ASPMDA Executive Celebrates 100 Days in Office, Recounts It's Success Story So Far, Commend Tinubu's Economic Policies

 

Auto Spare Parts Machinery Dealers Association, ASPMDA, over the weekend at Mountain of Fire, Festac Town, thanked God for his mercies and blessings in its first 100 days in office. The market moved to it's permanent site on the 14th of February 2000, and has since, been doing business in the market with no hitch. 

In an interactive session with Nigerian Notch,the President of the market, Hon. Ngozi Emechebe thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate 100 days in office. He said " this 100 days in office has been fruitful in several dimensions as it has helped us access and look at the immediate needs of the market. In 100 days we reinstituted the celebration of our moving into this promised land from Idumota on the 14th of February 2000. 

"In 100 days we were able to clear the mountain of refuse that almost caused an epidemic in the market, as the refuse has not been evacuated for over 5 years. With over 200 tippers we cleared over 800 tons of waste, which LAWMA can attest to. In 100 days we were able to desalting the drainage system in the market that was blocked, which caused flooding in the market whenever it rained. Today, when it rains, there is no more flooding in the market"

Hon. Ngozi Emechebe also stressed that the market which is one of the largest in the country has continued to be a home of genuine spare parts, reason they made sure that Standard organization of Nigeria (SON) has an office in the market. He thanked everyone in the market for their support so far and called on them to rally round his administration to achieve success in all their endeavors as they are just starting. 

"He however, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his economic policies which is going to help boost trade and commerce in Nigeria. Hon. Ngozi Emechebe said " the policy on FX is a good one, as this will make Nigerians invest in the economy through opening economic arteries, where we can earn foreign exchange and what this means is that industries will spring up to produce what we can also export to generate revenue and employ Nigerians as well. The issue of removal of fuel subsidy is in order so that the waste can be ploughed back to developing the country."

"As it is, there is need to diversify so that we can earn foreign exchange as well, instead of importing always. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means we'll for Nigeria and we don't have any other option than support him to achieve the dream of making Nigeria the giant of Africa which we are. 

On the issue of Igbo -Yoruba tussle, he said such things do not exist, as it may only exist in the minds of those who are bent on causing disharmony between the Igbo's and Yoruba,'s. He said the yoruba's are accommodating and that Ndigbo are not going anywhere. He also commended the governor of Lagos Gov San Wolu for his support in the market and called on him to remember his promises before the election to the market, especially on the issue of road Infrastructure in the market.

In the same vein, the founder of the market Chief Charles Ages Okeke (popularly know as Man of Ages), joined the market leaders to thank God for the success story so far in the market, and called on the traders to join hands in the development of the market, so that their aim of coming to Lagos to trade will be actualized. He congratulated Hon. Ngozi Emechebe for the good works he has started in the market, especially as it concerns the environment and prayed that God will continue to strengthen him to do more. 

Adding his voice, the BOT Chairman of the market Chief Oforkansi, thanked God for making it possible for the new administration to celebrate 100 days in office. He said it a thing of great joy and called on the traders to rally round the new administration, for them to succeed. 

He also, commended the new administration for it's impact on the environment especially the evacuation of refuse and desalting of the drainage system in the market, a feat he said  should be commended. He said " I am here to advise as an elder in the market, what I know is that I will not advise them wrongly, but those who have refused to hid to my advise most times hit the rod. In all i am optimistic that Hon. Ngozi Emechebe will do well, as he has started on a good footing, all we can do is support him to move the affairs of the market forward" 

"He also, the issue of fuel subsidy, he commended the federal government for this policy and asked that Nigerian should be patient so that the effect will trickle down to the populace. He said " if the federal government can save 400 billion in 30 days, we can imagine what will happen in one year. It might be hard now but when the dangote refinery and over 30 modular refineries who have license from the federal government starts production, the cost of petroleum products will come down based on market forces."

Another stakeholders in the market Hon. Rexford Ekene Akano thanked God for making it possible for them to celebrate 100 days in office. He however commended the new administration for taking the bull by the horns in some of the policies they have taken so far, to make the environment conducive for trading. He said " it's a thing of joy that we no longer rush to go home whenever it rained, because the drainage system in the market which was formerly blocked has been desilted, creating room for easy flow of water which before caused flooding and untold hardship to traders in the market"

"He commended the policy's of the federal government in liberalizing the market for a level playing ground, but also tasked the FG to look into the area of how to support those who would want to go into export as it is done in other countries of the world. He said the new dollar regime is the best for a progressive nation like Nigeria. " In those days I used to follow my dad go to DIFRI and we saw that the required support for the setting up of such agencies then was working, but today the reverse is the case" He called on government to revive such agencies to help cushion the effects of the new policies of government he said.

Speaking further, another stakeholder in the market Mr Arinze Okonkwo thanked God for the 100 days in office of the new administration. He however commended the new administration for their efforts to restructure the market and bring back sanity to the market. He stressed that the new administration has taken the bull by the horns by ensuring that some of the issues that has bedeviled the progress of market has been taken care of. He also commended them for ensuring that the environment has been restored with the evacuation of the refuse dump and desalting of the drainage system in the market. He however called on the government in the country to come to their aid to assist in the growth of the Nigerian economy so that Nigeria can be a productive country rather than a consuming country. He said " as a business man, we are saddled with so many factors that has made it impossible for industries to spring up. 

However, most of these Chinese don't have the capacity to set up industries and they have in the past encouraged us to set up industries in Nigeria so that the cost of production and import tariffs will reduce on our goods, but our major problem has been power. It's important that government address the issue of power so that we can set up industries in the country "

"He however, called on government, to see to it that business men in the market are given the needed assistance to drive the economy as ASPMDA is one of the engines of growth in the country because without movement everything will be remain static. He commended the President for his new policies, but also called on his administration to give it a human face by either increasing the salaries of workers in the country so that it will be at par with the reality on ground". He concluded