Stakeholders to Unveil N28trn Trade Fair Shopping Centre

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

The chairman of the Stakeholders Association at Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Chief Eric Ifeanyichukwu Ilechukwu has announced his organisation’s preparedness to officially unveil the Trade Fair Shopping Centre to the whole world come April next year.

According to him, the ultramodern Trade Fair Shopping Centre which is a world class, state-of-the-art facility situated inside the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, along the Lagos -Badagry Express Way is worth over N28.26 trillion in terms of infrastructure, trade, and human capital investments.

“The centre has been under construction since the past twenty five years due to the size, and following the harsh economy. So we decided to build and complete the project in phases or section by section, which prompted our members to relocate and open their shops in batches. Meanwhile, the current value of this project is above N28.26 trillion when you calculate the infrastructure, trade investments, and human capital.”

Chief Eric Ilechukwu who also doubles as President of the Association of Progressive Traders (APT /Jewelry Complex) while addressing newsmen in his office Thursday last week, explained that most of the Traders were formerly operating at Idumota, Mandilas, Balogun and Ebute Meta respectively, adding that “The Auto Spare Parts and Machineries Dealers Association known as ASPAMDA was the first batch of traders to complete and relocate from Idumota to their Auto Parts plaza , commencing daily trading activities at Trade Fair on 14th February 2,000. This motivated other associations to expedite action towards completing their own shops and plazas at trade fair.”

Speaking in a separate interview, the Stakeholders general secretary Juventus Okpala-Okaka disclosed that all the sections of the centre are now completed and fully functional. This include the Balogun Business Association’s BBA/ICC ; ASPAMDA’s Auto Parts Plaza; Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers/Africa Tyre Village; Association of Progressive Traders/Jewelry Complex; Tools and Hardware Centre; Mandilas United/Shoes, bags and fashion centre; United Allied Spare Parts/Motorcycle,three wheeler, generator and engine parts complex; Ebute Ero / Home and kitchen utensils Centre; C-Tempo/Lake View Hotel; Call-Pak; and Plaza Owners Association.

“Everything you need from a world class international trade centre is available here. We have big warehouses and packing stores, office buildings, hotels, hospitals, standard lorry and car parks, very spacious and beautiful environment, good sanitary system, well equipped safety and security personnel and structures.  Above all, our products are the cheapest more than anywhere else because eighty percent of our members are the real importers, manufacturers and Trade Mark owners.

“This landmark achievement calls for a wide spread celebration, which is why we are using the occasion to roll out the maiden edition of our annual Shopping Carnival as a unique platform to honour and appreciate our teaming customers, suppliers, and the general public. ”  Concludes Okpala Juventus.