Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said that the Kaduna State Government is helping traders to own shops, instead of being tenants and this empowerment plan is turning 6,000 traders at the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market from tenants to shop owners.
Speaking at the presentation of Deeds of Sublease to the Sheikh Gumi and Kawo markets traders, the governor explained that his administration is supporting this massive transfer of wealth by arranging mortgage facilities for the traders at single-digit interest rates.
The governor commended the Kaduna Market Development and Management Company (KMDMC) for successfully delivering this programme and its dogged pursuit of the market building and expansion programme.
He noted that the 16 markets which KMDMC is building in partnership with private investors, will help to expand retail spaces for traders and improve the shopping experience for citizens.
The governor said that his administration is correcting the anomaly of ‘attachment’ and hoarding of shops by government officials and politicians, to the detriment of traders.
El-Rufai recalled that many people doubted the government’s intention when he said that only traders would be given shops because of what happened during the past administrations, adding that ‘’today we have been vindicated.’’
‘’When we were making plans for this system where traders will be the ultimate beneficiaries, we were insulted, either due to ignorance or mischief. Some people who had vested interest sponsored attacks against us but we were determined to do the right thing.
‘’You know that some times, the people that you want to help will not only resist the change that you are planning to introduce but will also criticize you. That was what we faced,’’ El-Rufai lamented.
He recalled that Kawo market was built in 1975 when the population of the state was not as large as large as it is now, adding that traders were forced to relocated to the new market which was at a remote layout, from the main road where it was.
The governor narrated that Kasuwan Barci got its name because when it was built, the traders who were forced to relocate there, had very little patronage.
‘’The anecdote at that time was that traders displayed their wares but because there were no customers, they were dozing in the market. ‘Kasuwan Barci’ means ‘the market where people sleep’,’’ he clarified.
According to El-Rufai, most traders have now realized the noble intentions of his administration and some of them have even approached him to ask for forgiveness, adding that he has forgiven those who insulted him out of ignorance.
The governor told beneficiaries that the shops belong to them because they have paid for them. ‘’The shops will become your personal properties which your heirs will inherit after your demise,’’ he said.
El-Rufai further told them that ‘’you can even use the shops’ documents to obtain bank loans just like Certificates of Occupancy. The shops belong to you. They are legitimately yours.‘’
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