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• To accommodate traders from 7 existing markets
Kogi State Government has said the ongoing Lokoja Ultra-Modern Market will redefine commerce, create thousands of jobs and establish the state capital as a major commercial hub in Nigeria.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo said the project was designed to provide traders, investors, consumers and businesses with a safe, organised and modern environment for economic activities.
The government said the market’s location in Lokoja, a major gateway connecting different parts of the country, would enable it to attract traders and investors from within and outside Kogi State.
Located on 25 hectares along the Zone 8–Crusher Road axis, the market is designed to accommodate traders from seven existing markets in Lokoja under one properly planned commercial complex.
The government said consolidating the markets would improve traffic management and environmental sanitation while supporting its efforts to transform Lokoja into a cleaner, safer and smarter capital city.
According to Fanwo, the project goes beyond the provision of shops and is being developed as an integrated economic ecosystem for traders, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, technology companies and service providers.
“This is far beyond the construction of shops. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is building an economic ecosystem that will support traders, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, technology businesses and service providers,” he said.
“When completed, this market will give Lokoja a commercial facility that matches its strategic position as the connecting point of Nigeria.
“We are creating a place where people can trade, store goods, access financial services, receive emergency care and conduct business in a safe and properly planned environment.”
The planned facilities include a major market hall, lock-up shops, open trading spaces, warehouses, a technology hub, furniture and home stores, fashion outlets, electronics shops and other specialised commercial sections.
The complex will also have banking facilities, a clinic, fire and security stations, a food court, office block, worship centres, parking spaces, greenery, a watchtower and independent power infrastructure.
The government said an eight-kilometre internal road network would connect the 17 sections of the development, while modern warehouses would support wholesale trading and the storage of goods.
It described the project as a major component of the Lokoja Urban Renewal Agenda, designed to modernise the state capital and provide infrastructure capable of supporting long-term economic growth.
The government said the existing arrangement of commercial activities across Lokoja had contributed to traffic congestion, poor sanitation and safety concerns.
It noted that the old International Market, located at a major road intersection, had become a source of traffic and safety challenges as the city expanded.
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According to the government, the new market will provide an opportunity to reorganise commercial activities while opening the existing market site for a new economic purpose.
Fanwo said the project would also open up the Crusher Road axis, attract supporting businesses and create a new commercial corridor in Lokoja.
He commended SABC Limited, the indigenous company handling the project, for the quality and pace of work.
“The Kogi State Government has not regretted choosing an indigenous company, SABC Limited, to deliver this legacy project,” he said.
“From what we have seen on site, the company has shown that Nigerian companies have the capacity to handle projects of this magnitude when given the opportunity and the right environment to work.
“We commend SABC Limited for the quality of work so far and the commitment it has demonstrated. We expect the company to sustain this standard and deliver a market that Kogi people and Nigerians will be proud of.”
The government also commended President Bola Tinubu for economic reforms which, it said, had increased the fiscal capacity of states to undertake major infrastructure projects.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves commendation for creating an economic environment in which states are gaining greater capacity to invest in infrastructure,” Fanwo said.
“When states have more resources and greater fiscal space, they can take on projects that directly affect the lives of their people.
“What we are seeing in Kogi is a practical example of what the responsible use of improved resources can achieve. Governor Ododo is converting available opportunities into infrastructure that will serve the people for decades.”
The government said the market would strengthen small and medium-scale businesses, improve the ease of doing business and stimulate economic activities across the state.
It assured traders that they would be carried along to ensure a smooth transition into the new facility when completed.
Fanwo said the government’s objective was to provide a better and safer trading environment without undermining the livelihoods of people who depend on commerce.
“Governor Ododo is building for the future. This market will serve Kogi, but its reach will go far beyond the state,” he said.
“When you consider our location, the facilities being provided and the volume of commercial activities expected here, you can see why we are confident that this project will redefine commerce in Nigeria.”
