By Daniel Tyokua
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has commenced the development of a 2,000-shop ultramodern market in Wasa district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the ground breaking ceremony on Tuesday, chairman of the council, Christopher Maikanlangu said the initiative is to expand commercial activities, creat jobs and bring trading opportunities closer to residents.
He said the project, being executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Imavug Ltd., occupies 7.5 hectares of land near Wasa Primary School off the Apo-Karshi Road.
Maikanlangu said the market would stimulate economic growth and create opportunities, particularly for women and youths in Wasa and neighbouring communities.
He explained that the council adopted the PPP model because of its limited capacity to independently develop all its markets.
According to him, the arrangement would enable the council to leverage private-sector resources to expand market infrastructure across the area.
The chairman urged residents to cooperate with the developer and ensure that members of the host community were carried along throughout the construction process.
In his remarks, the contractor and Managing Director of Imavug Ltd., Mr Albert Erhabor, described the project as a dream market designed to address the challenges of congestion, poor planning and inadequate facilities associated with existing markets in the FCT.
Erhabor said the company had consulted traders in Gudu and other markets to understand their needs before designing the facility.
According to him, the 2,000-shop complex would feature different shop sizes, ranging from four to 75 square metres, alongside duplex shops, warehouses, restaurants, banks and event halls.
He added that the market would incorporate alternative energy sources, including solar power, while its pricing structure would accommodate traders across different income groups.
The developer disclosed that financiers and banking partners had been secured, adding that several shops had already attracted prospective occupants.
