No fewer than 219 hectares of land have been allocated for the reconstruction of the Azare Ultra-modern market in Bauchi state during the weekend.
Making the announcement, the state governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, said the reconstruction would be in partnership with Messrs Modern Shelter System and Services Limited, stating that 648 shops are being targeted in the project.
The governor made the announcement at a groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction.
The move, he said, became necessary for the state to look inward to generate revenue to reduce dependence on the federation allocation for the execution of programmes and projects.
According to him, the ultra-modern market would be reconstructed with 648 shops, comprising lock-up shops, open stalls, warehouses, poultry section, and cold rooms as well as the provision of fire service and security outpost, among others.
The governor noted that the construction of ultra-modern markets in various parts of the state is part of his administration’s deliberate policy to improve the state’s economic fortune.
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Markets also said to have been identified for upgrading into ultra-modern market status on a public-private partnership basis in the state are the Azare Central Market, Bauchi Central Market, and Muda Lawal Market.
“Today’s occasion”, as stated by the governor, “marks a milestone in the economic development of not only Katagum Local Government but Bauchi State at large.”
“Since we came on board as a government in 2019, we have been making an effort to find ways and means of revitalizing and diversifying the economy of the State which will allow the government to concentrate on other areas such as health, education, and security,” he added.
While disclosing that the state government has offered various incentives to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, the governor said his administration has also keyed into the federal government’s policy of achieving effective implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
The effort is being made by the State Government through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to decelerate the rate of poverty and other socio-economic challenges among our people.
To this end, he was optimistic that “small and medium industries would be developed, using the abundant natural resources in the State through Export Promotion villages (EPVs), pilot Export Promotion Villages have been identified at Alkaleri, Zaki and Ganjuwa Local Governments.”
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