Commissioner for Industry and Investment in Bauchi State, Hon Mahmoud Baba Ma’aji, has clarified on the relocation of illegal market stalls, temporary market structures, containers and kiosks, and others from their present sites in the state capital.
He said the exercise was geared towards providing a more suitable environment for business opportunities and growth for the people.
Ma’aji said the affected structures would be relocated to new market villages, which would be created in clusters in various parts of Bauchi metropolis, as short and long term solutions to open up business activities and create employment for the residents.
According to the commissioner, the plan, which is part of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s Bauchi Project 2, is geared to secure the Bauchi metropolis, diversify the Bauchi revenue base, and attract investments from both within and outside the country into the state.
Ma’aji, in a just-concluded statewide media interactive session in Bauchi, also revealed that the plan will decongest Bauchi city of illegal structures while removing blockages of rights of way, facilitate the expansion of the city’s periphery, secure it, and provide a healthy environment for businesses to thrive.
“I want to believe that the programme is a welcome development for the people of Bauchi State, and I want to urge the people to continue to support the laudable policies and programmes of His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed in his drive to economically, socially and infrastructurally transform the state,” Ma’aji said.
He appreciated Governor Mohammed for his commitment to moving Bauchi State forward. However, he said that one of his ministry’s responsibilities is coordinating and implementing the government’s policies and programmes, especially as they relate to commerce and investment.
The commissioner called on the traders to cooperate with the Governor Bala Mohammed-led administration to relocate their businesses from the temporary sites to suitable locations within the Bauchi metropolitan area.
He further explained that relocating the temporary market stalls is in the best interest of the individual marketers.
“It also has to do with the issue of reducing environmental pollution and deregulation. In areas with congestion, there is a chance of the spread of diseases, as traffic management and control are also essential. One thing that is also important is cleaning of gutters for easy flow of water”, he added.
