Traders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the FCT minister Nyesom Wike to intervene in their worsening plight caused by the harsh operating environment to enable them remain in business.
The traders who operated under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs) asked the minister to save their businesses from extinction through the provision of shops at subsidised rates for its members.
The FCT chairman of NANTs, Prince Edozie Ugwu, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja to announce the association’s election slated for November 2023.
Ugwu said the appeal became necessary in order to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the territory.
He said the traders over the years were major contributors to the economy of Abuja hence the need for them to be given special consideration in owning shops and business premises in the nation’s capital.
Ugwu said FCT NANTs is the first informal sector to start a pension scheme for its members, noting that the association through its mass housing scheme has provided over seventy homes for its members.
While expressing concern over the multiple taxation faced by its members, especially in the current economic downturn, the chairman also appealed to the Wike-led FCT Administration (FCTA) to provide soft loans for NANTs to help boost the businesses of its members.
The NANTs leader frowned at the displacement of traders at different locations in the territory, following the demolition of their business premises without alternative, pointing out that one of the achievements of NANTs is the reduction of hawkers on the streets, by giving them legitimate shelter in different markets across the territory.
He reiterated the commitment of the association towards contributing its quota to the economic development of FCT and the country in general.
While urging incoming leaders of the association to outperform his outgoing executives, he said that his executives, among others: were able to provide housing for members; has been securing soft loans during and after COVID – 19 pandemic from Central Bank of Nigeria, commercial and microfinance banks; started pension scheme for members; registered NANTs Cooperative Society and; have built markets and plazas for members and are currently building Apo Shopping Mall, with 807 shops, which according to him is at its 60 percent stage.
