₦airaland Forum

My dear lansha, be sure you are well-covered before you take the plunge o.

The truth is, you will have to know a bit of all. You must be a good trader to be a sucessful manufacturer.

The real challenge is that to be a manufacturer of any Fast Moving Consumer Goods 3(FMCG) you probably have to deal with NAFDAC. Setting up smallest NAFDAC standard factory will gulp millions.

The only product I am aware you can produce without worrying about NAFDAC is paints (emulsion,anti-rust etc)
If you do not have "enough or sufficient resources (Money inclusive), then it might be wise to start with trading or offering services and after savings and experience in those areas, you can launch into production.
The services are usually easier to set up than trading while trading are far easier than manufacturing.
FYI, Dangote started from trading cement before he went into
its manufacturing.

His knowledge of the distribution gave him an advantage when he started the cement production.

If you have enough money, you may simply go into beverages or even pure water.
Forget about competition, if the population is within ur areaa, all you need is a good truck and reliable staff.

I guess your request is a tall order because those who will do small quantity (1000units) like NICAPACKO in Ilupeju may not deliver in 2months! Those who can deliver within 2weeks like Tempo in Abeokuta may not do less than 30,000 units. Most small scale businesses are facing.
However, I know a small company that recycle old cartons to produce another one in Ifako-Gbagada. After the Deeper life church headquater in ifako. The carton factory is not far from UBA branch in Ifako. I don't know the street name but if you ask people in the neighbourhood they will direct you

Best of luck

Yes, within their communities

I feel you especially when things are not working as anticipated.
I suggest you narrow your choice of biz down to
A) Would you like to go into manufacturing / production of goods?
B) Would you prefer to go into trading(buying & selling)?
C) Would you like to offer services?
Which of these areas would you prefer to explore if you could have it your way?
Do you like marketing? Have you any experience in mktg? These questions will guide me to give you appropriate advice.
I was once like you, way back in 1997. Though, I eventually got the job with a computer firm in Ilupeju then. I soon realised I was not happy with the job, despite the pay I had to resign in 2001 to start my own business.
10 years after I am happy I took that decision. It has not been easy but I am always grateful to God for the grace whenever I meet some of my old colleagues still struggling with life.
Now, I have over 70 pple on my pay roll. I am not there yet because success is a journey not destination.
I cannot and will not offer you any help beyond the sharing of knowledge, it's left for you to turn the knowledge to money and be ready to make necessary sacrifices in financial discipline and management when the money start coming
Wish you best of luck

Send pictures to me too. Though, the clothing biz is meant for my wife. I need the pictures to convince her. She has issues in the past with finishing. Pls do try include prices of the items in the pictures to my mail box ddebayo@yahoo.com
By the way, are you based in Lagos? If not, where is ur location?

As long as the occupant of the office does not perform, he deserves all the insults he is getting even much more.
So, we should wait till he leaves ofiz before we can say our minds?
The truth of the matter is that you are simply not comfortable with pple calling GEJ names.
I think some of us are helping him by venting our frustrations about his administration through those names otherwise our bottled angers would have led to "Nigeria uprising" which may stil happen if he goes ahead to remove the fuel subsidy. Libyans kill their leader while in ofiz.
Worldwide public figures are treated in such manners especially when their policies are anti-people. A caricature of Obama was drawn in American newspaper looking like a monkey with very big ear lobes.
I simply can not be bothered with such issue more so, when his performance so far is the worst in history.
He seems not to be in-control at all.
With the way things are going,I wonder if Niger Deltans will be taken serious on leadership issues.

@hectorboss
You wonder if I have 3 square meal? Are you a Dangote apologist? How does my 3 square meal relates to the topic?

Un-cultured pple usually attack personality instead of addressing d issues.

FYI, I'm more than comfortable. I've over 100 pple on my pay-roll.

That should give you an idea of my status.
I decline to join issue with pple like & I will not respond to you anymore because it does not worth my while.

@kcswat & ur likes
FYI, I am not from d north and I will not support GEJ because he is from south. Only pple who use more of their hearts and less of their heads argue in this manner.

Who cares! I don't give a damn over who or where d president comes from. Any, I mean "any" nigerian who can perform and produce a demonstrable and visible results concerning nigerian economy,education, health, infrastructures etc.

What positive changes has GEJ brought to Niger Delta? Ogoni community and Shell are still in d news.

The fact that a Niger Deltan is the president may not necessarily translate to better life for Niger Deltans.

Most politicians do not put tribe into consideration.
Ask those from Niger Delta if they have seen any meaningful changes since GEJ got into power.

The yorubas had it worse during Obasanjo's admin.
Lagos state federal allocation was seized, Ota bridge was abandoned through out his 8yrs, it Yar'adua (from North!) that completed d bridge.

