senator.”

Dismissing rumours that he is barred from entering the United States, Senator Imasuen said he recently returned from a three-and-a-half-week visit to the country.

Do Not Allow Your Certificate To Limit Your Future, UI VC Tells Students

The vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has charged students of the institution not to allow their certificates to limit them in the future.

He gave the charge at a one-day sensitisation workshop themed: “Unlocking your Entrepreneurial Potential” organised by the university’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

In an address entitled “Igniting the Spark”, Adebowale acknowledged that, “we live in a world characterised by rapid technological change, dynamic economic landscapes, and evolving global challenges”.

He noted that traditional career paths, while still valuable, were no longer the sole avenues for success and societal impact, and he disclosed that Nigeria, and indeed Africa, face the critical challenge of youth unemployment.

The VC, therefore, stated that the solution does not lie merely in seeking existing jobs, but in creating them, stressing that this is where entrepreneurship and innovation become essential survival skills and powerful engines for national development.

He said the University of Ibadan, as Nigeria’s Premier University, has a sacred duty that transcends the dissemination of knowledge, reiterating that the university is tasked with moulding solution-finders, job creators, and societal transformers.

The vice chancellor explained that the purpose of establishing the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was not for it to be just another administrative unit but a unit focused on embedding an entrepreneurial spirit within the University of Ibadan’s DNA.

He said CEI is the hub where theoretical knowledge converges with practical application, ideas are nurtured, prototypes are developed, and viable businesses are birthed.

Adebowale restated that the sensitisation program would awaken the participants’ entrepreneurial consciousness, emphasising that it would shift their mindsets from “Can I get a job?” to “What problem can I solve?” and “How can I build something meaningful?”

He commended the director of CEI, Professor Sherifat A. Aboaba, for organising the sensitisation programme, asserting that it is the first step for the students towards self-discovery, economic empowerment, and meaningful contribution to our nation’s development.

Earlier, Aboaba stated that students need to think beyond their certificates, encouraging participants to explore the entrepreneurial dimension of their courses of study.

200 Security Agents Killed In South East – DSS Witness

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja l, has heard how between 170 and 200 security agents in the South East lost their lives due to the activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The court was also told that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) did not issue a license to detained self-acclaimed IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to import the radio transmitter he allegedly smuggled into the country to operate Radio Biafra.

On Wednesday, during the continuation of his trial in court, a Department of State Services (DSS) official testified as the fourth prosecution witness.

The witness, led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the court that one ESN member he identified as Uzuoma Benjamin, aka Onye Army, spoke about how they allegedly received directives from Kanu to kill security agents and ensure that a deceased member of the group, Ikonso, was buried with 2000 human heads.

The DSS official said further investigation revealed that of the 2000 human heads sought to bury Ikonso, only 30 were eventually sourced.

He also gave details of how the late former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was killed on May 30, 2021, in Owerri, Imo State.

The witness also read where the said Onye Army claimed that he and other members of his group used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for their protection.

He said investigation revealed that Kanu directed the invasion of Owerri prison by IPOB members in one of his broadcasts for his followers to attack and kill security operatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The witness said shortly after he and his team members recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, and brought it to Abuja, the DSS wrote to the NBC to inspect it.

The witness told the court that on November 9, 2015, NBC sent an Engineer who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.

Awomolo then tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment of the radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.

The witness was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did. He said the report indicated that the transmitter was German-made and that it was indeed a radio transmitter made for use on the FM frequency.

The witness said the report also stated that such a transmitter could only be procured and installed after a licence was issued and that the NBC has not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.

The DSS official added that his team’s investigation revealed that to operate a radio station in the country, one must apply to a regulator, who will issue a licence after due clearance by relevant security agencies.

The witness said, “In this case (Kanu’s case), there was no application from the defendant; he brought the transmitter in illegally without approval.”

He also said the investigation confirmed that the defendant is the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of Benjamin Madubugu.

The witness said Kanu later came into the country, inspected the transmitter, and made a video to satisfy members of the IPOB, who contributed money for its purchase.

