Artisans in FCT appeal for soft loans to boost businesses

SOME artisans and small business owners in the FCT have appealed to banks and the Federal Government to provide them with soft loans to enable them to expand their businesses.

The artisans made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Joseph Luka, a cobbler in Gwagwalada market, said his business was capable of employing no fewer than 20 people, if adequately funded.

According to him, some shoes and leather bags manufactured in Nigeria are better than imported ones, but the level of patronage was not encouraging.

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“The materials I use are of good quality but some customers will always want to see things made from China or U.S.

“I produce more than 30 quality shoes every week but I have challenges to secure a big shop in the market because of the high rent charged.

“If my business is adequately funded, I can employ over 20 people for mass production, and even export them,” he said.

He, however, lamented the paucity of funds that had affected the growth of his business and urged commercial banks and the Federal Government to assist him with a soft loan to boost his business.

Mrs Abigail Nuhu, a producer of Aloe Vera cream in Abaji, said that her product was of good quality and could compete with similar products anywhere.

She, however, decried the high cost of production; especially the fees imposed by the Standards Organisation Nigeria (SON) and other sister agencies.

Nonetheless, she said that her product had good patronage but had not spread far and fast because she could not afford charges for a registration number.

She called on the government to give loans to artisans and small business owners to enable them to register their goods and outfits so as to grow their businesses.

Mr Monday Turu, who deals on POP designs and house finishing in Kuje Area Council, said that his major challenge was the inability to access credit facilities to buy designing materials.

“There are machines used to get beautiful designs for POP ceilings and wall finishings and it is very important in my kind of business, but they are expensive.

“We want banks and the government to assist us with soft loans so that our business will grow,’’ Turu said.