Breaking! Lagos Trade Fair Complex closes Wednesday for collection of PVCs—Ilechukwu
Ahead of massive exercise of franchise, leading business centres across the federation have started announcing closure of markets so as to enable their members to go and collect their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) at INEC centers nearest to them.
Accordingly, business activities at the Lagos International Trade Fair complex, along Badagry Expressway, will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, January 25 (exactly one month to presidential election), 2023 to enable member go and collect their PVCs.
President APT and Chairman, Trade Fair Stakeholders Association (TFSA)
Explaining more in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Trade Fair Stakeholders Association (TFSA), and President, Association of Progressive Traders (APT), Chief Eric Ifeanyichukwu Ilechukwu (Akunwafo Anyirico), said “All the organized business associations and plazas doing business in the entire complex will on Wednesday, be under lock and keys to enable members go and collect their PVCs.”
“I use this humble opportunity to call on all adults doing business at the complex to go and collect their PVCs tomorrow, Wednesday so that we can exercise our franchise. Business activities will continue on Thursday, January 26, 2023 as usual.
Continuing, Chief Ilechukwu advised everybody for compliance, saying his administration will continue to try its best in positioning the complex for better business environments.
Giving more explanation, the President of Mandilas International Trade Centre (MITC), who also doubles as National Welfare Officer of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association (NPMA), Chief Dr Tony Okeke (Ezekweche Aguleri) said “The idea to close populated strategic markets in Lagos was a decision reached by all affiliate markets to enable members to go for their PVCs.
He further furnished Business Hilights with the memo supporting the decision as reached by the umbrella body; NPMA, Vis:
From NMPA
GOOD MORNING GREAT COMPATRIOTS.
Sequel to my previous voice note and in line with our understanding that all traders should exercise their civic right on the forthcoming General election, we thereby resolve that there will be a staggered closure of some major markets to enable the traders to collect their PVC.
Pursuant to this, below are the scheduled dates for the closure of the markets.
Monday 23rd January.
Phone dealers lawanson to Close.
Tuesday 24th January.
Ladipo Market and environs to shut.
Wednesday 25th January
1. Trade fair Complex
2. Abule ado building Materials mkt.
3. Article dealers market.
Thursday 26th January
RADA lawanson, Intercontinental carpet
Dealers itire lawanson .
Thursday 26th January.
1, Agric Coker building Material dealers
2, Coker building materials
3, Odun Ade int’l market
4, Marble dealers
5, firefighting equipment Dealers etc
6. THURSDAY 26th January
All our affiliate markets in Lagos island
Eg..
a. Association of fashion Wear dealers.
b. Weavon / hair attachment dealers
c. United Costmetics Dealers.
d. Oke arin Costmetics Dealers, Etc
“Note..All market leaders are to warn their members to be civil and guided.
“Ndigboamaka progressive Markets Association is an umbrella body of over 58 major markets in Lagos State.”
Talking to Business Hilights, the President of the Africa Tyre Village (ATV), Alhaji Issa Akanbi Mohammed noted that “We have scheduled an emergency general meeting today Tuesday 24th Jan 2023 to lecture our members on the importance of collection of their personal voter’s card and why they should vote.
Besides, we had planned to close the market on Thursday, but, as a member of the TFSA, we will hold our meeting today, educate our members and join other markets to close for tomorrow.
God bless Nigeria
When contacted, the new President of ASPMDA, Hon. Ngozi Emechebe averred that though the association had last week Saturday announced market closure for the collection of PVC, being a law abiding group, ASPMDA will comply with the popular decision.
Adding his voice, key stakeholder at Balogun Business Association (BBA), Brother Leo Ogbonnia, told Business Hilights that BBA is set for tomorrow’s closure and enjoined everybody to use the opportunity to get his or her PVC in order to exercise his or her franchise on election day come next month.
Also speaking in another interview, the President General of Alaba Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Joe Mbaonu told Business Hilights that the entire 17 trading sections of the sprawling market beginning from Volks to the Catholic Church, after Alaba will from next tomorrow, Thursday, begin segmented closure through Saturday, saying the entire market will not close at once, but section by section.
Elsewhere, especially in the East, markets in Aba, today, Tuesday closed down for members to go for their PVCs.
