A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF IBRAHIM GAIDAM ULTRA MODERN MARKET DAMATURU AS AGAINST BAYAN TASHA DURIYA
By Suleiman Baba Gimba
From time immemorial, markets were and are still one of the greatest assets a Federal, State and Local Government can own and that way why even past great leaders spent a lot in maintaining standing armies to guard trade routes and raise money to sustain and expand their areas of jurisdiction.
That way, many societies in the past were able to survive changes and challenges over the years and be counted among the greatest nations in human history.
As of today, modernity has changed completely the way and manner nations and states generate revenue to run the affairs of their geographical configurations following the emergence of digital technology that focuses on customer needs and satisfaction through multi- dimensional strategies.
Since the very day Hon Mai Mala Buni administration laid his hands on the steering wheel of the state, top priority has been accorded to Commerce and Industry in the state, leading partly to the construction of ultra modern markets across the state.
The modern markets, first of its kind in Nigeria are designed and constructed to accommodate all categories of businesses irrespective of types, size and capital base.
From the perspective of a patriotic citizen, monumental structures are agents of industrial and commercial development in any society as they always lead to job and wealth creation as well as poverty reduction. They equally attract foreign and domestic investors, bringing about peaceful and sustainable social co-existence while at the same time generating the much needed and talked about revenue for enhanced development.
Only recently, the state government had after completing the construction of a modern market in Damaturu allocated stores, shops, stalls and warehouse or rather lease out to marketers who paid the required fee.
However, up to the time of writing this analysis, the traders are yet to occupy their allocated shops. Instead, they are still where they have been since inspite of the aforementioned development and benefits of modern markets.
In fact, and if anything, the traders have embarked on converting residential properties into commercial use and this the government feels will jeopardises the government vision for modern commerce and frustrate relocation plans to the new market.
Frantic efforts by the Emir of Damaturu, Leaders of the business community and chairman of Damaturu Local Government Council to persuade the traders to move into the new market facility have failed to produce fruitful results.
REASONS ADVANCED BY THE TRADERS
1. A good number of the traders argued that they are not big time traders and therefore they cannot afford the cost of securing a shop at the new market.
2. Traders advanced that they are more comfortable with their present location that is characterise by mass movement of persons, goods and services which they believe are the hall mark of Commerce.
3. They argued that their customers access their commodities with ease at Bayan Tasha as against the new location where in the customer has to trek long distances or pay for taxi to reach them.
4. They also said, their current stores are so close to their residential quarters to the effect that they conveniently shuttle before their shops and houses to settle one domestic problem or another which is not tenable at the new market.
GOVERNMENT STANDS –
The government on the other hand believes that reasons advanced by the traders are not in anyway convincing to even an ordinary person on the streets and therefore advanced this submission:
1. The nature of security put in place by the government at the new market is so comprehensive to the effect that property of the traders are secured from thieves, vandals and incidental fire outbreak.
2. By moving the traders to the new market, government can conveniently determine the real traders and ensure that they are the ones that benefit from the allocation exercise.
3. Having the traders at the market will ease collection of revenues because government arrangement is such that a comprehensive data on all traders will be obtained.
4. Relocating the traders to the site will create additional space where in government can put to official use such as construction of new stores, road and even a whole new market.
5. The exercise will similarly give birth to additional parking space, ease movement of persons, goods and services.
6. The new market is strategically located to the effect that even passengers passing through Damaturu from Maiduguri or Kano can stop over, make some purchases, ease themselves and pray before continuing their journey because facilities needed for such services have been put in place by the government.
7. The relocation exercise can enhance growth and development of the state capital cause subsequent government structures will be constructed some metres or even kilometres away from the market.
8. In case of fire outbreak property of the traders are in save hands because of the built in fire fighting facilities.
CONCLUSION:
Going by the submission of the two parties one is tempted to suggest that frantic effort be made to relocate the traders because their level of awareness indicates that they are not even aware of advantages inherent in moving from their current location to the new market.
Government needs to revoke the allocation of who paid and have refused to move in or those who paid but sold their allocations to third parties.
No individual, group or organisation be allowed to feel above the law. To this end a last warning be issued to the effected traders and if they failed to comply after this, they be forced out of their current locations at Bayan tasha and its surroundings and be refused allocation in any part of Damaturu.
By Suleiman Baba Gimba
Information/Public Relations Officer
Yobe State Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Solid Minerals
