Exhibitors last Sunday expressed mixed reactions over patronage at the 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair holding at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.

While some of them told newsmen that the sales were poor, others said they had got people interested in continuing business relationships with them after the fair.

One of the exhibitors at Akwa Ibom stand, Mr Managing Director, Jekon Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd., producers of RIV Pam Red Palm Oil, Godswealth Henry, said his outing was impressive.

“Visitors to our stand and patronage in terms of sales and prospective investors are encouraging.

“I am happy to be at the 2013 Lagos Trade Fair. The idea of the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Commerce bringing us to participate is being achieved.

“We are into edibles, that is, adding value to farm products so that it meets international standards for export.

“Our presence at the fair is to get investors in Lagos to be able to evaluate the acceptance of the product when we start exporting them,” he said.

Another exhibitor from Cameroun Stand and Managing Director, GIC Laboratoire Gefeh, manufacturers of herbal medicine, Mr Ngwei George, said visitors had been enlightened on efficacy of herbal products.

“Our products are made from tree roots, leaves or seeds and we work with Ministry of Health, Cameroun.

“All the products on exhibition are certified by the Cameroun Government laboratories. We have different uses for cocoa seeds.

“For example, from the cocoa butter made from cocoa seed which is medicine on its own, we produce soaps, hair creams and lotions, among others.

“We have sex enhancement products from tree barks and roots and people not just Nigerians in all the fairs we have been worldwide patronise them a lot,” he said.

According to him, his greatest sales and patronage were on sex enhancement products at 2013 fair.

“Frigidity is a problem for both men and women. You will be surprised to hear that women patronise us a lot at this fair,” he said.

An exhibitor at Abia State stand, Mr Cosmos Onyeibe, however said the sales were poor and that the stand was too small to accommodate about 17 exhibitors that came with the state government.

“We are not happy with the 2013 Lagos Fair; see, this stand is too small; we are 17 exhibitors and we do not have enough room to exhibit our goods.

“Besides, we came to sell and we have not done that. So we are not happy at all,” he said.

Another exhibitor at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) who wanted to remain anonymous, said that people had been coming to the stand but that they were not buying.