By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

Chief Robert Anwatu, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), has expressed dismay at the inability of the Federal Government to complete the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex.

Anwatu made his feelings known on Sunday in Enugu after inspecting some exhibitors’ stands at the ongoing 36th Enugu International Trade Fair.

The 10 days fair, which kicked off on April 4, 2025, is themed: “Developing Nigeria Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition.”

The chairman noted that the complex had been abandoned for over two decades and wondered why it had not been completed like its counterparts in Lagos and Kaduna.

Anwatu urged the Federal Government to hasten up and ensure that Enugu International Trade Fair complex was completed like those of Lagos and Kaduna by employing a competent contractor to do the job.

According to him, for over 20 years ago, while I was ECCIMA President, I made repeated calls about the complex, which is the contemporary of the two age-long fair complexes in Lagos and Kaduna.

Anwatu noted that Lagos and Kaduna International Trade Fair complexes had since been completed 100 per cent by the Federal Government.

“So what is holding the completion of Enugu international trade fair complex, which covers the South-East and South-South?’’ he queried.

On the ongoing trade fair, the chairman commended the President of ECCIMA, Chief Odeiga Jideonwo, and his Director-General, Mr Uchechukwu Mba, for putting a robust arrangement for the fair and ensuring new innovation to reinvent and boost the fair.

“I have gone round the fair ground and to some of the stands and interacted with some of the exhibitors; I found out that all their concerns are well attended to promptly.

“So, I am quite impressed and from experience of organising fairs many years ago, I know that this year’s fair will be exceptionally successful,” he said.

The chairman lauded Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for putting in place all necessary policies, mechanisms and infrastructure meant for business to strive and attract both local and international businesses to the state.

“In less than two years, he has aggressively placed top notch and hi-tech driven security infrastructure in the state, built international conference centre and other world class infrastructures such as good road network to support commerce.

“Completing the wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; fashioning out international aero-polis in Enugu and have gone out to personally attract foreign direct investment and letting everybody know that Enugu State is ready for business,” he said. (NAN)