Fishing, the traditional occupation of the people of Lokoja has received a boost with the donation of a fish market complex and two cold rooms to fishermen and traders by Hon. Buba Jibril.
Speaking at the inauguration of the facilities in Lokoja on Sunday, Jibril said that he decided to build the ultra-modern market to boost fish trade and encourage local fishermen to remain on the trade.
He said that the market complex comprised 55 stalls, two cold rooms and three gas/coal powered modern smoking rooms, adding that a borehole and 250KVA power generating set were also provided to ease preservation of large quantity of fish.
![](https://kogireports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/NKFI-Admissions-Advert-Ad.jpg)
The two cold rooms have a combine capacity to accommodate 3,000 tons of fish at a time.
According to him, the efforts will help in curbing wastes associated with local fishing and trading and also lead to an increase in the incomes of both fishermen and traders.
Jibril who is Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives said that the construction of the market complex followed a training he recently facilitated for 150 people in the areas of fish farming and preservation through the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).
The Deputy Majority Leader who was represented at the event by a Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Hon. Kassim Mabo later handed over the new fish shopping complex to the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Mohammed Maikarfi.
The monarch while receiving the project commended Jibril for not forgetting his roots , saying that fishing and fish trade still remain the major occupation of the indigenes of Lokoja.
He said that the gesture will not only preserve the much treasured fishing tradition of the people, but will also boost their income and elevate the status of fishing and fish trade.
Maigari who was represented by the Woziri of Lokoja, Alhaji Abdurahman Idris promised to complement the efforts of the federal lawmaker by allocating the stall to fish traders on the bases of fairness and equity.
He also promised to ensure good maintenance of the facilities , urging other politicians to emulate Jibril by impacting positively on the life of the ordinary people.
Inaugurating the project, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr James Faleke praised Jibril for his efforts at the developing the economy of his constituency.
Faleke who was represented by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr Bamidele Suru urged the people to reciprocate the good gesture by continuing to support Jibril and the APC.
Present at the occasion are Mr Ismail Yahaya who stood in for the state Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo, traditional rulers from the Lokoja-Koto Federal constituency and market leaders.