Kano Traders Seek Upgrade Of Infrastructure In Markets

Traders at Kano’s largest vegetables outlet, Yankaba Market, have called on the state and local governments to upgrade infrastructure in the facility and other markets in the state.

They said the markets, especially Yankaba Market, was in dire need of expansion and more infrastructure to boost their activities.

They appealed to Governor Abba Yusuf to make the upgrade of infrastructure one of the priorities of his administration.

The chairman of the Traders’ Association, Aminu Lawal, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, said the market has expanded with more traders, customers and trading activities by 80 percent from when it was established in 1983, noting that some traders have resorted to using veranda and roadside to display their goods.

Lawal identified lack of space, electricity, good road network, multiple taxation, issue of waste disposable and shades as some of the major challenges faced by traders in the market who predominantly sell fruits and vegetables such as pepper, tomatoes, hot pepper, onions, okra, spinach, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, water melon among others.

He said trading activities goes on in the market all day and night, noting that most goods are offloaded at night, from 7.00pm till day break and as early as 5.00am people start to load and troupe in for buying and selling.

“The market operates even at night, and in dare need of constant electricity or solar power that can brighten the market and enhance security.

“Thousands of traders are involved in this local market. We train young persons who are interested in trading. But the small traders are more and are in need of more capital for business.

“The market was established in 1983, and the plan then was an old and limited one. Now the market ground is really inadequate and is tight and has really expanded by 80 percent in terms of business and people. Since that time, it has not been expanded.

“We also need appropriate means of disposing refuse looking at the food items that is being sold at the market, we need to keep good hygiene,” the chairman said.