Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has commissioned the Maiduguri Monday Market, which was rebuilt after it was razed by fire on Sunday, February 26, 2023.
The governor also announced that about 8,000 traders who rented shops and paid rent to the state government through the market authority will not have to pay rent for the next two years because of the huge losses they suffered during the fire.
“As you would recall, Maiduguri Monday Market was burned down by fire in February 2023. The Borno State Government set up a committee to rebuild the market. The market has now been completely rehabilitated, with over 8,000 traders benefiting from the remodelled market,” Zulum said.
The remodelled market structure involved a comprehensive redesign and expansion plan with a more organised and accessible space for business activities.
It has wider walkways, designated zones for different product categories, and some basic facilities, all of which have now transformed the market into a shopper-friendly destination.
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Zulum had, in February, released N2bn to the committee constituted to administer activities relating to the market, with an additional N1bn as palliative to victims of the fire disaster.
Zulum, at the commissioning, announced N800m support for about 2,825 traders who were unable to be allocated shops after the remodelling.
They had previously operated in temporary shade and market stalls, while some operated illegally.
“In the course of the reconstruction exercise, the committee recommended the remodelling of the market because it was found that the congestion in the market had contributed to the escalation of the fire incident,” Zulum said.
“As a result of the remodelling, over 2,000 traders who either operated at a temporary site or built shops illegally on waterways, could not get shops in the market. However, the government will support over 185 of them with N1m each; 2,000 others will get N300,000 each and about 640 will receive N100,000 each,” Zulum also said.
The governor promised that the 2,825 traders would be allocated shops at a new market to be sited in Maiduguri.
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