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 issues raised by its members can be conveyed to the suitable authorities for crucial motion.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Musa-Amana Sualihat, gave the peace of mind 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 chargeable for serving to the federal government formulate commerce and commerce insurance policies and overseeing their implementation by related businesses.
On the continued development of the ultra-modern Lokoja International Market, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Ministry maintained common supervisory visits to the undertaking web site each fortnight, in collaboration with technical consultants and engineers monitoring the development.
She famous that technical points, together with drainage specs, have been receiving consideration, assuring merchants that the undertaking 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 can be communicated to the merchants sooner or later.
The Permanent Secretary inspired the union to preserve cordial relations with the undertaking 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, stated the go to was geared toward formally introducing the union’s new management to the Ministry, whose duties are intently related to the every day operations of the market.
Inuwa, who disclosed that he had lately visited the ultra-modern market development web site, expressed satisfaction with the tempo and high quality of labor.
He recommended the constructions supplied on the facility, significantly the warehouses, and praised Governor Ododo for the continued undertaking, which he stated would enhance buying and selling actions and create a extra conducive enterprise surroundings.
The union chairman additionally known as for stronger communication between the Ministry and the market neighborhood, noting that the union might serve as an efficient channel for conveying merchants’ issues and offering helpful info 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 might conveniently have interaction 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 geared toward selling business actions.
The assembly ended with each events expressing optimism that improved engagement between the Ministry and the merchants would strengthen cooperation, handle market-related issues and improve the contribution of the Lokoja International Market to commerce, enterprise and financial development in Kogi State.
