Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
FEDERAL Government has been urged to include the furniture manufacturing sub-sector in the N50 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stimulus package for households and small businesses.
The president, United Furniture Dealers Association of Nigeria (UFDAN), Prince Emeka Egwuekwe, warned that many companies might shut down in view of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s economy.
Egwuekwe prayed the Federal Government to impress on the CBN to extend stimulus package to the furniture manufacturing sub-sector, because it lost over N600 million to the COVID-19 lockdown.
He said: “I want the government to look at ways of including our members in the CBN N50 billion COVID-19 intervention loan. Our members need this bailout loan as the furniture industry provides jobs for millions of people.
“The government should look into our sector, the furniture industry, because if care is not taken, a lot of furniture dealers would go out of business after this COVID-19 pandemic.’’
“If you go to the Kugbo furniture market in Abuja here alone, you will discover that over 6,000 Nigerians are making their living from the market.
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