Governor Babagana Umara Zulum had reopened the Maiduguri Monday Market after months of closure due to fire outbreak that engulfed the whole market.
The unfortunate incident of the fire disaster took place in March 2023.
Soon after, the governor established a committee that was saddled with the responsibility of reconstructing the market under the leadership of Engineer Zarami Dungus.
Read Also: Borno State fire: Minister sympathizes with Monday Market Traders
During the rehabilitation exercise, the committee had recommended the remodeling of the Market stating that the major cause of the fire outbreak was a result of congestion and distortion of the main market plan.
The governor explained that the new remodeled Market has a total number of 2,666 shops and there are about 2000 marketers that are yet to benefit from the shop distribution.
The governor during the occasion said, “government has decided to give support of 300,000 to each of 2000 people who haven’t benefited. In addition, we have 185 traders that had built their shops with permanent structures; these 185 people will receive a million naira”.
The governor also added that there are 640 squatters, and each squatter will be given 100,000 naira each.
A sum of about 800 million naira will be given by the Borno State Government to those who haven’t benefited from the allocation of shops while also the government has promised to provide them with shops next year after it completes the new Maiduguri market.
In an interview with the governor, he said, “it is very unfortunate what happened at the Monday Market, the market has a large number of beneficiaries which is nothing less than 300,000. Rebuilding the market means we are bringing the means of livelihood to thousands of people and without the means of livelihood, we will witness a lot of economic hardship”.
Zulum also announced the waiver of 2 years tax to traders to regain from their losses till 2026 when government and market management will decide on the new tax.
Similarly, governor Zulum flagged-off the construction of 11 kilometres road in Cinimari, Gwozari and Kalari that comprises of Mafa and Jere Local Government Areas.
The governor noted that the construction of the road is to make ease of movement around that area for more economic gain.
He also said that government will ensure timely funding of the road project.
Zulum said, “since I assumed office as the governor of Borno State, all contracts awarded to contractors are based on one fundamental pack, no variation any contractor that’s fast track his project gets his payments as at when due”.
The governor urged the commissioner of Works to liaise with the ministry of finance to ensure that payment of the contractor is made in due course.
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