The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has expressed optimism that the newly constructed Ngalda Modern Market will bolster the state’s post-insurgency economic recovery programme and stimulate commercial activities in the area.
Speaking at the commissioning of the market in Ngalda, Fika Local Government Area, Governor Buni said the project, named after the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, would expand employment and income-generating opportunities, given the market’s long-standing reputation for attracting traders from across the country.
He noted that the Ngalda Weekly Market had historically contributed significantly to the state’s economy and urged residents to take ownership of the facility by maintaining cleanliness and ensuring its proper use, so that government investment would yield lasting value.
The governor also directed market administrators to block revenue leakages and ensure that all proceeds are remitted to government coffers.
Governor Buni explained that naming the market after Governor Yahaya was in recognition of his wealth of experience and success in economic development, describing it as a reflection of the strong bond of unity between the neighbouring states. He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening cooperation and brotherhood between Yobe and Gombe States.
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In his remarks before commissioning the project, Governor Yahaya described the market as a legacy initiative that would benefit not only the present generation but also future generations in Yobe, Nigeria, and beyond. He thanked Governor Buni for the honour, noting his own family’s long history in commerce while describing the market as strategically important due to its proximity to Gombe State.
Governor Yahaya also urged the business community to manage and sustain the facility properly to ensure it remains viable and impactful to the economies of Ngalda, Fika Local Government Area, Yobe State, and neighbouring Gombe, a major beneficiary of the market’s activities.
Modern Market
Earlier, the Yobe State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Umar Kaigama, said the modernisation of Ngalda Market was designed to provide a secure and conducive environment for trade while preventing incidents such as theft, social vices, and fire outbreaks that affected the former market site.
He disclosed that the market occupies about 1,200 square metres and comprises 144 open stalls, 96 lock-up shops, 32 warehouses, and 36 meat stalls, as well as three refuse dump sites, four blocks of public toilets with ten conveniences shared between male and female users, and an administrative block for market officials.
According to him, the facility also includes a clinic with consulting rooms, a dispensary, observation beds, and a laboratory, in addition to parking spaces, a police outpost, and a fire service unit.
The market is equipped with two boreholes, water reticulation tanks, an underground reservoir, access roads, and an internal drainage system to ensure a safe, hygienic, and business-friendly environment.
Mr Kaigama added that the project provides a lasting solution to the persistent flooding that has previously caused significant loss of lives and property in Ngalda.
“A major drainage channel is being constructed to redirect floodwaters from the market through the town into the river, thereby protecting Ngalda from flooding during the rainy season,” he said.
The Ngalda Modern Market forms part of the Buni administration’s broader strategy to expand economic opportunities, strengthen local commerce, improve infrastructure, promote grassroots development, and empower small and medium-scale enterprises across Yobe State.