The 6th Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) International Trade Fair entered Day 12 on Thursday with exhibitors and customers lamenting the “unprecedented’’ high cost of goods and customers’ low turnout.
The 16-day fair, organised by FCTA and Paradise Productions Ltd., opened on Oct. 15 and will end on Oct. 31.
A correspondent for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the Old Parade Ground venue of the fair, reports that there was low presence of exhibitors and customers.
Some exhibitors interviewed by NAN blamed the low turnout of participants on the prevailing economic downturn, the hike in the price of stands and the low publicity given to the fair.
Mr Paul Onah, who is exhibiting locally made shoes, said the event was poor in terms of customers and participant’s attendance compared to the 2015 edition.
According to him, many people were not aware of the event because the organisers did not give it much publicity to attract the public.
He added that another thing that discouraged many exhibitors from attending the fair was the hike in price of stands.
Onah called on the organisers to ensure that the cost of stands were moderate next year, adding that there should be adequate publicity.
Another exhibitor, Mrs Elizabeth Obiakor, who deals in local fabrics, said she regretted participating in the trade fair.
“I participated in last year’s fair and there were many exhibitors and customers; I made much profit from my sales in the fair.
“And this year I hoped that a similar thing will happen, but I am surprised that not many customers are coming to buy at the fair.
“I am not even sure that I will recover the amount of money I paid for my stand, talk less of making profits,’’ she said.
A kitchen utensils exhibitor, Mr Silas Salami, said the fair was not moving as he thought because not many customers were coming to buy.
According to him, many customers are not coming to the fair due to the economic situation in the country coupled with the poor publicity given to the event by the organisers.
Salami added that another thing that might cause customers not coming to the fair was because the FCT is a civil service area and the workers have not received their salaries.
“May be when civil servants are paid their October salaries many of them will come to buy things at the fair,’’ he said.
However, when NAN interviewed, Mr Israel Chukwuma, Chairman Paradise Production Ltd., one of the organisers of the fair, he said that they gave the fair much publicity both in radio and television.
He corroborated the low attendance of exhibitors and customers to the fair but blamed the low attendance on economic recession in the country.
According to him, people now prioritise whatever they want to buy or do because there is no more free money in the country.
He said the aim of their organising the trade fair was for Nigerians, particularly the local producers to come and showcase their products for people to buy.
Chukwuma said that another reason for organising the fair was to create employment for both local and foreign producers as well as for carpenters, painters, masons and food vendors.
He listed Pakistan, China, Togo, Ghana, India, Egypt and Kenya among the foreign countries participating in the fair.
Chukwuma said the major challenges the organisers faced were finance, high rate of money paid for the space being used for exhibition and poor electricity supply.
He called on the Federal Government to always assist people who were organising such events to stimulate the economy. (NAN)