Association of Building Materials in Nasarawa State has vowed not to vote candidates in the forthcoming general elections who fail to make commitment toward improving infrastructure that will boost business activities in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The traders who spoke separately with Viewpoint Housing News in Mararaba, a suburb on the fringe of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) noted that the Building Material Market, Mararaba has been neglected by previous administrations despite contributing huge money to the state as revenue.
A furniture seller who gave his name as Emeka Eze said building materials traders had been excluded by successive governments over the years in terms of policies and programmes.
He said Karu Local Government Area is highly populated by traders who contribute a total of about 60% of revenue to the entire state.
Eze said successive governments have failed to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the area.
According to him, “Soon, the rainy season will be here and the Nyanya-Mararaba road will be submerged — no effort by the government to address this menace.
“Year in year out, you will see officials from the state government coming to collect revenue but no effort has been made to provide the basic social amenities like roads that will boost business in the state.
“Therefore, we will not vote for any politicians who have no plan that will improve the well being of traders in the state.”
Another trader Sunday Mba, who deals in doors and accessories said, “Local government administrators should be ready to provide of infrastructural facilities at the grassroots which will assist in making housing affordable to the people.”
Mba said that traders and workers constitute over 75 percent of the voting population in the state and with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), they should be taken seriously during elections.
“The era of vote buying is coming to end, we will no longer sell our votes and future for politicians to enjoy our collective wealth while we languish in poverty.
“It’s now time for the candidates to make commitment and sign on what to deliver when elected and we shall hold them accountable,” Mba added.
Mba added that government administrators should help to mobilise people at the grassroots to register and contribute to the National Housing Fund to enable them have access to housing loan for home-ownership to boost our business because it is only when that happens that they will still be in business.
