By, MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
An Ultra-Modern International Cattle Market to safeguard the lives of people of Soro town and environs in Bauchi state who have fallen victim of attack by stray cows is being constructed by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
The Commission Managing Director, Dr. Mohammad Goni Alkali disclosed that the ultra-modern market which construction work has reached an appreciable stage will be completed by the end of this year, 2021 and commission early next year, 2022.
Dr. Mohammed Alkali with the commission’s management team on inspection tour to the site project Friday, said that NEDC has been mandated to undertake intervention projects in the sub-region ravaged by 12 years’ activities of insurgency.
Alkali assured that every needed amenity such as electricity, water, public VIP toilets and other conveniences will be provided within the market for ease of doing business, as part of the commission mandate to intervene in areas that will make life easier for people of the sub region.
The NEDC Chief Executive said, “I have known about this market since my school years and I know how important it is to the people of the area. Based on the information we have, we decided to relocate the market to a safer and better place within the area of Soro town”.
Bauchi Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela who led the team to the site project, expressed delight with the Soro market, saying that it will decongest the town, as well as safe lives of innocent people on market days
He said however that provision be made to make business transactions in the market easier considering that Nigeria joined the cashless society, hence the need for mobile banking on market days.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf also on the entourage, stressed the need for ownership of the market in order to make it viable and durable, saying, “when people are involved, they tend to be more involved in the project”.
The new international cattle market will have 48 locked up stalls, two restaurants that can accommodate 100 people at a time, a 200 capacity mosque, a mini cattle clinic, two boreholes and VIP toilets.
The Federal lawmaker said, “worried by the loss of lives in the cattle market, I moved a request on the floor of the House and my request was forwarded to the NEDC for intervention. I am very happy that today, the project is moving on well”.
He stated, “Considering the size and volume of cattle that come in every market day, we decided to expand it to conveniently accommodate 3000 cattle at a time and make business transactions easier for the people”.
According to him, the market when completed will reduce congestion on the highway and reduce the risk of people getting killed by oncoming vehicles especially during the market days.
