Traders Want Low Shopping Malls Rent

Traders in Kaduna recently urged owners of shopping malls in the metropolis to reduce rents to make the malls affordable.They also urged the government to intervene by enacting a law prohibiting excessive charges. The Tide reports that investors in the state have built multi-million naira shopping malls in different parts of Kaduna metropolis, Zaria and Kafanchan as part of effort to promote business activities. The proliferation of the complexes is to also decentralise business activities in the state capital.Some of the prominent shops constructed recently include the popular Markarfi Plaza, Mangal Plaza, Mogadishu shopping malls, Sabri Complex and many others.However, many of the malls are either vacant or partially occupied due to high rent demanded by the owners. About 60 per cent of the complexes are occupied, thus, allowing them to become abode for lunatics, dogs, birds, rodents and insectsSome of the traders at the Mogadishu shopping malls, which comprise five blocks, told our reporter  that the high rent being charged by the owners had forced them to look for alternatives.Alhaji Munir Sabo, an occupant of Sabri Complex, said some of the malls were not patronised due to their locations. According to him, a shop attracts between N150,000 and N300,000 per annum. A manager of Kura Plaza, who preferred to remain anonymous, said most of the vacant malls had been taken over by banks due to unresolved loans.