ENUGU – Participants at the 26th Enugu International Trade Fair have complained of lack of facilities at the fair complex located at the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the situation in Enugu on Thursday, reports that the participants were seen erecting their stands ahead of the fair on March 13, 2015.
A foreign participant from China and Head, Sales and Marketing, Ekulo Group of Companies, Mr Moudgil Pawah, expressed disappointment at the arrangement made so far at the fair.
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Pawah said that since the fair would commence the next day, all the needed facilities, including water, toilet facilities, and electricity should have been on ground.
The company, which deals on food items such as tomato paste, sardine, biscuit, olive oil, cosmetics, soap and non-alcoholic wine and juice, regretted the absence of conveniences at the fair.
He called on the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) to urgently provide the basic facilities for the exhibitors to prevent outbreak of epidemic.
Pawah, however, said that he had already employed 15 workers comprising mostly undergraduates from some tertiary institutions in the state.
Mrs Matilda Prah, who came from Ghana and dealer on clothes, said the chamber promised to provide the amenities after the fair had been declared open.
Prah also complained of high cost of stand, adding that the chambers leased out the stands to contractors which made them expensive.
She said that she rented a single stand at the rate of N220,000 for just 10 days.
“I came here since three days ago and have been bathing with sachet water. There is no way I will stay in a hotel with all my goods. It will be too expensive for me,’’ Prah said.
Prah urged the chambers to build a permanent stand for the participant so that it would be cheaper for them.
She urged the chamber to consider foreign participants in taking some of their decisions.
When contacted, the Director-General of ECCIMA, Mr Emeka Okereke, said that efforts were being made to address the situation, and promised that everything would stabilise as soon as possible. (NAN)