He also read from some publications of the Vanguard newspaper, where it was reported that an arrested commander of ESN confessed to his group’s activities.

He said that when the DSS requested from the police to access Onye Army, the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

He said during one of DSS’ agents’ raids of ESN members’ hideout, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.

“We could not find Onye Army. The police said he had escaped from custody.”

He said there are records about the number of security agents allegedly killed in the South East and that the number stands between 170 and 200.

The witness who said two DSS officials, including his driver, were among the victims, said the cut across all security agencies.

On how the ESN members operate, the witness said they are combatants, who carry arms and attack the homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region

He said that because they lacked sufficient operational tools, they sometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijacked vehicles for their operation.

The witness identified some public property which he said IPOB and ESN members attacked and destroyed in the South East, including police stations.

On how Gulak died, the witness said he was among the first responders to the scene where the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed and his corpse recovered.

He said that on May 30, 2021, there was a total breakdown of law and order as a result of the stay-at-home order declared by the defendant through one of his broadcasts.

The witness said later that day, one of his officers informed him that a prominent politician was killed around Obiagwu and that when they got to the spot, they saw what happened.

He said the divisional police officer (DPO) in the area told him that Gulak was in a hired cab when he was killed by some members of IPOB.

The witness said the driver told him that they were heading to the airport from Owerri town when they saw a checkpoint mounted by men of the Nigerian Air Force, who were preventing people from accessing the airport. They decided to take another route, where they ran into a checkpoint by IPOB members.

He added that the driver further said the IPOB members ordered the three of them in the car to disembark, and demanded to know their tribes.

He said the driver told him he introduced himself as an Igbo person, and that Gulak also said he was an Igbo man. But while he (the driver) could speak the Igbo language when they were asked to speak in Igbo, Gulak could not. Following this, they asked him to remove his cap and saw a Muslim prayer mark on his forehead.

The witness said the driver added that upon seeing the prayer mark, one of the IPOB members said “he is one of them,” following which they shot and killed him.

The DSS official, who said he served in Imo State between 2019 and 2023, told the court that the deceased’s corpse was evacuated from the spot where he was killed in his (the witness’s) car.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness said there is no record of the importation of the transmitter Kanu is said to have smuggled into the country.

He could not say when the transmitter was brought into the country, but he was among those who located where it was kept in Anambra State and brought it to the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

The witness explained how they were able to locate the transmitter. His team used equipment to analyse a video (showing Kanu inspecting the transmitter) to ascertain its location in Anambra.

He said he had not encountered the names Benka Clearing and Forwarding and Chief Isaac Maduka during his investigation and was unaware that Benka had cleared the transmitter, as Ikpeazu claimed.

When asked if he was aware that Radio Biafra was registered in London and broadcast from there, the witness said that when Kanu was arrested in Lagos in 2016, he was arrested with his broadcast equipment.

He said he was not present when the defendant was arrested in Lagos and that all he said about his arrest in Lagos was what was relayed to him.

The witness said the two guns he found were not recovered in the container in which the transmitter was kept, but under Benjamin Madubugu’s mattress, who lived on the premises. He added that Madubugu was later charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

The witness said the container was brought into the country by one Igwe Anyiba, who was later found to be living outside the country.

The witness said he was not aware that the Imo State government issued a statement to the effect that Gulak’s killing was political.

At the conclusion of the cross-examination, the court discharged the witness, following which the judge, Justice James Omotosho, adjourned the hearing until Thursday for the prosecution to call its fifth witness.

