Kugbo In’t market: Wike orders demolition of encroaching structures

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere with agency report

In a bid to accelerate the ongoing development of Kugbo International Market, the FCT minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike ordered the relevant department to immediately remove structures that are encroaching into road corridors connecting the market.
In particular, Wike who spoke yesterday at the site, directed the Department of Development Control to immediately demolish anything that is going to cause an impediment to the market.
He disclosed that the market is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL), which is an agency of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and a private individual.
According to him, “This is an investment that should be encouraged, as an international market of this standard
“This is a road corridor and we will not allow that, and Development Control Director is here, he has been ordered to move in with his men to demolish whatever is an obstacle.
“Again, the investor should as a matter of fact, see that he puts in more funds to see the dualization of the entire market. I have asked him when he thinks that the whole thing will be ready, and he has said we should give him till January.
“However, the first phase has been completed, we would therefore see what we can do to see that we open the first phase, and some of these our traders on the road have to come in here and give a free traffic that we deserve.”
He adds: “We would do everything we can to support people. Those who have not indicated interest, we will see how through the empowerment of the Renewed Hope Agenda in FCT, we will see whether we can also put in some funds by taking some stuff and giving to our people, in order to be involved in one trade or the other.
“ So, we would do everything to see that people move into this market as quickly as possible, that’s the first phase. So we are happy with what we have seen.
“We have a market that will create a lot of employment for people, and people will carry out economic activities. Again, it will decongest the roads where you see everybody taking the road as a market.
“Anybody who is coming to the market will say ‘I am going to Kugbo International Market’, whether it is in terms of manufacturing, whether it is in terms of other things. So, it will boost economic activities, and boost the development of the government. More importantly, it will create a lot of employments. That is what is key to us.”
In a related development, the minister revealed the receipt of directive from President Bola Tinubu President to go and immediately refurbish and furnish the building of the former Ministry of Agriculture situated near NNPC Towers for the new Ministry of Livestock.
He said:”We are going to get some companies to come and look at it, and quote for it. It is an emergency work, because the creation of the Ministry of Livestock is a welcome development, and you can see people are happy, waiting for it to start.
“So now that the place has been identified, the President has ordered the FCT Administration through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to look at it, and we have seen the integrity test which is okay, and we have to rehabilitate and furnish it, and then you will see the Ministry of Livestock take over. So that is why we went there today.”