By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory,, Dr Mahmoud Mariya has flagged off the construction of 618 shops at Zuba modern market in Gwagwalada Area Council.
She said the construction will be based on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The minister said the initiative is an indication of government h commitment to the provision of critical infrastructure to residents, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President.
Mahmoud also stressed that the ground breaking was a bold step by the FCT Administration through the Gwagwalada Area Council towards reducing the burden on funding through budgetary allocations.
She revealed that the Zuba Modern Market was awarded to Khuntex Engineering Company Limited in December 2021, on a Public Private Partnership agreement, to redevelop the market to a modern standard.
The minister further added that the agreement was for the Area Council to provide unencumbered land and Khuntex to fund the construction 100 percent.
While emphasising the importance of robust market infrastructure in rural areas, the minister noted that rural markets serve as the lifeline of countless communities, providing a platform for farmers and artisans to sell their produce and goods.
Mahmoud assured that through collaboration, the rural markets are equipped with modern facilities that would not only enhance the efficiency of agricultural value chains, but also empower rural entrepreneurs to access larger markets and attain better prices for their products.
In his remarks, the chairman Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Abubakar Giri, identified the Zuba modern market as one of the major markets that would boost the revenue base of the Council.
He promised that other abandoned markets within the area council would be revived, even as he called on the contractor to complete the construction work within the stipulated period.
Dayo Jigan, chairman of the company, assured that the first phase of the project would be completed in 10 months, as a mark of unwavering commitment and collaborative spirit of two dynamic forces while the second phase will take 10 months.
He described the partnership as a labour of love and dedication.
Recall that the 618 Zuba modern market will consists of mixed units of open/lock up shops, warehouses, eatery, banking hall, restaurant, police post, fire station, public toilet, bus loading bay as well as other amenities in line with global standard.
