Some Abuja traders have urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to provide a conducive environment for their businesses to thrive.

The traders in the Kubwa, Kado and Dutse areas of Abuja spoke to journalists in Abuja on Monday.

Abraham Chidi, a retail store owner in Dutse Market, said a major challenge facing business owners was the poor electricity supply.

Mr Chidi said he spent a lot of money on fuel to power his generator to preserve perishable products.

He said the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) should provide adequate power because the generator in his store could not power the two fridges.

According to him, agents who supplied goods with short shelf spans, like Yoghurt, have also complained of the inability to produce in large quantities.

Paul Adeniyi, an inverter and solar panel distributor in Kado estate mall, said bad roads across the country had hindered business growth.

Mr Adeniyi said the roads had constantly led to the late arrival of products from the loading ports in Lagos.

He said the number of days used to transport goods from Lagos to Abuja had increased over time and became worrisome to business owners.

“A road trip that takes two to three days now takes between four to seven days due to the constant trailer breakdowns and traffic caused by the bad roads,” said Mr Adeniyi.

The distributor said it was high time the Buhari regime repaired major roads and developed alternatives for business vehicles and trailers to ensure timely delivery.

Ubaka Ikenna, a supermarket owner in Kubwa, regretted that some distribution agents of well-sought-after products pulled out and others shut down.

“While trying to purchase some biscuits and juice in large quantities, I was informed by the agents of the companies that they no longer operate in the country,” Mr Ikenna explained.

The businessman added, “For example, some products produced and distributed by Deli, GlaxoSmithKline are no longer in circulation and Halibiz, producers of certain bottled water and biscuit, have shut down. There are more of such companies.”

Mr Ikenna said the companies complained about the little or no gain from sales of products as major reasons for the pullout from the Nigerian market. 

(NAN)