By THEANALYSTNG
Handing over the site on Monday, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Taiye Abanika said the need for the new market is in line with the determination of the governor to urbanize the state and make it more friendly to investment.
According to Abanika, the project which would be executed on 25 hectares of land, is expected to be completed in 36 months with modern facilities to drive development in the state.
He said the state placed emphasis on value for money, hence the conduct of due diligence on the construction company, SABC Limited, to determine its capability in executing a job of that magnitude, before the contract was awarded.
“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 encourage them to do a quality job in line with the specification contained in the contract papers.
Speaking also, the Commissioner of works, Engr. Muhammed Ahovi Yusuf, charged the company to do a good job by adhering strictly to the drawings and specifications as contained in the Bill of Quantity.
He noted that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to the urbanization of the state and opening up of the rural areas and bring development closer to the people.
In the same vein, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and industry, Hon. Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu said the project is aimed at creating a modern market for people across the country, saying the market will become a commercial convergence point for traders across Nigeria given the location of the state.
After the hand over of the contract documents, the construction company promised to adhere strictly to the contractual agreement and do a quality job.
Also speaking on the project, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo said the project is the last leg of the Lokoja Urban Renewal Project (LURP).
According to him, the administration of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to ensuring that Lokoja looks like a 21st century State capital.
“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to ensuring that we have a capital city that is safe, beautiful and ready for business. The previous administration succeeded in having a single motor park for the capital city which is quite commendable.
“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”.
“Governor Ododo is truly a servant of the people. He is already planning how a smooth transition to the new market will be achieved without taking a negative toll on the traders”, he said.
