Traders and business outfits from neighbouring countries and south of Nigeria have shunned the 15th Niger State domestic trade, alleging insecurity.
But the state government has responded. It stated that there was no security threat in the state.
Businessmen from Benin, Ghana, Niger Republic, and Togo alleged that there were rumours of more attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in Niger State.
Our correspondent who visited the complex, Tuesday reports that the atmosphere at the Minna Trade fair complex was more of isolation than business-like.
The recent attack by Fulani herdsmen on worshippers inside a Mosque at Etogi village, Mokwa Local Government Area which claimed 27 lives and the stabbing of a Gwari man at a drinking joint in Paiko which led to the loss of five lives created fears of possible more attacks.
A source close to the organisers of the annual fair who confirmed the poor traders’ participation told our correspondent that, “Everybody in the south are saying that the north is becoming unsafe and it is very difficult to convince them about their safety and that of their wares”.
It was also gathered that only six northern states; Plateau, Sokoto, Kano, Benue, Zamfara and Jigawa had as at Monday indicated their intention to participate in the exhibition.
But the Director General of the Niger State Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Adamu Salihu, declined to comment on the poor patronage.
Meanwhile, Niger State government claimed that the poor participation in the 2017 Minna Domestic Trade Fair was as a result of insecurity, insisting, “there is no cause for alarm over security issues in any part of Niger State.”
State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, while reacting to the development, said, “Though we had security issues in Mokwa and Paiko which is just two out of the 25 council areas, that does not put the entire state at security risk as being insinuated”.
Vatsa also said that the Minister of Trade and Investments, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, was expected as Special Guest of Honour when Governor Abubakar Sani Bello would declare the trade fair with the theme: ‘Patronizing Made- in- Nigeria Goods’ open.