Kogi state government has kicked off the construction of a new ultra-modern market in Lokoja.
The construction commenced immediately after the state government handed over the project site to an indigenous construction firm, Sazak Acres Biloque Company (SABC) Limited in Lokoja on Monday.
Handing over the site, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Taiye Abanika the ultra modern market, which would be built on 25 hectares of land, is expected to be completed in 36 months with modern facilities to drive development in the state.
Abanika explained that the need for the new market in line with the determination of Governor Usman Ododo to urbanize the state and make it more friendly to investment.
“The governor placed high premium on the development of the state. The market will open up development in the area create jobs for the people and as well speed up development in the confluence state.
“We have done due diligence on the company, to determine their capability and we found them capable. I therefore encouraged them to do a quality job in line with the specification contained in the contract papers,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, explained that the new ultra-modern modern market located at Crusher area on Hassan Katsina road will accommodate traders from all the seven small markets that are presently in different locations in Lokoja.
“The Ododo Administration is also committed to ensuring that all the 7 smaller markets in Lokoja are brought under one roof through the new Lokoja Ultra Modern Market. This will help us in having a cleaner and safer Lokoja.
“Those who conceived the International Market didn’t know that Lokoja will grow this big and become Nigeria’s connecting point. We have recorded a lot of accidents and Nigerians have lost so many loved ones because it was located at the intersection of two major roads.
“The Kogi State Government will move all the markets to the new Ultra Modern Market and convert the present International Market to Government Warehouses and Commodity Exchange Commission”.
Fanwo said the Government of Kogi State is ready to leverage the strategic location of the state for maximum commercial benefits, saying the Ultra Modern Market will turn Kogi to the commercial hub of Nigeria when completed.
“It’s not like the normal market that Nigerians are used to”, he said, maintaining that “the model will be copied by many other States”.
He urged traders across Lokoja and its environs not to nurse any fear as the Government will ensure a “smooth transition to the new market when completed”.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muhammed Ahovi Yusuf, charged the company to deliver high quality job by adhering strictly to the drawings and specification as contained in the bill of quantity.
He warned that government will not accept substandard job.
Mr Abdulrazaq Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of the contractor assured that the project would be delivered within the specified Period of 36 months
“We want to assure the Kogi state government that we are going to work within the context of the contractual agreement.
“We will deliver the job within the specified Period of 36 months.
“We are not just in the state to build only the market but through the quality of our job, we believe government will be motivated to give us other jobs.
“We are hoping that after this job, our firm would become the number one choice of the state in future projects execution,” he said.
