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.
Nigeria’s inflation dropped to 23.7 percent in April, from 24.23 percent in March 2025.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this in its April Consumer Price Index and inflation data released on Thursday.
The figure showed that Nigeria’s inflation cooled off by 1.86 percent on a month-on-month basis.
Similarly, the food inflation rate in April stood at 21.26 percent.
“In April 2025, the headline inflation rate eased to 23.71 percent relative to the March 2025 headline inflation rate of 24.23 percent.
“The MoM headline inflation rate in April 2025 was 1.86 percent.
The food inflation rate was 21.26 percent (YoY),” NBS wrote on its X account on Thursday.
The latest CPI data comes ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting slated for May 19 and 20, 2025.
Recall that Nigeria’s inflation rose to 24.23 percent in March for the first time after CPI rebase in January 2025.
In February, the CBN MPC paused interest rate hikes after inflation dropped.
Business
Lagos Attracts $200m Investment from Abu Dhabi -Ambrose-Medebem
The investment is also aimed at boosting ICT innovation and healthcare facilities.
Lagos State Government said it has attracted over $200 million in partnership deal with the Abu Dhabi Ports aimed at developing critical infrastructure and logistics within the Lekki corridor.
The investment is also aimed at boosting ICT innovation and healthcare facilities.
The State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, said this during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the 2nd year in office of the second term of the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Alausa, Ikeja.
The State government recently held a roundtable investment forum as part of measures to boost its economy.
The Commissioner revealed that, “As a result of the Lagos Investment Roundtable, numerous Expressions of Interest from local and foreign investors are under active discussion.”
Business
Nigeria First Policy: Customs Championing Made-in-Nigeria Vehicles Procurements
In terms of aesthetics, I am satisfied with what I see here. In terms of functionality, we have been assured by the manufacturers that the vehicles are quite efficient.”
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi has assured members of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) that the Service would champion the procurements of locally assembled vehicles from the auto manufacturers inline with the government’s Nigeria First Policy Directive.
CGC Adeniyi gave the assurance when he inspected vehicles produced by members of the Nigeria Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) at the Service’s headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
After the inspection, the CGC commended the association for turning up in full strength and expressed satisfaction with the quality of the vehicles.
He remarked, “In terms of aesthetics, I am satisfied with what I see here. In terms of functionality, we have been assured by the manufacturers that the vehicles are quite efficient.”
“What gives me joy is that in all the vehicles I have seen today, there is an imprint of Nigeria, which shows that they are fully assembled here. It gives me joy that Mr President’s policy is on the right course,” he added.
He further praised President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Nigeria First policy initiative in the automobile industry.
He pledged that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to patronise and support the sector for the growth and well-being of the nation’s industrial economy.
In response, Ilekuba Anslem Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Cedric Masters Group, commended the CGC for his unwavering support for the automobile industry.
Also, Oluwatobi Ajayi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nord Automobile Limited, praised the CGC.
“Even before this policy was announced, you had been championing made-in-Nigeria vehicles.
With Mr President’s announcement, we are confident that you will be the first CEO of a government parastatal to fully champion this policy,” he said.
He assured the CGC that the company would not abandon its vehicles after sales.Similarly, Jonas Ojukwu, a Director at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), assured the Nigeria Customs Service of the company’s commitment to delivering the best to the Service.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event included representatives from Mikano Motors Nigeria and Stallion Motors Nigeria.
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