From Francis Nansak, Lafia
Masaka traders in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa state who have alleged that the state government through the Market Bureau, sold the land where the market is situated, have been urged to take advantage of the space allocated to them at the Muhammadu Buhari International Market.
The Director General, Market Bereau, Alhaji Zubairu Tanko told newsmen in Lafia, the state capital, refuted the allegation that government has ceded the land to the Dangote Group.
Tanko said the earlier the traders in Masaka take advantage of the state government provisions in the international market, the better for them.
According to him, government is perfecting plans with investor from Kano who have indicated interest to take ownership of shops provided by the state government in the international market, warning that failure on the part of indigenous marketers of Masaka, will risk losing space when the investors finally arrived.
“We are shocked by the rumour that Masaka market has been sold to Dangote, what will the billionaire stand to gain in a market as Masaka?
“All we are doing is to ensure that the usual traffic gridlock constituted on every Friday as a result of motorist stopping on that highway to unloading of goods from the market, which is extended towards the express road is free for traffic flows, where people coming from the eastern and northern part of the country go through to Abuja is totally free”.
He continued: “So on our part as the market bureau, we had earlier met with the traders and their various heads including the Esu Karu who is their Paramount ruler on the matter, proffering solutions to them to take advantage of the international market”.
