State of Enugu Int'l Trade Fair Complex Worrisome — ECCIMA

Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), yesterday lamented the poor state of infrastructure at the permanent site of the Enugu International Trade Fair complex.

The President of ECCIMA, Jasper Nduagwuike, who spoke on behalf of the chamber on Tuesday at the official opening of the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair, said that for 37 years, the Federal Government has failed to address the issue.

He said that the chamber has however decided to take its destiny into its own hands by looking for help elsewhere.

The CIMA president said that during their investiture, they took a video of the dismal face of the pavilion, lamenting that for 37 years, the complex has remained 18% completed whereas other trade fair complexes in Kaduna and Lagos were given the needed attention.

"In the course of our investiture, we showed a brief video of this pavilion where you are seated and our wish to make it better.

"This is the 33rd time that we are pleading with the Federal Government over 37 years that this complex which has remained 18% completed since the 80s should be given at least a facelift.

"We have made several visits to Abuja to bring this matter home to our parent ministry, however, probably due to paucity of funds, nothing has been done," Nduagwuike laments.

He said that the Fair was supposed to be of an international status that would project a good image of the country to the outside world, pointing out that abandoning the complex would not be in the best interest of Nigeria.