Chairman of Kogi Union of Telephone Technicians and Accessories Dealers, Tahir Salifu, has called on the state government to provide the union with a permanent site with title deeds for them to carry out their businesses without hitches.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on the eviction letter issued to members of the union by the state government, Salifu said the union was not opposed to relocation from the present Olusegun Obasanjo Square site.
According to him, the major concern of his members was not the eviction order but the ability of government to provide them a befitting location with minimal problems to their customers and clients.
He said the union was willing to move to a convenient location to allow government utilise their present location for a more meaningful project that would enhance the economy of the state.
The chairman said the site in Zango-Daji being suggested by the government, apart from being too far and small for his over 500 members was controversial as different interest groups were claiming ownership of the property.
He however regretted that when his members were forcefully evicted from the Post Office area of Lokoja to the present location, many of them were forced out of business with others still paying debts incurred as a result of the relocation.
“We have held several meetings with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede and an agreement has been reached that if government wants to use the Obasanjo Square, they should provide a befitting permanent site for us”, he said.
