Kaduna State Government on Wednesday, said it would give priority to traders as it commence the sale of shops in Sheik Abubakar Gumi Market, Kaduna, on Monday.
The state Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, gave the assurance when a delegation of the Kaduna State Traders Union of Sheik Abubakar Gumi Market, paid her a courtesy visit in Kaduna.
The deputy governor reiterated that the government would ensure that the business environment was made convenient for the traders.
She explained that during the commercial sales of the shops, priority will be accorded to shop owners rather than new buyers.
“We will be making arrangements with banks for mortgages to help them acquire the shops and the repayment will spread over a long time,” Balarabe added.
“Government will also support traders whose businesses were affected during the COVID-19 lockdown with some kind of palliative to help them grow, boost the economy of the State and also build human capital.”
The deputy governor called on the traders to continue to dialogue and trust some of the decisions government takes on their behalf.
“If they have any superior argument, we are ready to listen because we are a government that put people first because we want to make life better for people,” she stressed.
Earlier, Ibrahim Daudawa, Chairman of the market traders union, pleaded with the government to make the process of owning shops in the market easy, especially for occupants of shops in the market.
He expressed fear that the most traders will lose their shops in the course of implementing the new government policy.
Daudawa, however, expressed their collective gratitude to the government for willing to work with them in terms of various arrangement on sales of the shops.
“We are calling on our members in the market to remain calm since we are going to be fully involved in the process which is for the benefit of all.
“The state government informed us that they are drawing out modalities to support small business owners to boost their businesses and also to cushion the effects of the lockdown, because most of the traders are in critical financial condition”.
On her part, General Manager of the market, Tamara Nandul said the sales of shops will commence on Monday and the traders have three options to either pay outrightly, in installment or through mortgage.
She therefore advised members of the traders union to explore the option of mortgage from banks.
According to her, the state government will be contributing 30 percent cost of the shops while the traders will pay 70 percent.
