The Kogi Government on Monday, handed over site for the construction of Lokoja Ultra Modern to the construction company, Sazak Acres Biloque Company (SABC) Limited.

The ultramodern market, sited at Crusher, Lokoja, was handed over to the company by Kogi Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Taiye Abanika on behalf of Gov. Ahmed Ododo.

Abanika said the initiative was in line with the determination of Ododo’s administration to urbanize the state and make it more attractive to investors.

He explained that the project would be executed on 25 hectares of land, and expected to be completed in 36 months with modern facilities to drive development in the state.

“The governor placed value for money, hence the conduct of due diligence on the construction company, SABC Limited, to determine its capability in executing a job of that magnitude, before the contract was awarded.

“The governor placed high premium on the development of the state.

“The market will open up development in the area, create jobs for the people and as well spead up development in the confluence state.

“We have done due diligence on the company, to determine their capability and we found them capable.

“I therefore encourage the company to do a quality job in line with the specification contained in the contract papers,” Abanika said.

The state Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muhammed Yusuf, urged the company to do quality job by adhering strictly to the drawings and specification as contained in the Bill of quantity.

Yusuf warned that the government would not condone any substandard job.

The Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, said the project would be the last leg of the Lokoja Urban Renewal Project (LURP).

Fanwo reaffimed the commitment of Ododo’s administration to ensuring that Lokoja reflects a 21st century state capital that is safe, beautiful and ready for business.

He commended the previous administration’s success in having a single motor park, and promised Ododo administration’s commitment to bringing all the seven smaller markets in Lokoja under the new Lokoja Ultra Modern Market.

“This will help us in having a cleaner and safer Lokoja. Those who conceived the present International Market didn’t know that Lokoja will grow this big and become Nigeria’s connecting point.

“We have recorded a lot of accidents and Nigerians have lost so many loved ones because it was located at the intersection of two major roads.

“The state government will move all the markets to the new Ultra Modern Market and convert the present International Market to Government Warehouses and Commodity Exchange Commission,” Fanwo said.

He said the government is ready to leverage on the state’s strategic location for maximum commercial benefits, stressing that the Ultra modern market would turn Kogi to the commercial hub of Nigeria when completed.

“It’s not like the normal market that Nigerians are used to as it will be a model that other States will copy.

“Governor Ododo is truly a servant of the people. He is already planning how a smooth transition to the new market will be achieved without taking a negative toll on the traders”, he said.

The commissioner, therefore urged Lokoja traders and its environs not to entertain any fear, assuring that government would ensure a smooth transition to the new market when completed.

In his response, Abdulrazaq Aliyu, who received the contract documents on behalf of SABC Ltd, promised to adhere strictly to the contractual agreement and do a quality job.

Aliyu assured that the project would be delivered within 36 months according to specifications.

“We want to assure the Kogi State Government that we are going to work within the context of the contractual agreement. We will deliver the job with the specified period of 36 months.

“We are not just in the state to build only the market, but through the quality of our job, we believe the government will be motivated to give us other jobs.

“We are hoping that after this job, our firm would become the number 1 choice of the state in future projects execution,” Aliyu said.

NAN