Following the recent controversies that have trailed the deal by the Plateau State Government and an Islamic bank (Jaiz Bank) to rebuild the Jos Main Market, Governor Simon Lalong on Saturday 7th August met with Plateau State Stakeholders in furtherance of consultations to sensitize the citizens and get their input into the process of carrying out the project.
The Plateau stakeholders advised the State Government to consult more and widely with Plateau citizens at the grassroots before signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jaiz Bank on the reconstruction of the burnt Jos Main Market.
In his remarks, Governor Lalong, while agreeing to hold a one-week wider consultation, said the stakeholders’ engagement was a deliberate effort by the Government to educate and sensitize the people on the proposal for rebuilding the market and also dispel the misinformation, rumours and misconceptions over the project which has generated needless controversy.
Lalong described the controversies as unnecessary and a distraction orchestrated by politicians who want to score cheap political points. He explained that rebuilding the Jos Main Market will be in fulfillment of his campaign promise to restore the lost glory of Jos which relied so much on the iconic market that was the best in West Africa and also a legacy of past plateau leaders.
The governor stated that his government has made several efforts to rebuild the market by advertising and engaging many investors within and outside the country who insisted that they wanted a bank guarantee from the government, as well as absolute control of the market for as long as it takes for them to recover their investment.
He said Government also made such appeals for other properties in the state including the Jos Rock Hotel, Barc Farms, Hill station Hotel, the Jos International breweries amongst others. He stated that the Government was fortunate with the Jaiz Bank deal given that it was a non-interest bank coming up with a proposal to fund the construction of the market with their money while the State will provide only the land.
About the sharing formula of the shops for the purpose of sale in the ratio of 60-40 will be to ensure that the Bank will recover its funds and leave, as it will have no business in running the market nor own any shop. He said the ownership of the shops will be relinquished to the off-takers (first shop buyers).
The Governor said the market will be managed by the Jos Main Market Authority (JMMA) as it is the property of the Government and those who buy the shops will be issued a 40-year lease by the Government for them to utilize the shops and recoup their money after which the ownership reverts to the Government.
Former Military Administrator of Plateau State, Admiral Samuel Bitrus Atukum under whose regime the market was completed and commissioned, advocated for sustained consultations and enlightenment with the Plateau people to clear all doubts and misconceptions among the people.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State, Rev Fr Polycarp Lubo, and the representative of JNI, Sani Mudi said the rebuilding of the burnt market is a good initiative but said wide consultation should be carried out to get the approval of the citizens.
A lawmaker representing Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Gagdi, said the misconceptions and controversy that greeted the news of rebuilding the market were not necessary because some political undertones have been brought into the discourse and seemed to overshadow the good intentions of the Governor.
He said since the shops in the market will not be sold to Jaiz Bank but to all interested citizens of Plateau State under the strict supervision of an Allocation Committee, there is no reason for apprehension because the funding Bank has done similar projects in many States with huge success.
Recall that Controversy has trailed the proposed rebuilding of the burnt popular Jos ultra-modern Main Market following the state government’s discussion with Jaiz Bank.
The market, which was a major economic hub and significant contributor to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, was burnt down in 2001.
However, soon after Governor Simon Lalong’s government entered into discussion with the Jaiz Bank, accusations were leveled against the state government from different quarters in the state, alleging that the government was ceding the market to an Islamic bank.
