Furore as Jigawa officials, traders differ over relocation of market

THE effort of the Jigawa State government to relocate 1,200 traders from the Dutse central market to its new site has been marred by controversy.The Dutse Capital Development Authority that is at the centre of the controversy was accused of allocating many of the shops provided for the former occupants of the central market to cronies of top government officials in the authority.The Guardian's invetigation revealed that some traders were denied allocation of the shops even when they had been penciled down to benefit from the exercise.One of the aggrieved traders, Ikevhikwu Nwachikwu , told The Guardian that they were marginalised in the allocation of the shops. He added that the allocation had been politicised by some top government functionaries who brought confusion into an otherwise transparent process.The Director, Adminstration and Finance, in the authority , Alhaji Baita Salihi said all former occupants of the central market wereallocated shops at the new site.The director indicated that before the directive by the state government for DCDA to hand over the market to the Ministry of Commerce, the authority had taken a census of the occupants of the central market, adding that it was the prerogative of the ministry to oversee the allocation.The state Commissioner of Commerce and Industries, Hajiya Hauwa Lawan, has expressed concern over irregularities in the process, adding that she was not confortable with the exercise. But she declined further comment until she reported to the governor.The commissioner had earlier invited the Sarkin Kasuwa to explain the procedures of the allocation to the press in her office.For his part, the Sarkin Kasuwa Alhaji Adamu Garba said those causing confusion were the ungrateful few that naturally would not see anything positive in such actions.He said all relocated persons were adequately compensated with shops at the new site while others were still being considered for temporary shops under construction.
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