By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced plans to set up Market Development Authority (MDA) to be solely responsible for managing and regulating affairs of markets in the state.
When fully established, the MDA will be vested with the responsibility of restoring original master plans of major markets across the state, Kure ultra modern market in particular whose original plans have been badly altered by politicians and their stooges.
Governor Bago made the declaration in response to observations by former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on how Kure market's original master plan have been bastardized by some individuals who constituted themselves into market leaders engaged in indiscriminate allocation of spaces meant for car parks and walkways.
Babangida Aliyu was at government house to commiserate with state government over the Mokwa flood disaster that has so far claimed 260 lives and destroyed properties worth several millions of Naira.
The former Governor had raised alarm over the indiscriminate space allocation for new structures, warehouses and stalls by some politicians in the state and therefore wants Governor Bago to do something urgently in order to save the market from danger of being inaccessible encase of emergency situations.
Aliyu said he is surprised that Chanchaga Local Government which never contributed when the idea of Kure market are now the ones controlling the market.
Those who never showed up when the idea was birthed are the ones that constitute themselves to control the market, engage in illegal sale of spaces, shortchange the state government by collecting huge sums from unsuspecting citizens, including traders and shop owners but remitting meagre sum into government treasury.
In response, Governor Bago thanked Babangida Aliyu for the insight into the Kure ultramodern market and how the original design and masterplan were being altered by self seeking individuals.
Governor Bago also told his guest about plans to establish MDA that would align with the new local government administrative system that will ensure blockage of all leakages in government revenue generating sources.
To end activities of those sabotaging the state government, Governor Bago told his guests that a bill to MDA is already awaiting passage by the State House of Assembly. NNL.
