The United Furniture Dealers Association Of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to include its members as beneficiaries of the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) stimulus package to save the industry from collapsing.
The CBN had in March announced the release of N50 billion TCF stimulus package to support households and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Emeka Egwuekwe, president of the association made the call shortly after the distribution of palliatives to some communities in Abuja on Saturday.
According to him, the furniture industry has lost over N600 million during the COVID-19 lockdown noting that a lot of companies would shut down after the pandemic.
“The Government should look into the furniture-making industry to save our members from going out of business after this COVID-19 pandemic.
” I want the Government include our members in the CBN’s N50 billion COVID-19 TCF.
“Our members need this bailout as the furniture industry provides over 6,000 jobs,” he said.
Egwuekwe, who is also the Managing Director of Prince Interior Furniture and Furnishing Company Ltd. said the palliatives was part of his corporate social responsibility and way of giving back to the society.
“A lot of companies will go into extinction as most of our raw materials are imported from China.
“Our members are losing money. We call on the federal government to save our businesses,” he said.
Egwuekwe also said that as part of the association’s contribution to contain the spread of the Covid-19, members have organised awareness in communities and churches through radio jingles and mobilised health officials to enlighten the people.
The association distributed food stuffs, bags of rice, Noddles, hand sanitizers, face masks and cash donations at Kugbo1 and Kugbo2 and furniture market in FCT.