Politicians use tribe and religion when it suits them.

I for one, refuse to join those who are more interested in where you come from and your religion to determine their support for you.

Where is Merit in all these attitude of ours?
In all honesty, do you think GEJ has met ur expectations so far?

Have you got NAFDAC approval? Where is ur factory located?

Whiz or any other oil treatment cannot help ur smoking vehicle. Oil treatment is meant to prolong a good engine not an engine already on its way to d junkyard.your best bet is to either overhaul your engine or replace d engine PERIOD!

While I'd like to thank every contributor so far.
Certain issues stands out. Namely
1, MONUMENTAL CORRUPTION in High Places
2,GLARING INEFICIENCIES & Obviously weak but overwhelmed leadership who appears to be a puppet in d hands of the Cabals who seem to have donated towards electionb and have to recover their "investment" one way or d other.
For me therefore, with or without d subsidy, nothing will change for the better except we can get rid of these present crops of leaders who do not seem to give a hoot about Nigerians.

It is amazing how people react to criticism. I don't attack or insult personality. I focus on issues. Samuel Gbemiga have confirmed my suspicion that he is out to sell his manuals.

There are so many of them all over both on-line and off-line. All they give you are a few pages of impracticable instructions. Calling me an "agbero or conductor" over a non-issue, shows ur level of decency.

I have bought some useless manuals in d past from so called experts that turned out to be a fraud and I'm sure that I'm not alone. Many more Pple must have gone through similar manual experts.

I guess it's because nairaland is an all comers forum. Therefore,all shades of people will sure be represented.
However,you claim to have done d biz for some years, are you still doing it or you have left d biz? If you are still doing It,then let us.

Disclose your present biz location and offer practical training to people not mere manuals!
If you are not in the biz again, then we would love to know why you left the biz.

Now, to those who are interested in d biz and are based in lagos, I'll suggest you pay a visit to berger-cement in apapa.That's where over 60% of dealers and distributors operate from. You can start from marketing other established distributors for a profit sharing.That is, you get the buyer, d distributor finances the biz and you share d proceeds on agreed ratio.

I know a once-jobless graduate who has been successful through this model. He is now an established distributor. Aliko Dangote also started through dis same model(those who are old enough to know about Udoji award in the late 70's when there was housing boom)

If you want more details about doing the cement biz send me a mail on ddebayo@yahoo.com
I 'd do my best to help anyone free of charge.

I deal with most of these dealers because I am involve in d construction industry from time to time and we buy in trailers and from their comments when they come to market us or supply, I know it's not as rosy as some people would want us to believe.

You will make more money if you have good contacts with construction firms than average dealer.
If you go to apapa, you will see some trailers already paid for and loaded waiting for buyers. Instead of paying to Burham or Dangote and wait for about 4days to load your trailer, you can either buy off the loaded trailer at a good margin or you let the dealer be the investor while you bring the market.

If you get involve in d biz proper within 3months,you would have known more than enough to start full trailer on ur own.

I will continue state that a few pages of manuals will never be enough to start a serious biz as this.

While I want to appreciate the efforts of people like Dangote and his likes for investing heavily in d domestic economy thereby creating employments for thousands of Nigerians and foreigners alike. His case is better than the Military juntas(like Abacha) and politicians who stole and are still stealing billions to help other economies that are far better than Nigeria.

Having said that, the poster has some merits in his argument. Dangote's success has been largely fuelled by his very close relationship with the central govt especially since 1999.

From  June 12 political deadlock up until 1999, business was not too bouyant for most businesses in including his. But after Obasanjo was sworn in,remember the N130million campaign fund donation which was reportedly traced to Dangote.

Someone was comparing what obtains in United States with Nigeria using Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as an example. Given the degree of corruption here,it's very difficult though not impossible for a greenhorn to take on someone like Dangote in business competition.
Have you heard about Union Dicon Salt Plc?
It's a fact that an average bizman all over the world hates competition but when d govt "might" is used to the detriment of competitors and the nigerians at large, it calls for concern.
In sugar, rice, salt, cement etc he is a dominant factor.
But for Yar'adua, Dangote and Otedola would have bought the refineries through the back door.It was Umar Musa Yar'adua that cancelled most of the deals
Likewise, there were allegations of his involvement and  in some unethical activities in stock market which were eventually swept under the carpet. Most collective. Assets of Nigerians have been sold to these handful individuals  including Dangote,Jimoh Ibrahim,Femi Otedola etc for peanuts by Obasanjo's administration. The recent revelations on BPE activities confirmed it and these moneybags give the impression of working hard for
every dime they earn.
We know why Nigeria is not making progress. It all boils down to corruption between the so called business class and Politicians.
Want evidence? Just look around you, what do you see?

