Odu’a Chamber Demands Subvention from FG

The Odu’a Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ODUCCIMA) has demanded the allocation of annual subventions to it from the Federal Government.

ODUCCIMA, which comprises the five South-Western States of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun, made the call on Thursday at its council meeting in Abeokuta.

Chief Alaba Lawson, President of the chamber, said the three chambers of commerce in the northern part of the country: Kaduna, Kano and Abuja, had been enjoying that while ODUCCIMA was yet to benefit since it was registered in 2006.

"The Federal Government has supported others, so we expect it to support us too by giving us this yearly subvention. We will continue to ask for our right and one day, somebody will listen to us," she said.

She expressed optimism that the subvention would be paid in arrears for the first two international fairs organized by the chamber and the one slated for Osogbo in Osun between Oct. 21st and 30th.

Lawson observed that the complete dependence on oil was not doing the nation any good and therefore urged the FG to take serious measures to rediscover its lost glory in agriculture adding that the chambers’ focus was to promote agriculture and allied products in order to improve the economies of the south-west and the country at large.