A Non-Governmental Organization with bias for the trading community, Traders Across Boundaries Initiative Project, has called for the declaration of Traders day.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the Visioner of the project, Chief Osiri Young, said that the reason for the declaration is to appreciate the role traders were playing in the development of the national economy.

According to Young, since it has been proven that no nation can survive without commerce, it has therefore become imperative that a day should be declared in honour of those who are making the economy tick.

He said that one of the reasons why Nigeria’s economy was not flourishing was because traders have not been given due recognition to motivate them to do more for the country.

He added that even at that, the traditional markets have remained the biggest employer of labour in the country.

Speaking further, he said that doing business was being hampered by lack of access roads, environmental challenges like blockage and inadequate drainages.

According to him, having a special day for the traders would bring closer relationship and interaction between government and traders themselves.

In his contribution, the Grand Patron of the organization, High Chief Baba Golden Jay, called on all the state governments in the country to join them in the quest for a traders day.

According to High Chief Jay, Traders Across Boundaries Initiative Project was out to achieve a harmonious relationship between government and traders.

Also contributing, a popular Lagos-based market leader, Chief Emmanuel Mbamara, said that the association was out to serve as a voice to the otherwise voiceless traders.

He noted that traders were being harassed, intimidated and maligned unnecessarily by some security agencies, simply because they don’t have anybody to speak for them.

Mbamara expressed optimism that when Traders Day is instituted, it would be serving as a forum for them to be articulating their challenges and presenting same as a body to government for possible solutions.

He called on market groups that have not keyed into the vision of the organisation to make haste and do so, since it was in their own interest.

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