AS THE STAKEHOLDERS OF LITF PRAISED PRESIDENT TINUBU – BACCIMA
Wednesday, 11th March, 2026, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Dr Jumoke Oduwole (MFR) paid a working visit to the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) Complex, along Badagry Express Way, Lagos.
She was warmly received and welcomed by Mrs Barrister Vera Ndamusa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Complex and the stakeholders forum of LITF at 10:45 am.
After the brief introductions, the Honourable Minister joined the Complex CEO inside the Coastal bus provided by the LITF for the tour of the facilities in the Complex through the five (5) kilometers ring road within the complex.
Inside the bus with the Minister were the President of Badagry Chamber of commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Yahaya Oladiran Idris, The Chairman of Amunwo Odofin, the Chairman, stakeholders LIFE Chief…Eric Illechukwu, Mr Oyewole Mojeed, the HM aid and the Management team of LITF.
While on tour of the facilities, the Minister expressed her joy for going round the complex for the first time as a supervisory minister, she was marveled about the structural developmental projects within the complex but she was surprised that nearly all the plazas within the complex were closed.
She requested to know while the shops were locked from the CEO and the Chairman of the stakeholders and I quote ” Chairman, why are the shops locked, because I don’t want people/ journalists to say that the Minister ordered the locking of the Complex Shops” and the Chairman of the Associations replied that, nobody instructed the traders to lock up rather it’s their own ways of welcoming important dignitaries like her(The Minister)
After the tour of the Facility, the team conconvergat the conference Hall of the complex for an interactive season with the Minister.
In her welcome address, Barrister Vera Eulogied the Minister for the fantastic job she had been doing since taking over of the affairs of the FMITI and more importantly, for taking it opon herself to come personally to see things for her self.
The Minister, in her opening speech, she appreciate the CEO and her management team for the good job they are doing, also thanked the Amunwo Odofin Chairman on the palliative measures done on some portions of the road within the complex.
She applauded the traders for being industrious. ” You are industrialist,we expect you to expand your trade across West Africa sub region, you are importing, you must be exporting ” She said.
The Minister encouraged them to formalize their business for economic growth, and encouraged all the stake holders to speak out.
In his response to the Honourable Minister address, the Chairman Board of Trustee(BOT)Balogun business Association, Chief Okey Ezibe eulogized the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight by assisting the traders to secure the trade fair complex to them when he was the Lagos State Governor.
He posited that the traders were facing serious hardships ranging from, no light, bad infrastructure, multiple taxation by the arms of governments within the State, illegal Check points along the roads leading to the complex, non state actors “Agbero” disturbing their businesses and host of others. He pleaded passionately on behalf of the traders to the Federal Government to critically look into all the complaints, and to please act in shortest possible time in order to have conducive environment.
Chief Okey Ezibe posited that “We need synegy, let us jointly developed this place, because hostile government policies destroy businesses, we are industrialists, we employed people, we need to develop with the coming of the Minister”
Chief Eric Illochukwu, the Chairman of the Stakeholders forum in his speech pleaded for the construction of the five (5) kilometers ring road and some other exits to ease traffic in the complex, most especially during the closing hours.
He suggested a quarterly meetings with the federal Minister on the development of the trade fair complex as a commercial entity.
He thanked the minister for coming to see things for herself and believed it would be a good beginning.
In the Honourable Minister, Dr Jumome Oduwole’s response, she applauded their developmental efforts so far in making the complex the biggest commercial entity in West Africa.
She stated that she had discussed extensively with both the Lagos and Imo state Governors on how to make the complex a world class trading centre.
She agreed with the request for the quarterly meetings with the stake holders.
The Minister promised to look into the taxation issues with the relevant governments and agencies in order to encourage business growth.
She promised total improvement on the infrastructural development within the complex to make it the industrial hub of West Africa that will encourage export.
The Honourable Minister, encouraged the stakeholders to formalize their businesses just as the Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ( BACCIMA) President and his team discussed it with the traders a month ago at their management meeting.
She thanked the stakeholders for their believe in the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and assured them of good beginning to build trust and promised that the best is yet to come for them.
She departed the complex for another function around 12noon.
