Local Car News #Update
Tyre dealers, under the sponsorship of Association of Tyre Marketers on Thursday inaugurated a N2bn Africa Tyre Village at the International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.
Described as the biggest in West Africa, the tyre village, made up of 1,000 shops with 32 personal plazas was said to have been built by the traders without bank loan or support from any microfinance firm.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investments, Hajia Aisha Abubakar commended the marketers for their outstanding business rationale to have executed such project ie the village.
Abubakar, who was absent but represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Mrs. Lucy Ajayi assured the dealers of the Federal Government’s support to ensure continued success of their business.
“The Federal Government as well as the state Government is proud of what you’ve done at this Africa Tyre Village and we want you to know that we shall support you in whatever way we can to ensure the continued success of your business,” Abubakar said.
Ajayi, in her own words expressed absolute joy that good things such as the tyre village, transformation of the trade fair complex amongst other unmentioned achievements happened during her regime.
However, the President of ANTM, Africa Tyre Village, Alhaji Issa Akanbi, who expressed pride at the inauguration said, “Everything you are seeing here is completely our sweat; no bank loan, no support or sponsorship from any organisation or an individual.”
He asserted that with over 2,000 registered members in the association, their decision to move from their former Enu-Owa area at Idumota in Lagos Island was solely because the area was becoming so unbearable due to activities of shylock developers and landlords.