Gov Zulum reopens Monday Market, waives two years rent for 8,000 traders

• Governor announced that at least 8,000 traders who rent shops and pay rent to the state government through the market authority will not have to pay rent for the next two years because of the huge losses they suffered during the fire outbreak

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has commissioned the Maiduguri Monday market, which was rebuilt after it was razed by fire on February 26, 2023.

The governor, during the commissioning on Monday, also announced that at least 8,000 traders who rent shops and pay rent to the state government through the market authority will not have to pay rent for the next two years because of the huge losses they suffered during the fire outbreak.

“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 to benefit from the remodelled market,” Zulum said.

The remodelled market structure involved a comprehensive redesign and expansion plan with a more organised and accessible space for business activities.

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 two billion naira to the committee constituted to administer activities relating to the market, aside from the additional one billion naira palliative given to victims of the fire disaster.

The governor at the commissioning also announced N800 million in support for about 2,825 traders who could not get shops after the remodelling of the market.

They had previously operated in temporary sheds and market stalls, while some operated illegally.

Explaining the situation, Zulum stated: “In the course of the reconstruction exercise, the committee recommended the remodelling of the market because it was found that the congestion in the market had contributed to the escalation of the fire incident.”

He continued: “As a result of the remodelling, over 2,000 traders who either operated at a temporary site [or] built shops illegally on waterways could not get shops in the market. However, the government will support over 185 of them with one million naira each; 2,000 others will get N300,000 each and about 640 will receive N100,000 each.”

The governor promised that the 2,825 traders would be allocated shops at a new market to be sited in Maiduguri.