Nigerian Bizmen Plan Shopping Malls In S’Africa

The Nigerian Union in South Africa says it is planning to build shopping malls in major South African cities as part of efforts to boost trade relations between the two countries.

Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, President of the union, disclosed this in an interview with journalist recently.

He said that the project, which would be coordinated by the union, was an initiative aimed at boosting business and investment between South Africa and Nigeria.

Anyene said the first phase of the project would kick-off in Johannesburg while funds generated from it would be channelled towards building more of such malls in other major cities such as Pretoria.

He said “we have a lot of our people here that are traders. We are looking at building a flea market and this is not a project that the union can undertake without the support of the government stressing that “We are not asking the government to come and build flea market here and allocate stores to Nigerian businessmen and women.

“ He stressed that “It’s like a mall, but a small kind of mall. It’s like the kind of market you find in our place, like trade fair market, such markets  should be more organized here adding that “we can start either Pretoria or Johannesburg because this is the place that is needed most. Infact Johannesburg, Pretoria, then across, because what we need actually is if one is built, we can raise funds from there to build more.

He said “And we are not asking for free shops. Our people are ready to pay but the problem is the capital to start it, to build it in the first place.’’

He said the Federal Government could also encourage the Nigerian business community to invest in the project.

Anyene urged the Federal Government to create the necessary environment that would attract investors to our country.

‘’Nigerians in South Africa are willing to come and invest but they need the necessary infrastructure to be put in place. We want our country to be developed; we want infrastructure to be built. We know that our government is trying its best but we want them to do more.

‘’Nigeria is blessed with human and natural resources and we cannot continue to accept that our people should go to other countries to continue hustling and suffering. We want our country to be developed.’’