THE Public Relations officer of Alaba International Market, Lagos, Mr Anayo Zimako, has urged the Federal Government to make its presence felt in the market.Zimako described the market sector as vital to the development of the economy of any nation.He told the newsmen recently that the economic contribution of the market was worth more than hundreds of millions of naira monthly, but that the sector was being neglected.``The role the market sector plays in the sustenance of the economy of a nation cannot be over emphasised but the sector has not been accorded the recognition it deserves.``The market sector has created job opportunities for tens of thousands of people and thus has reduced the crime rate in the country, `` Zimako said.According to him, Alaba, being the pride of Africa in the comity of markets, has successfully created job opportunities for many youths.He said that the market operators would want to be carried along in the formulation of policies concerning commerce.Zimako urged the government to expand the road leading to the Alaba International Market as well as some link roads, to ease traffic.He also bemoaned the epileptic electricity supply in the market, saying it affected business drastically.``We need to bring home our factories from abroad, but the problem we are facing is power supply that is constantly off,'' he said.According to him, most traders go outside the country to produce their goods and bring them back to sell because of the problem of power in the country.Mr Edwin Ibude, the Group Executive Director of Nosak Group, has said that access to land for commercial production is a challenge farmers are struggling with.Ibude made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.NAN reports that Nosak Group owns an oil palm plantation in Benin and manufactures plastics and pharmaceutical products. It also provides haulage and supermarket services.He said that the challenges faced by farmers were too numerous to mention, but identified community unrest as another difficulty.He called for a review of the land tenure system and urged government to find a way of establishing cordial relationships between developers and land owners.According to him, this will make communities more friendly and accommodating as well as prevent unrests.``We have the challenge of the process of acquisition of land. It's a challenge. This land tenure system needs to be reviewed.``In a situation whereby you want to expand but to have access to the land, it is not really easy; it's quiet challenging.``Then the unrest with the community you are trying to set up your farm is equally a challenge.
Click here to read full news..