I'd like to support Ricky_Ross on this.
It's often said that "no one can take your self-esteem from you except with your permission.
By d law of supply and demands,anything over supplied will comand less value & must be cheap same goes for labour.
It's partly govt fault and largely individual decision.
As long as nigerians are ready to accept anything from the chinese and indians without raising eyebrows then nothing will change.
There are human right lawyers who can make life miserable for such employers but without people ready to fight it nothing will change.
Secondly, a large number of pple working for these people engage in all sorts of stealing.
For instance, I live in mile 12 where CCECC is constructing a road and on a daily basis, truck drivers sell diesel in 50ltr jerrycan everyday.
I am also an employer, some staff are notoriously dangerous! They can steal anything

There are 4 reasons I can adduce for this.
1,  Corruption
2,  Visionless leadership. ( Who cannot see beyond Crude oil proceeds)
3, Poor govt policies on agric, lack of enabling environment etc
When we have good and selfless leaders at all levels of govt, perhaps things will change for the better

No one can please d world. Of all creatures of God, humans are d most difficult to please. Sanusi is arguably, one of the few high ranking govt officials who have said anything close to the truth in a long while.
Most of his critics are using more of their hearts (emotions) than their brains (logic) perhaps because of the Islamic Banking bro ha ha.
Ask most people who voted for GEJ in April what they think of him now. Most say "It was a mistake to have voted for an unfocused and directionless leader despite the fact that he has been in power for the past five yrs both as vice president for 2 & half years and as president who completed yar'adua's term and have started another term that he is planning to turn to seven year term now.
So far, what we have seen about his administration is all motion without movement.
Madam Okonjo is here to perform d magic when IMF and World Bank have failed to help the European Union and the global recession.
They believe the solution to Nigeria's problem is d removal of fuel subsidy.
The truth is bitter to swallow

Unimaginable suffering

@ abbey2
Well,I do not see anything wrong with people expressing their frustration on d corrupt and inefficient govt and its anti-people policies thru nairaland platform. In fact,I will even urge protests and demonstrations similar to that of Egypt. It took d likes of Egypt 32 yrs and Libya 42 yrs to take their collective destiny in their hands. Who knows,  Subsidy removal may be the catalyst to get rid of these greedy and self-centered politicians at all levels!


To d subject matter, Nigerians need to know why we spend over 75% of our budget on salaries and overheads of politicians?
Why is it easier for  governors to steal billions and go scot-free than for an average worker to get N18k minimum wage?
Why has refineries not work?
Why has govt refuse to name d so called "Cabal" in d fuel importation deals?
Why has price of diesel not come down? I know that diesel can be sold below N100 at present but the "Cartel" will frustrate anyone who attempt to do so
The only reason is because of the monumental corruption of those in govt and their cronies.
Let no one be deceived. Those collecting d oil subsidy from govt have always been in d corridors of power. Most have been former ministers,ex vice-presidents and ex-presidents. The (PIGs) Parasites in Govt are so powerfull that they will always find a way to make money off the govt perhaps thru shady contract. They have Oil block allocations,Oil importation licenses, Refinery licences.Some of them even get Juicy road contracts awarded to them over 2yrs ago while innocent people are loosing their lives everyday.Lagos-Ibadan is an example.
From all indication,GEJ does not look like someone who can challenge these "Cabal".
Nigerians are d only one who can stop this madness. Untill we take them to the claeners nothing will change.
Let those of us who want to a just and better Nigeria begins to organise and prepare our minds for the eventualities.
Few people started Tunisian and Egyptian revolution.
Likewise, we do not need 100million Nigerians to make impact.
Politicians believe nigerians are too docile to challenge them, only time will tell whether they are right or wrong.Heaven help those who help themselves not those who can lament the most.
Enough of talking, let's start taking action

@Dupsy,
it's very obvious from your responses that you've already bought into d idea of Pyramid Marketing before seeking our opinion.

However, my response so far is meant for d benefit of fellow forum members who may be seeking similar but genuine advice.

By now, I expect you to have collected ur first or second millions. As they say in lifeplus ''pakam''.

Do not keep silent, let us know learn from your story. Who knows, some of us may change our mind/opinion about d scheme

i'm eagerly waiting to hear from you

To be candid, setting up a factory of whatever size in Nigeria is not a child's play or for d faint-hearted but it could be rewarding.

The major challenge is to ensure you concentrate on industries where you can substitute more labour for machineries.

In my case, we have improvised our production system by doing most jobs requiring d use of heavy power whenever phcn is on or put d bigger power generating set on for d first 3hrs and settle for d very smaller gen to light up d factory and put on a few fans.

