- As they Appeal FG for this year’s rent waiver
By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
It has been a thing of bother as most businesses, associations and unions feel neglected by the federal government, since the challenging moments attached with 2020 and its consequences on individuals and families.
Africa Tyre Village Trade Fair, recently cried out loud that they have been neglected despite their calls to the federal government of Nigeria to assist them as their tenants to gain strength over properties and businesses lost during the Abule-Edo tank farm blast, covid-19 Lockdown and now protest with its disastrous effect on business and on properties.
The President, Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers (ANTM), African Tyre Village, Trade Fair Complex, Alhaji Issa Akanbi; told Sunrise.ng, that part of the African Tyre village buildings was affect by the Abule-Edo tank farm blast and we have made an appeal to both Lagos and Federal governments to come to our aid but to our greatest surprise, no reply has been made so far by both governments.
“We have decided to handle things ourselves gradual by gradual”.
Alhaji Issa Akanbi, noted that, after new year’s celebration, we all came back to face our normal daily activities only to meet difficulties from left and right.
He said, In February ending, the Covid19 pandemic broke out and we were locked down for over 4months with out buying and selling. After the pandemic, we were faced with “one day on and one day off”.
“We can not travel to China , Thailand, India and others were we buy products, Revenue became unbalanced and all these were what we are facing since this year” the President said.
He said , that it will also be of important if the federal government can help them and wave this year’s rent off, stating that the association and its members has gone through hell and lots of challenges and need to be considered.
Note, We did not receive any palliative from Federal and Lagos State governments”.
The President, further said that all their programs for the rest of the year has been cancelled, stating that, if not for the challenges mentioned above, the association’s end of the year football tournament and party would have kick started’.
He said, the Paramount thing federal government should do now, is to look for a way to assist businesses, individuals and create jobs.
We as an association, trains and settle over 20 boys annually to become there own boss and to this regard we also need government assistance, because the cost of training and raising people is high.
The association also appeal to Federal government to look into opening the land boarders for businesses to flourish in Nigeria since nothing has changed with the closure of land boarders, otherwise increasing prices on products.
We also want Federal government to do something fast, on mile2 – Badagry road leading to the boarder since it is ECOWAS road, because the effect of that road is crippling businesses and something must be done as a matter of urgency.