As the election of the executive of Mandilas International Trade Centre (MITC), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, draws near, a cross section of traders in the market have given reasons why the incumbent president, Chief Tony Okeke, should be given another term of office.

The traders who spoke with News Express in the complex said that the administration of Okeke is the best thing to have happened to the international shopping mall.

According to them, Mandilas International Centre under Okeke rose from obscurity to become a force among equals in the markets in Lagos State and beyond.

They said that Okeke brought his knowledge as a graduate of Business Administration to bear in the running of the market, adding that as a result, Mandilas is today the fastest growing market in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

According to them, his knowledge of administration has also made Mandilas International Trade Centre, the most organised market in Lagos State.

The traders said that among all the market associations in Lagos International Trade Fair Centre, it is only Mandilas International Trade Centre that is not in court.

“One good turn deserves another. Chief Tony Okeke has done well and should be giving another term. Today, most of our neighbors in the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex are in crisis. Instances include Balogun Business Association (BBA) which at present has factional caretaker committees and more than 30 cases in court. Every week, the executive of the market are going from one court to the other and spending the money that would have been used in the development of the market. ASPMDA has not known peace for more than six years now and as I speak, they are under forced caretaker committee. There is no peace in APT.

“It is only in Mandilas International Trade Centre that there is no bitterness or rancor and this is as a result of the way, Chief Okeke has being piloting the affairs of the market. And as you know, reasonable people don`t change a winning team,” a trader told News Express reporter.

Some of the achievements of Chief Okeke, the traders said, include functional borehole, adequate security, which has made Mandilas International Trade Centre, the only market in Lagos State with no case of burglary or stealing, periodic health week for traders and customers, the cleanest market in Lagos State, the market won award as the cleanest market in Lagos State.

Others include being the first market in Lagos State to operate a TSA account for the sake of accountability and transparency, empowerment of the down trodden through collaboration with multinational organisations, among others

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