In as much as i don't believe anything good can come out of these present sets of politicians, i nonetheless refuse to give up on Nigeria.

My company employs over 60 staff directly who who are equally worried about this country.we all cannot continue to help other nations enrich their population by our insatiable preference for importation.

Have you ever wondered why d Lebanese, Chinese and Indias are expanding their factories in Nigeria despite these challenges?
Go to most industrial areas in Lagos-Matori, Ilupeju, Oregun etc they are their smiling to d banks
The answer is simple, they concentrate in those products with low price and mass appeal-PERIOD! An Indian friend once told me that Nigeria is a goldmine! Said in d midst of crises, there are usually enoumous opportunities for those who can think outside d box

Despite d challenges we have in my existing factory, i'm thinking of setting up a beverage factory in ikorodu, infact, NAFDAC representatives have visited d place, we are in d process of getting d NAFDAC Approval so that we can start before d coming december season.

Thereafter, i hope to go into packaging like nylons (polybags,toromagbe, orebe etc)

For instance, because there is no portable water even in a city like lagos, ''pure & bottled water'' producers have sprung up everywhere to fill d gap, while some are lamenting about lack of drinkable water, others are smilling to d banks.

D real choice lie in each one of us. The stupid/wise decisions we take now will affect our future one way or d other just like d stupid decisions of our leaders in d past are affecting us today.

We are into liquid products packaging, based in Lagos, we need plastic moulds of different sizes and shapes (preferrably foreign moulds) in 1litre,
2 litre and 4litre urgently. If anyone in d house has any (already produced design of 1 or 4ltr) to sell, you can contact me below

Better still, if you are into mould production or you know any reliable firm in china ,india or any part of asia that is good in the mould making business, pls do contact me on 08189812914 or ddebayo@yahoo.com

Any genuine help within and outside Nigeria will be appreciated.

I have studied d process involve in charcoal exportation business, my conclusion is that d business is not eco-friendly.

For every tree cut down to produce d charcoal none is re-planted. These charcoal dealers keep moving further into d hinterland when all d trees in a particular location has been felled.

In a sane society, such indiscriminate felling of trees is illegal and people do go to jail for cutting trees but what do u have here?

Jungle society, people care-less about enviroment and its impacts on others as long as they can make money from d situation.

Whoever in doubt should go to oyo state - Akomu precisely after oyo town as see d devastating impacts of charcoal business.

Ignorance and poverty combined have made it difficult for both community leaders and local govt authorities to see d dangers ahead.
Those countries demanding for charcoal have more trees than us but they'd rather preserve theirs and encourage us to cut down ours for how much? Peanut!

For me, I'd rather export other products that are friendly to d environment than to destroy the eco system for generations to come. What about you? Let's be friendly to our environment, it is easier to destroy than to build. An iroko tree that's been in existence for fifty years could be brought down in few minutes!
Let's resolve to leave d world better than we met it.
Thank you all and Godbless

@globexi
Are you an active exporter to North America? What kind of items do you export at present?

How long have you been doing it? If it is so profitable that one can make 277% profit then, I won't be suprised to know that you're stinkingly rich already.

Anyway, pls show us d way o.

On a serious note, d biggest challenge is getting a reliable and honest foreign buyers

@baabaa
I don't know if d poster is talking about nylon making extruder but I am interested in going into both low and high density nylon production.
Any expert opinions will be appreciated

It is doubtful if this samuel gbemiga guy is truly a graduate.

But that is not even the issue,my worry is that he is merely out to sell manuals.

I challenge him to state and give detailed experience he has acquired in cement or oil biz.
In Nigeria, people who have never done any successful business will present themselves as experts and consultants.
Cement distribution business is not as lucrative as most people think. It all depends on how much sales you can make. If you sell in trucks (600bags), you can't make more than N50 per bag because of competition.
You may not even sell more than a truck in a month. Some building contractor may not pay on time.
If you sell per bag, your margin may be better depending on your location but it will take a while to dispose.
For whoever wish to go into any biz, pls seek out the opinions of people who are actively engaged in d biz not seminar or manual experts.
It is true that not everyone will be willing to assist but one out of every five people you talk to will help you

I always discourage people from mentioning d amount they have. It creates distractions and so many scammers gets attracted.
Ideas rule d world not money an when you have good saleable ideas people will offer you money

It's a tight one but I believe with determination you can do well even with as little as N20k

But you must b prepared to start small.

Now, given d capital limitation you may need to consider goods that are in high demands.

Such as computer & printer consumables, office stationeries that could b supplied to offices, u can also engage in sales of 1st grade but second-hand materials (clothes, shoes, kiddies wears etc)

You can also go into independent marketing of other companies' products for a commision till you can grow ur capital
Wish you all d best