BusinessDay 22 Oct 2017

Sunday 22 October 2017
BD SUNDAY 43
Hang Out With BDSUNDAY
We spent our profits to buy diesel,
says Chukwuma, Lekki bar owner
PAUL CHUKWUMA is the Managing Director of Trentinos Restaurant and Bar Limited, located at No 45B, Adebayo Doherty Road,
lekki phase 1. He shares his thoughts on bar and restaurant business in Lagos with NATHANIEL AKHIGBE.
What can
you tell us
about the
potential
of Nigeria’s
night life and its challenges?
The night life in Nigeria
has tripped when compared
to what it was in the past
years. I think largely because
of the hustle around in the
country now. So everyone
take to night out. And what
you should know now is that
most business transactions
nowadays are all negotiated at
night and closed in the office.
So, if you are a contractor and
you do not hang out at night
then you may not know how
deals that you submitted quotations
are being closed. This
is the major reason you see
people going into our kind of
business now.
However, there are some
challenges to night life which
is also common to our everyday
life. You may hear cases
where people are been followed
to their homes which
sometimes resulted to loss
of some valuables to armed
men. There are cases of people
sleeping on the wheel and so
on. But this have not affected
night life, rather it brought
about hanging out around
your domain.
What are the challenges
confronting you in this business
and what do you think
can be done by whom it may
concern to alleviate it?
We face a major challenge
here like any other business
will. Most challenges confronting
the hospitality industry
in Nigeria is basically
the high cost of operations.
Another important issue in
this business is power supply.
So, to set up this kind of business
you must think of 50 to
100kva generator and diesel.
And because of the present
situation in the power sector,
we almost spend all our profit
in buying diesel. Another
important challenge is the
government policies. You hear
consumption tax, VAT and all
of that without government
support to the industry in
terms providing basic amenities
such as: water, electricity
and good road. They do not
even allow the business to
Paul Chukwuma
commence properly before
asking for tax. Government
should help the industry by
resolving these issues.
In your experience in the
bar sector, how would you
describe the drinking level
of Nigerians?
Taking about the level of alcohol
consumption in Nigeria
at this time is vital; because I
had thought that due to the so
called hardship witnessed by
Restaurant and Bar Limited
several Nigerians following
economic recession under the
present administration the
level of alcohol intake will
drop. But it is surprising to
me that both Nigeria Breweries
PLC and Guinness Nigeria
PLC recorded a very high sales
turnover. This shows that
people in this part of the world
takes to alcohol consumption
in all situations. Whether it is
bad or good boys must drink.
That is the situation now in
the Nigeria.
Despite Nigeria’s huge alcohol
market, big brands like
Hennessey, Jack Daniels don’t
have production plants in Nigeria,
what are the economic
implications of this scenario
to Nigeria?
What you are asking is
suppose to happen by default.
I think the only thing that
is depriving us is power because
when you are opening
a business, you are looking at
the market, you are looking
at the raw materials, and you
are looking at closeness to the
market. Nigeria is a very huge
market for big products like
Hennessy, Jack Daniels and
others, but you find out that
the owners do not have their
production plants here. What
I mentioned earlier is also
part of the problem. The cost
of production is very high. So
the owners of these products
rather set up their plants in
countries around Nigeria
where all these amenities are
in place. The economic impact
is obvious; taxes that should
have been realised from these
plants and even from their
marketing offices are lost to
other countries like Ghana.
Our government should wake
up. In the same vein, jobs that
could have been for Nigerians
if these companies have plants
here are taken elsewhere. It is
a huge loss to Nigeria. Nobody
will tell me that Moet do not
want to have a plant in Nigeria.
All the accepted drinks in
Nigeria like Moet, Hennessey,
Jack Daniels, Black Label, and
the likes are suppose to be producing
here, but when they
look at the power thing, it is
discouraging. We cannot run
away from power. I expect
this government to focus on
two things: power and road;
apart from the anti corruption
crusade. If we have power, we
can turn Nigeria to China. If
we have power, the money I
used in buying diesel can be
shared between me, workers
and government.
Tell us about your own bar,
how are you different from
others in Lekki?
Trentinos Restaurant and
Bar is a place to be in Lekki
phase 1. Not only being located
in a very decent area
of lekki phase 1, but because
of its unique and cordial environment.
The bush bar, the
restaurant and the Lounge are
carefully furnished for you to
feel comfort. Our delicacies
like Isiewu, Nkwobi, Chicken
Nkwobi, Ugba and Okporoko,
Catfish Ukodo, the Grill Fish,
Fisherman Okro Soup, Native
Soup, Vegetable Soup
and several others, are being
handled by highly trained
Chefs. If you visit us you will
be glad you did. For working
couples who are too busy we
are alternative. We cook and
deliver whatever quality and
quantity of food to homes.
Just place the order and we
will be right there to meet
your stomach needs.
We also have our weekly
activities, live band every Friday,
Jazz/karaoke night every
Wednesday, happy hour from
6 to 7pm every day. We are
open to business 24/7. Our
services are like making love
to gorilla as the gorilla never
tired until you are satisfied.
Try us today and experience
our service.