Chairperson of the Association of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Eric Ilechukwu, has announced the association’s preparedness to officially present its newly constructed Trade Fair Shopping Centre on February 14, 2025, during the association’s 25th anniversary celebration.
  
Noting that it would be a one-stop shop for commercial trading, he hinted that the facility would boost local trade within the country and serve West Africa and the whole of Africa in the future.

Situated inside the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos Badagry Express Way, Ilechukwu said the centre is worth over N28 trillion in terms of infrastructure, trade investments and human resources combined. Revealing that it has been under construction for 25 years, he said this was partly due to its size but mostly due to the harsh economy which caused the price of building materials to skyrocket.

Ilechukwu, who doubles as president of the Association of Progressive Traders (APT/Jewelry Complex), revealed that most of the traders used to trade in Idumota, Mandilas, Balogun and Ebute Meta; adding that members of the Auto Spare Parts and Machineries Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) were the first batch of traders to complete and relocate from Idumota to the auto parts plaza, commencing trading activities at Trade Fair since February 14, 2000.

The association’s general secretary, Juventus Okpala disclosed that all the sections of the centre are complete and functional, including the Balogun Business Association; ASPAMDA’s Auto Parts Plaza; Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers/Africa Tyre Village; Association of Progressive Traders/Jewelry Complex; Tools and Hardware Centre; Mandilas United/Shoes, wears and bags centre; United Allied Spare Parts/Motorcycle,three wheeler and generator parts complex as well as the Ebute Ero/Home and kitchen utensils complex and so on.

“Everything you need from a world class international trade centre is available here and we can serve not just Nigeria but the whole of Africa with the right support and policies. Over 80 per cent of our members are genuine importers, manufacturers and trademark owners, we just need an enabling business environment,” he said.