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How to Start a Smoked Fish business

Networking isn't just about making connections – it's about building relationships that can open doors to opportunities, collaborations, and growth. Here are some key tips for mastering networking within the Nigerian business community:

Strategic Event Attendance: Choose networking events wisely, focusing on those that align with your industry, interests, and goals. Look for conferences, seminars, trade shows, and industry-specific gatherings where you're likely to meet like-minded professionals and potential collaborators.
Elevator Pitch Perfection: Craft a concise and compelling elevator pitch that succinctly communicates who you are, what you do, and what sets you apart. Practice delivering it confidently so that you can make a memorable impression in any networking setting.
Genuine Engagement: Approach networking with authenticity and a genuine interest in getting to know others. Ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and find common ground to foster meaningful connections. Remember, networking is about building relationships, not just collecting business cards.
Utilize Social Media: Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to expand your professional network and stay connected with industry peers. Share valuable insights, engage with relevant content, and participate in online discussions to establish your presence and credibility.
Follow Up Relentlessly: Don't let valuable connections slip through the cracks. Follow up promptly after networking events with personalized messages expressing gratitude for the conversation and expressing your interest in staying in touch. Offer value by sharing relevant resources or insights that demonstrate your expertise and willingness to contribute.
Give Before You Receive: Approach networking with a mindset of generosity and reciprocity. Look for ways to offer assistance, support, or valuable connections to others without expecting immediate returns. Building goodwill within your network can lead to unexpected opportunities down the line.
Diversify Your Network: Seek out networking opportunities beyond your immediate industry or circle. Embrace diversity in your connections, including professionals from different backgrounds, industries, and perspectives. A diverse network can offer fresh insights, innovative ideas, and new opportunities for collaboration.
Be Persistent and Patient: Building a robust network takes time and effort, so don't get discouraged by setbacks or slow progress. Stay persistent in your networking efforts, consistently showing up, following up, and nurturing relationships over time. The seeds you plant today may blossom into fruitful opportunities in the future.

One of the easiest and cheapest cottage agric businesses you can start without stress is a catfish smoking business.

There are several catfish farmers in Nigeria today, so getting catfish to smoke is not a problem. All you need to start this business is skill and determination.

You don’t have to be a catfish farmer, you might not even have an idea of how fish grows but you can make big money smoking fish for fish farmers.

This is a business for both fish farmers and non-fish farmers.

Smoking fish can be easy if you follow some basic steps.

The four basic steps in smoking fish are :cleaning, curing, smoking and drying.

Tips on smoking catfish

The first step in your fish smoking business is to obtain some fresh fish.

If it doesn’t look FRESH or smell FRESH or feel FRESH, it probably isn’t, and it will make your finished product taste bad.

Use fresh fish.
Smoking will not hide old fish. The quality will be reflected.

Catfish harvest is categorize into two namely; melange (unit weight between 300g-600g) and table size (600g-above),the price/kg of melange is sold for N600 and above N800 and above for table size as at today.

The pocket size of your target audience will determine the type in terms of size of fish to smoke.

After harvesting (as a farmer) or purchasing (as a non farmer) your fresh catfish, put them in a container and add a reasonable amount of cooking salt and cover the container with a lid and place a heavy object on the lid to prevent the fish from getting out of the container.

Leave for about 30 minutes after which all the fish must have been dead then you can start the steps mentioned above.
CLEANING

• clean fish, removing the gills and intestine.

• Wash in clean water.

BRINE AND CURE

what is brine? Basically, brine is salt and water.

Soaking the fish in brine will achieve a few things:

• It will firm up the flesh to be less mushy.

• It will draw out any old blood, which will improve the taste.

• It will add some saltiness to the fish in the right amounts; this is desired.

• It will add some additional flavoring to the fish.

• The cure will ensure that we are protected from the deadly botulism bacteria, especially since this is a relatively low temperature cooking environment.

(Brine recipe • 1/2 gallon good clean spring water • 3/4 cup kosher salt (or plain salt, but not iodized salt)

SMOKING AND DRYING
• Prepare smoker. Too much smoke will cause the fish to taste bitter. Use just enough wood to maintain a steady smoke. There are various kinds of oven. We shall discuss that in another article.

Click to read more https://catfishpreneur.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/how-to-start-a-smoked-fish-business/#:~:text=The%20four%20basic%20steps%20in,%2C%20curing%2C%20smoking%20and%20drying.&text=The%20first%20step%20in%20your,Use%20fresh%20fish.

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