Some participants at the ongoing 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair have decried the inadequacy of social amenities at the Trade Fair complex.The participants, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, cited the lack of water and electricity, in particular, urging the organisers to do the needful.
One of the participants, Mr.Gaye El-Hajj, who came all the way from Senegal to sell female clothings, lamented the lack of electricity and water at his stand.
“There should be basic amenities like water and electricity; right now I do not have electricity to charge my gsm telephone, yet even if there is no patronage of my wares, I will still pay N100,000 for the stall.
“The complex is not lively; people are not coming, in fact no one has visited my stall to price an item since the day I came”, he fumed.
He advised the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agricultural (KADCCIMA), to partner with entertainers who would enhance publicity and attract people to come.
Similarly, Mr.Samuel Okpole from Siperco Nigeria Ltd, Lagos, said it was his first time exhibiting at the Fair, just as he lamented the unavailability of chairs and tables in stalls.
On her part, Hajiya Aisha Maradi, an exhibitor from the Republic of Niger stated that she had been participating in KADCCIMA-organised Fair for more than 20 years, noting that this year’s event recorded the lowest number of participants.
She urged KADCCIMA to intensify publicity and awareness campaigns about the annual event while appealing for attractive offers to encourage foreign participants.
Responding to the complaints, Mrs Fatima Usman, Chairman, Public Relations Committee, KADCCIMA, explained that they had partnered with Kaduna Electricity Company and the Kaduna State Water Corporation (KADSWAC) to provide water and electricity.
She advised any participant facing challenges bordering on the two amenities to forward their complaints to the organisers of the Fair for redress.
Regarding the unavailability of chairs and tables, she said it was not the responsibility of the organisers to provide such amenities.
