Gov. Zulum waives 8,000 traders’ two-year rent, reopens Monday Market
By Matthew Atungwu
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has reopened the Maiduguri Monday market after it was completely destroyed by fire in February this year.
Due to the significant damages they incurred in the fire, the governor further declared that about 8,000 merchants who lease space and pay rent to the state government via the market authority would not be required to pay rent for the following two years.
“As you would recall, Maiduguri Monday market was burnt down by fire in February 2023. Borno State Government set up a committee to rebuild the market. The market has now been completely rehabilitated with over 8,000 traders benefiting from the remodeled market, Zulum said.
The remodeled market structure involves a comprehensive redesign and expansion plan with a more organized and accessible space for business activities.
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It has wider walkways, designated zones for different product categories, and some basic facilities all of which have now transformed the market into a shopper-friendly destination.
Zulum had, in February, released N2b to the committee constituted to administer activities relating to the market with additional N1b as comfort to victims of the fire disaster.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at the commissioning announced N800m support to about 2,825 traders who could not be allocated shops after the remodeling.
They hitherto operated in temporary shades and market stalls while some operated illegally.
“In the course of the reconstruction exercise, the committee recommended the remodeling of the market because it was found that the congestion in the market had contributed to the escalation of the fire incident”, Zulum stated.
The governor continued: “As a result of the remodeling, over 2,000 traders who either operated at a temporary site, built shops illegally on waterways, could not get shops in the market. However, the government will support over 185 of them with N1m each, 2,000 others will get N300,000 each, and about 640 will receive N100,000 each”, Zulum also said.
The governor pledged to provide shops to the 2,825 vendors at a new market located in Maiduguri.
