Business
What You Should Know About Boats Building And Why It’s Profitable

For thousands of years, people have been using boats as a means of traveling, trading, and even for sports on water.
But how are boats built? What are the raw materials and tools for building boats? Again, how long does it take to build a boat, and what of the apprenticeship scheme?
Mr AGOSU MATTHEW, a local boat (also called canoe) builder at Badore waterfronts fishermen’s settlement, Ajah Town in Lagos State, shares the answers with our Editor, Franklin Ocheneyi.
Happy reading:
Tell our readers about yourself.
My name is Agosu Matthew. I am a skilled boat builder. What motivated you to go into building boats?
First, I started as a fisherman. As time passed, I thought deeply about what else I could do to enhance my income from the fishing business.
I consulted with some of my co-fishermen. They advised that I go into boat building, which is an extension of the business.
How long have you been building boats?
I started 25 years ago.
It took me 14 years to acquire the skills, up to 2013, when I graduated from my master.
What are the tools for boat building?
The traditional tools include hammer hammer, axe, nails, Cutlass, and scissors, etc.
What about the woods?
We use the following woods: Opepe, Eru, Agboin, Afara, and parateru
Where do you get these woods?
Makoko at Lagos Island, and Itamagba sawmills market at Ikorodu.
How many pieces of wood make a boat?
It depends on the size of the boat.
For a big boat with 8-10 passenger capacity, we use about twelve pieces of wood.
The small boat takes between 6-7 pieces of wood.
How long does it take to build a boat?

∆ Mr Agosu Matthew at work with his apprentice.
Again, it depends on the size of the Canoe.
Big boat takes up to two weeks if it’s only me working on it without the support of my apprentices, and if I don’t allow other things to distract me from the work.
However, if I have enough hands, it makes the construction faster and the work can be done in seven days.
What are the challenges of the business?
There are many challenges. One of them is getting the modern tools.
I rent those tools we don’t have and because of the pressure to return them within a specific hours, it slows down the pace of the construction and the timely delivery of the project.
Nevertheless, with the introduction of modern tools, the training patterns have changed. So, if an apprentice is humble, focused, brainy, and sharp, he can use four years to acquire the skills.
How is the boat market, in terms of patronage?

∆ An aerial view of the community/ Ohi baba.com image.
People come to buy, or place orders when their boats is spoiling.
These locally made boats last for five years before spoiling.
Sometimes, we sell two boats in a month. The price of a boat is costly. We sell the big boat at N500 thousand, while the small one goes for N300 thousand.
How long does it take to learn the work?
As I said earlier, it took me 14 years to learn under my Master’s.
It took me that long because I had no financial support from anyone.
Nevertheless, with the introduction of modern tools, the training patterns have changed. So, if an apprentice is humble, focused, brainy, and sharp, he can use four years to acquire the skills.
Last, do you have an association for boat builders?
Yes; we have an association at Ikorodu. I belonged to the association ( That’s my membership ID card). The association has a lawyer, and if any challenge should arise, our chairman is the first person to know.
Business
CBN approves Union Bank, Titan merger
The bank has assured customers that there will be no disruption to existing services, account details will remain unchanged, and customers will continue to access a full suite of products and services seamlessly.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the merger of Union Bank of Nigeria with Titan Trust Bank Limited,.
This is disclosed in a statement from the bank’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilayo Aluko.
Under the terms of the merger, Union Bank has fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operations and assets.
The new institution will continue to operate under the Union Bank brand, while Titan Trust Bank ceases to exist as a separate entity.
With an expanded footprint of over 293 service centres and 937 ATMs nationwide, supported by strengthened digital channels, Union Bank is poised to deliver enhanced value across retail, SME and corporate segments.
Union Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yetunde Oni, described the development as “a pivotal moment in our 108-year journey and a launchpad for delivering greater value to our customers.
By blending stability with innovation, we are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of Nigerians and to be their most trusted financial partner.”
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bayo Adeleke, added: “This is a new era of growth, collaboration, and shared prosperity. By bringing together the strengths of both institutions, we are committed to creating lasting value for our customers, shareholders, and communities while advancing Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda.”
The bank has assured customers that there will be no disruption to existing services, account details will remain unchanged, and customers will continue to access a full suite of products and services seamlessly, with an accelerated push towards enhanced digital solutions.
Business
We are under attack – NNPCL GCEO, Ojulari

Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has announced that he and his management team are currently under serious threat.
Ojulari said his offense is the reforms he has introduced in the oil and gas sector in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu to turn around the moribund refinery.
He raised this alarm on Thursday, lamenting that some powerful elements are plotting to remove him from the seat.
The NNPCL boss raised the alarm when he received the delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, at the company’s headquarters, Abuja.
Details shortly…
Business
Govt, stakeholders to explore industrial policy at W’Africa Manufacturing summit
The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.

•The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh
The Federal Government has committed to exploring strategies for implementing the new National Industrial Policy to scale industries and transform West Africa’s economic future, alongside manufacturing stakeholders at an upcoming summit.
The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.
The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, at a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos, declared that Nigeria will build its industrial policy on past executive orders targeted at promoting local content, but with a stronger push through the Nigeria First policy.
He said, “The previous administrations have tried to enable industrial growth by coming up with various executive orders.
Those include Executive Orders Three and Five, which were targeted at matters about public procurement and giving priority to Nigerian-made goods.
With the announcement of the Nigeria First policy, what becomes of it will be a function of what this administration does.”
Enoh noted that the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment would follow up on the policy with a nationwide campaign to promote patronage of Nigerian goods and services.
He explained, “The hope is that in the next few months, we’re going to start a national campaign on buying made-in-Nigeria goods and services to follow up the presidential pronouncement of the Nigeria First policy.
We found out that the country could earn about N3tn more in the short term if we can run a successful campaign that can also shift the attitudes of Nigerians.
(The Punch)
-
News2 days ago
IGP Egbetokun Pays Condolence Visit to Arase’s Family
-
Crime1 day ago
BREAKING: Finnish court sentences Simon Ekpa to six years in prison for terrorism
-
Politics1 day ago
El-Rufai: One-term presidency Not Enough
-
News1 day ago
FCT Head Of Service Grace Adayilo is Dead
-
Crime1 day ago
Lagos Cracks Down on Waste Violators Following Residents’ Complaints
-
News2 days ago
BREAKING: Former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase is Dead
-
Health24 hours ago
Why Do People Collapse And Die?
-
Crime4 hours ago
Seven Cult Suspects Arrested in Akwa Ibom with Human Skull