The United Nigeria Airlines, in collaboration with Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, Lagos, promotes football competition among their members to foster unity, create leisure and achieve fitness
By Innocent Chukwu
Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association has officially announced the 3.0 Edition of its football event in collaboration with the United Nigeria Airlines. The football event with the tag, “The United Nigeria Airlines Ndigboamaka Traders Cup 2026 (3.0 Edition)”, is part of a fresh initiative by the two organizations to encourage their members and staff to engage in sporting activities for leisure and fitness.
Speaking at the event in Lagos on Monday, September 28, 2026, the National President of the Ndigboamaka, Comrade Chinedu Ukatu, described the official unveiling as a milestone.
Ukatu said, ”Today, we are marking another milestone. We are bringing all 58 markets together, not in the marketplace, but on the football pitch under one umbrella of unity.
”As you all know, Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association is the apex body of 58 major markets in Lagos State with over two million traders. Our mandate goes beyond trade – we promote unity, peace, welfare and progress of our members and the entire Lagos trading community”.
Describing football as a unifying language, Comrade Ukatu said it serves as a positive engagement and a unifying force for youths in the markets, hence the vision to establish the sporting event.
According to him, “We need to promote healthy living among our traders. We want to strengthen brotherhood among markets – Alaba, Trade Fair, Ladipo, Computer Village, Balogun, Lagos Island, ASPMDA and all others.
”I am, therefore, very delighted to announce that United Nigeria Airlines, a proudly Nigerian airline led by our National Grand Patron, Professor Obiora Okonkwo (OFR), has graciously accepted to be the Title Sponsor of this tournament.
”United Nigeria Airlines is an airline that believes in connecting people and businesses – just as we connect markets and traders. Its decision to partner with us shows their deep commitment to grassroots development and the informal sector which is the real engine of Nigeria’s economy.”
The tournament named United Nigeria Airlines Ndigboamaka Traders Cup 2026 has the theme Unity, Enterprise and Healthy Living.
Of the 58 affiliate markets, Ukatu said 12 qualified market teams are billed to participate for a duration of six weeks.
The grand finale in Lagos will feature trophies, medals and cash prizes. It would be graced by an expected audience of over 500,000 direct spectators and over five million reach via radio and social media.
”This tournament will also be an opportunity to discover football talents among our traders and empower our youths,” Ukatu said.
On behalf of the National Executive of Ndigboamaka, Comrade Ukatu thanked the Chairman and Management of United Nigeria Airlines for believing in the vision.
”I also thank all our media partners who have agreed to join us on this journey.”
He called on all market leaders, corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to come out and support what he described as a laudable project.
Meanwhile, following campaign activities preparatory to the 2027 general elections, the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association has taken what it calls a political and economic stand as it affects the Nigerian trader.
Ukatu made the disclosure in Lagos, Monday, while speaking on the state of the nation and issues of grave concern to the Nigerian trading community.
He explained that as leaders of the largest market association in West Africa representing over 58 major markets and millions of traders in Lagos State, Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association cannot remain silent and unconcerned while its members bear the brunt of the current realities of the Nigerian nation.
On the political turf, he described his Association as non-partisan, adding,
”Let us state clearly once again that as an Association, we are non-partisan. We do not belong to any political party. But we will only support and endorse parties and candidates who are willing to accommodate our aims and objectives vis-à-vis protecting the interests of traders.
”As traders, we desire only one thing: stability. Business thrives where there is peace and predictability.”
While commending the Federal Government on current efforts to secure the nation, the Association condemned insecurity on the highways. He said,
”Lagos to Onitsha, to Kano, to Port Harcourt has become a direct tax on trading. Our members pay heavily to move goods. Trucks are delayed, goods are lost, drivers are attacked.”
Warning that the economy cannot grow when the roads that connect the markets are not safe, Ukatu appealed to the Federal and State Governments to do more to secure the trade corridors.
”The trader is not a politician; he is not interested in party A or party B. He is interested in whether his goods will get to the market safely.”
”We also call for an end to multiple taxation and harassment by non-state and state actors. In Lagos alone, a single container is subjected to over 15 different levies from the port to the shop. This is politically unsustainable.”
Still on the economic state of the nation, the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association Servant-Leader described the Nigerian trader as resilient. However, resilience has a limit, he explained.
”Today, the Nigerian economy is facing a triple challenge: high exchange rate, high cost of energy, and low purchasing power.”
Addressing foreign exchange and imports, he said over 70% of goods in Nigerian markets are imported.
”The volatility of the Naira to the Dollar has made price planning impossible. A trader who orders goods today cannot predict the cost of clearing it tomorrow. We call on the Central Bank of Nigeria to create a special stability window for genuine importers of essential commodities and raw materials.”
Traders, he regretted, run their businesses on diesel and generators.
” The cost of power is now higher than the rent of our shops. We cannot compete with other nations where traders have 24-hour electricity. We urge the Federal Government to fast-track the special industrial and market power projects.”
Decrying mounting inflation and a reduction in purchasing power, the Association boss said their customers now buy less.
”Families are cutting down on everything. When the buyer has no money, the seller cannot sell. We therefore support all policies that bring down food inflation and put money back in the pockets of ordinary Nigerians.”
On rumoured protests regarding Chinese and other foreigners taking over retail trade ordinarily reserved for Nigerians, he clarified that his group never mobilized any trader to protest against Chinese citizens or any other foreigners in Nigeria as Nigeria is a hospitable nation.
”However, as a trade union, we are asking for what is done all over the world. We seek the required legislation and enforcement of the Indigenous Trade Policy as regards retail trade and investment.
The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of 1972 now replaced by the NIPC Act, he recalled, clearly reserved retail trading for Nigerians.
”Today, we see foreigners moving from wholesale and manufacturing directly into our markets to sell retail, competing with our members who cannot do the same in their countries.”
”We are not asking for xenophobia; we are asking for reciprocity and protection as provided in other climes. We call on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to revisit and strengthen the Local Content and Retail Trade protection laws to save Nigerian traders from extinction,” he demanded.
On political parties now canvassing for votes, the group said the traders would only support candidates or parties that will abide by specific commitments that favour the association.
”For the sake of the millions of traders we represent, we shall only support any Candidate or Party that will assure us of the following;
“One, setting up a joint Federal and State Task Force to address multiple taxation at the ports and on the roads.
“Two, improved security on major trade routes, especially the Lagos – Benin – Onitsha corridor”.
