By Taiye Bayode
The Kogi State Ministry of Commerce and Industry has pledged to strengthen communication and collaboration with merchants on the Lokoja International Market, assuring the market union that considerations raised by its members could be conveyed to the suitable authorities for obligatory motion.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Musa-Amana Sualihat, gave the reassurance when she obtained the newly inaugurated executives of the Lokoja International Market Traders Union on the State Secretariat.
Sualihat welcomed the delegation, describing the go to as a constructive step in direction of constructing a stronger working relationship between the Ministry and the market neighborhood.
She defined that the Ministry was accountable for serving to the federal government formulate commerce and commerce insurance policies and overseeing their implementation by related businesses.
On the continued building of the ultra-modern Lokoja International Market, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Ministry maintained common supervisory visits to the challenge web site each fortnight, in collaboration with technical consultants and engineers monitoring the development.
She famous that technical points, together with drainage specs, had been receiving consideration, assuring merchants that the challenge was being monitored to be sure that it met the required requirements.
According to her, the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo plans to full and take over the market by June 2027, after which merchants are anticipated to relocate to the brand new facility. She added that particulars of the relocation could be communicated to the merchants sooner or later.
The Permanent Secretary inspired the union to preserve cordial relations with the challenge consultants and channel complaints by the Ministry for applicable intervention.
She additionally highlighted alternatives obtainable to small and medium-scale companies, together with empowerment programmes facilitated in partnership with the Bank of Industry. She suggested merchants to liaise with the casual sector union to entry related assist and maximise the advantages of such initiatives.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lokoja International Market Traders Union, Alhaji Hassan Inuwa, mentioned the go to was aimed toward formally introducing the union’s new management to the Ministry, whose obligations are carefully linked to the every day operations of the market.
Inuwa, who disclosed that he had lately visited the ultra-modern market building web site, expressed satisfaction with the tempo and high quality of labor.
He recommended the constructions offered on the facility, significantly the warehouses, and praised Governor Ododo for the continued challenge, which he mentioned would enhance buying and selling actions and create a extra conducive enterprise setting.
The union chairman additionally known as for stronger communication between the Ministry and the market neighborhood, noting that the union may serve as an efficient channel for conveying merchants’ considerations and offering helpful data to the federal government.
He defined that the union introduced collectively 21 sections and associations inside the market and had an operational secretariat by which the federal government may conveniently interact its members.
In his vote of thanks, the union’s Secretary, Alhaji Armadu Adamu, appreciated the Ministry for the nice and cozy reception and expressed the union’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government on forthcoming commerce expos and different initiatives aimed toward selling business actions.
The assembly ended with each events expressing optimism that improved engagement between the Ministry and the merchants would strengthen cooperation, tackle market-related considerations and improve the contribution of the Lokoja International Market to commerce, enterprise and financial progress in Kogi State.
