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Traders lament as Niger Govt. orders closure of market
Some traders in Niger have decried the closure of the roadside market located in Madalla, along Abuja/Kaduna expressway, as ordered Gov. Umaru Bago.
The traders conveyed their displeasure in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Madalla.
NAN reports that the closure followed reports of frequent accidents alone the road that always led to loss of lives.
Policemen were seen chasing marketers and preventing them from displaying their wares for business.
Mr Solomon Eze, a trader, told NAN that the notice given to them was short and too sudden for government to chase the traders away.
“I came to the market to display my okrika (thrift) for sale only to see Police officers chasing people around,” he said.
Another trader, who preferred to be identified as Mama Amina, decried the decision by the government to relocate them to where she described as a “bushy surrounding.’’
She said that the new place (market) was not conducive and spacious enough for the traders; hence the reluctance to relocate from the express market.
“In actual sense, government is supposed to build a modern market within this area, knowing quite well that the population is growing and the environment is attracting more people everyday.
“The new place that government is asking us to go needed to be cleared, ” Amina added.
Meanwhile, Hajiya Maijidda Nuhu, a trader on food stuff, said she was delighted over the decision by the governor to close the market, saying it was a welcome idea.
“The decision is a timely intervention by the government; because the space is now too small for the traders that were growing in number by the day.
“The traders have taken over the roads; making it difficult for free movement of vehicles with leads to frequent accidents.
“It has always been a terrible situation whenever drivers loss control within the market.
”We have had severe cases of accident and we should be happy for the government’s decision to relocate us from here, “she said.
Nuhu said she lost her husband 20 years ago as a result of an accident that occurred within the market.
”I would have also lost my life alongside my husband if not for God.
“As you can see, my face and hand are with scars; this is an unforgettable scar for me; it always reminded me of my late husband.
“I am happy with the government for relocating the market to a safer place; the marketers don’t understand that the government’s decision is for our own good.
“More so, the government has provided a place which is a better space behind, just few steps away from here,” she added.
Nuhu made an appeal to the state government to ensure that the new location was developed to be standard and conducive enough for the traders. (NAN)
The Executive Committee and Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State have passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of 2027, declaring that there would not be vacancy in the Aso Rock Villa and Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna during the next election.
This is contained in a communiqué signed by Francis Danladi Kozah and Jerry Irimiya Mark, chairman and co-chairman of the APC stakeholders and read by the council chairman, Joseph Bege.
The communique stated that the decision was taken based on President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani’s commitments to the peace and security of not just Zangon Kataf, but Kaduna state at large.
According to the stakeholders, the establishment of a military 2nd National Mission Brigade base in the local government has proven to be a pivotal move in sustaining peace in the area.
“Their commitment to the peace and security of our people is evident in the sudden end to attacks on our communities.
“This move reflects the government’s understanding of the critical need for enhanced security measures in areas prone to conflict, thereby fostering an environment where citizens can thrive.
“We urge all residents of Zangon Kataf to remain vigilant and committed to fostering harmony within our communities, as peace is the cornerstone of development,” They said.
The stakeholders lauded Tinubu for appointing Indigenes of Zangon Kataf including Gen. Chris Musa as Chief of Defence Staff and Bishop Hassan Kukah as Pro Chancellor of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia.
They explained that given the return of peace in the area and the tangible infrastructural development being witnessed, the re-election of Tinubu and Sani was a done deal.
“In light of all that we have benefited from this government, we want to declare that there is no vacancy in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House and Aso Rock come 2027.
“We shall offer our full support to both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani in their re-election bid,” they added.
They appreciated Gov. Sani for the ongoing multi-billion naira skills acquisition city that will provide ‘our youths with certified skills, thereby stamping out the root cause of criminality in our society’.
The stakeholders called on people of the local government to rally behind the two leaders as they have shown dedication to their welfare, security and progress.
Nigeria’s public debt rose by 48.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to N144.67 trillion ($94.23 billion) in 2024 from N97.34 trillion ($108.23 billion) in 2023.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) disclosed this in its latest public debt profile report.
The debt stock consists of external debt of N70.29 trillion ($45.78 billion) serviced with $4.66 million and domestic debt of N74.38 trillion ($48.44 billion).
The report showed that the country’s external debt increased by 83.89 per cent YoY from N38.22 trillion ($42.5 billion) in 2023.
Domestic debt also grew by 25.7 per cent YoY from N59.12 trillion ($65.73 billion) in 2023.
The report further indicated that the Federal Government’s domestic debt component rose by 32 per cent YoY to N70.41 trillion from N53.26 trillion in 2023.
But the domestic debt of states and the Federal Capital Territory declined YoY by 32 per cent to N3.97 trillion in 2024 from N5.86 trillion in 2023.
The rise in public debt can be attributed to fluctuating trends in exchange rates amidst changes in global economic conditions.
The sharp increase, particularly in external debt, highlights the nation’s vulnerability to exchange rate volatility and changes in global economic conditions.
With the continued depreciation of the naira, the cost of servicing foreign debt could escalate, adding pressure on the country’s financial resources.