Traders in Ilorin have urged Nigerians to patronise goods produced locally as a means of growing the nation’s economy.

The traders made the plea while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday.

A cloth seller at Challenge in Ilorin, Mr Stanley Eze, said that most customers demanded for foreign products when they entered his shop.

“Many customers prefer to buy products made in Italy than those made in Nigeria, ‘’ he said.

Another trader, Mr Thompson Umuategbu, said that many customers bought foreign shoes from him and rejected locally-made ones.

“I hardly sell most of my made-in-Nigeria clothes as many customers preferred the imported ones.’’ he said.

The owner of Queens Boutique, Mrs Helen Emmanuel, advised Nigerians to patronise locally-made goods, adding that locally products could compete favourably with the foreign ones.

“Allowing influx of foreign goods in Nigerian markets is detrimental to the growth of the local industries,’’ Emmanuel said.

A business man, Mr Tope Adeoti, said that many Nigerians appeared favourably disposed toward foreign goods, saying that Nigerians needed to revive their confidence in locally-made products.

According to him, too much preference for imported goods will kill local industries.

Adeoti, however, called on the Federal government to ban importation of many foreign goods, so that local companies would be allowed to grow.

He urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to embark on an awareness campaign to sensitise Nigerians to patronise locally-made goods in order to create jobs for the youth.

“Starting from our various homes, schools, church, mosque and work place, there should be awareness campaign about Nigerian products,’’ Adeoti said. (NAN)

– Nov. 12, 2018 @ 12:39 GMT |