A young entrepreneur describes how he was discouraged from starting a successful yam business in Lagos.
A Twitter user known as @irikefe_ogaga used the platform to describe how he came up with a business idea in 2014. Ogaga claims that yam costs N20 in Makurdi, Northern Nigeria, but sells for more than N200 in the South-West.
He devised a strategy and transported a full van of yam only to arrive in Lagos State and face a loss despite challenges encountered along the way.
In his words;
“2014 I went to Makurdi and bought tubers yam. Those huge ones were sold for 20 naira. I said it’s a gonna be nice to take to Lagos. That they sell yam for 200-300.
I was foolish sha, 🤣😂. Got that J5 van, loaded it with yam of like 40k. We headed to Lagos that night, oh boy..
There’s this agric tax force and police. Each check point is like 500 naira bribe. You Must Pay or else na wahala. Spent thousands of naira for police, finally got to Lagos and was asked to go to Jobowu that they’ll buy the yam. Lies 🤣.
Omo, they told me that they don’t buy yam From people who are not part of association 🤣🤣🤣 For me to sell yam I must be part of association.
Guy, where I wan our yam? They forced me to sell a give away price because I was not part of yam sellers association of Lagos. Huge loss coupled with risking my life. Never again.”
