Loggers seek better working environment

By Fatimo Bakare

Loggers in Lagos have urged the government to provide a conducive environment for their businesses to thrive.

The operators lamented  that challenges like bad road, change in weather forecast, high levies by government, high fuel price, among others, have increased their cost of production and  diminished their profit.

A logger, Mr Bogunbe Hussein, whose shop is located at the Orisunmibare Plank Market, Agege, Lagos,  noted that his business, Olabogunbe Ventures, which he inherited from his father has been thriving, but not without the challenges which seem to have gone worse by the harsh business environment.

Hussein urged government to come to their aid by providing good road network, reduce price of fuel, reduce high government levies, to help boost sale of there products.

“As a logger, the nature of my business requires searching for strong woods such as Iroko, Itara, Kokoigbo, Akum from states like Ondo, Ibadan, Ekiti and among others. It is not always an easy feat because challenges such as bad road, change in weather forecast, high levies ranging from one state to another, high fuel price, and among others, makes it difficult to make profit.”

Hussein who advised fellow operators to be patient and consistent as the nature of the  business comes with its challenge of little or no sales, urged government to make improve the state of infrastructure in the country, like electricity, road, multiple levies high price of fuel among others.

Mr Iyanda Arufai Babatunde, a member of Odo Eran Plank and Building Material Association at Ogba, also attested to the challenges wood loggers are facing.

He lamented that the hike in fuel price, bad road, high levy  from the ministry of forestry,  have contributed to increase in the cost of plank.

“All these challenges have reduced sales as some customers can’t afford to buy at high price.”

Furthermore, Mr Idowu Jiwa the owner of ID Interior Furniture Decoration at Williams Estate, Agege Lagos also decried the hurdles he was facing due to the high cost of materials.

He lamented that the price of his furniture has increased, blaming it on  devaluation of the naira, inflation and and the state of the  economy.

He narrated with grief that only few customers can afford furniture now as the purchasing power of many Nigerians have  diminished.

“Nigerians are hungry now and need food, furniture is secondary.”

He urged the government to find a lasting solution to the  hike in fuel price, naira devaluation and among others.