Traders in the Federal Capital Territory have been groaning over the high cost of doing business.
Some traders at the Zone 3 Neighbourhood Centre, FCT, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday that the area had been in a deplorable condition for a long time now.
They further told NAN that the area lacked adequate amenities, adding that shops were becoming unaffordable.
A furniture trader, Mr Obiora Iheanacho, said the limited space at the temporary site had resulted in parking challenges, with traders and customers jostling for available spaces to either park their vehicles or do business.
“Most of us deal with furniture, but the shops are too small, and it is making our operation difficult,” he said.
Iheanacho called on the government to build modern shops that would meet the needs of traders.
A trader, Mr Obiora Okeke, called on the government to remove abandoned vehicles in front of the building to create a parking space.
“It is a safety hazard and a major inconvenience. We need a solution to this parking problem to ensure that our customers can access our shops easily,” he said.
Similarly, another trader, Mrs Blessing Joseph, said that the high cost of shop rentals has become a major concern to the traders.
“I am struggling to keep up with the annual costs of rent, which are between N1.5 million and N2 million.
“We need more affordable options to survive. The government should look into ways of regulating rent prices to make it more affordable,” Joseph said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Martha Ubeh, another trader, said that the poor sanitation at the front of the market building had become a health concern.
“The state of the toilets is embarrassing and unhealthy. We need better sanitation facilities to maintain a clean and healthy environment,” she said.
