Govt, Stakeholders Opt for Further Consultations on Suleja Market Project

By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government and stakeholders from Suleja have agreed to hold further consultations on the...

By Awwal Umar Kontagora

The Niger State Government and stakeholders from Suleja have agreed to hold further consultations on the proposed development of a market at Field Base, Suleja, following concerns raised over the project.

The decision was reached on Wednesday during an interactive meeting held at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Minna.

The meeting, convened to deliberate on the proposed market, brought together representatives of the Suleja Emirate Council and other stakeholders, who sought clarification on the nature and scope of the project.

Key issues raised included the portion of land earmarked for the project, its design and implementation plan, expected benefits to residents, security implications, and the need for adequate consultation with the host community.

The stakeholders stressed that they were not opposed to development initiatives that would benefit the people, but called for more information and proper engagement before any final decision is taken.

The SSG, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, was represented at the meeting by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barr. Bello Agwara.

Responding to the concerns, Agwara assured the participants that the state government would not take any decision contrary to the interests of the people of Suleja.

He said the government remained committed to development and would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to address the issues raised.

“The concerns raised will be communicated to the appropriate authorities for further consideration,” the commissioner said, stressing the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding.

The meeting ended without a final agreement, with further consultations expected between the government and stakeholders.

If approved and implemented, the project is expected to boost commercial activities and contribute to economic growth in Suleja and neighbouring communities.