Damaturu: A state capital in search of a befitting market

The inferno had affected over 72 traders who were selling various wares within the affected areas and the fire lasted for over 4 hours before it was put off by the fire service. As a new reporter who was barely two days in Damaturu when the inferno laid siege, I found myself in a serious […]

The inferno had affected over 72 traders who were selling various wares within the affected areas and the fire lasted for over 4 hours before it was put off by the fire service.

As a new reporter who was barely two days in Damaturu when the inferno laid siege, I found myself in a serious dilemma when an argument broke between other reporters with some of them saying “It was the motor park that was razed”, while others insisted that “It was Bayan Tasha” (market stalls behind the park).

Barely a day later the sad incident, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam visited the scene and saw the carnage. He sympathized with the 62 victims who are bread winners to hundreds of families and directed the Yobe State Emergency Relief Agency (YSERA) to estimate the total lost and forward to him for the purpose of compensating the victims.

Alas! The governor has fulfilled the promise because without wasting time, all the victims received full compensation.

Paul Mai kifi, an Ice fish dealer confirmed that he received full compensation of 900,000 but later discovered that he undervalued his lost by N300, 000.

“My total lost is N1.2 million, I was not expecting a penny from anybody but the state government gave me N900, 000. I am really happy because the fear of the unknown is over” he said.

Paul however made a pertinent observation.  “Damaturu does not have a befitting market, most of the shops are make- shift and the electric connections are faulty and illegal.”

“I wish to call on government to build a modern market in the state so that traders would do their businesses with ease,” he said.

Hajiya Hauwa Sani, a food vendor who claimed to have lost everything told Kanem Trust that she received full compensation of 600,000 but lamented that there are rumours going round that government will not rebuild their razed shops.

“My happiness has been subdued because we are not sure what will happen next year if government allow us to continue our businesses in an unorganised setting,” she said.

A tailor, who simply identified herself as Jamila said she received one million Naira as compensation and thanked God for his intervention through the state government.

She said the intervention by the government was commendable but quickly observed the need for a modern market.

“Trading and farming are the main occupations of the Yobe people but the environment is not conducive,” she said. “Damaturu has been a state capital for over 20 years but never had a standard market like its contemporaries…this is really a source of concern,” she remarked.

Mr Daniel Ogechikwu, a spare part dealer said the failure of the state government to provide a standard place where commercial activities will fully operate discourages investors from going to Damaturu.

“Most of my tribesmen have relocated to Maiduguri. They came here when Yobe was created but had to move away when they realised that the prospect was blink,” he said

“It is a pity that people always travel to Maiduguri from Damaturu to buy what ordinarily should be available here. Without a good market, we cannot develop economically. This shop is too small for me, but I have to manage it to keep life going”.

A revenue office who does not want to be named said the need for a befitting market in Damaturu is long overdue.  “If government had built a market long ago it, the money would have been recouped and the revenue of the state diversified.”

He said traders would prefer getting the market and be paying daily revenue than Doing businesses in squalors.

Our correspondent reports that most shops are privately owned and scattered around major streets. The only major market in Damaturu (Sunday Market) is a typical village market that sells only once in a week. More than 90 percent of the shops are make shift tents.

Damaturu’s Sunday market is as old as the town itself.  It still wears its old looks of local tents with thatch roofs. It opens every week Sunday, but has a very lose operation within the week days. Every blessing Sunday people from different part of the state get together to transact businesses, but once its night, they all go home along with their businesses.

Few blocks of red shops have been built inside the market with a splendid arrangement that could easily attracts a passer-by, but nearly distasteful when you learnt they are erected only to serve as decoration in the Sunday market. Trader complained bitterly on lack of security therefore could not afford to risk their goods in the shops, noting that the whole building lack some basic structures to be use as market shops.

“Banks are ready to invest and there are so many other ways the government can partner with investors to actualise this long dream of a befitting market in Damaturu,” the revenue officer said

“Marketers are suffering and government is losing huge revenue every day,” Mukhtari Sama’ila, a textile dealer said.

He applauded the government for compensating hundreds of people from foreseeable danger of joblessness and hardship.

“But assuming there was no fire and the money paid as compensation has been allocated to building of a standard market, wouldn’t it have been better and more rewarding,” Sama’ila asked.

Major roads of Damaturu town have been taken over by petty traders. Many have taken over pedestrian side of the street with their temporary mobile shops from morning evening, a development which depletes the beauty of a capital city.

Chairman, Yobe Traders Union, Alhaji Modu Makama said that absence of standard market is causing serious setback to the economic development of the town.

“Business will not flourish in Damaturu if we continue without market, this place is temporary… because we are patching in a motor park. Most traders that cannot secure shops here have rented shops outside while others are displaying goods by the road side. It is really pathetic,” he said

He noted that the issue of tenancy and inheritance had denied businesses to thrive at the Sunday Market which is situated along Potiskum Road.

“We cannot move to Sunday Market due to tenancy issues; you cannot get shop there. They will look at your face and tell you that ‘we inherited these shanties from our great grand-father’. What else can you tell them?” He enquired.

“Again, the Sunday market is not safe. If you park to that place today, consider your goods stolen before tomorrow morning. The market is not fenced, no doors, no security.” He said

He however observed that of recent, economic development in Damaturu is taking a new dimension as commercial activities are on a serious increase.

He said businessmen from all works of life are trooping to Damaturu because of its peaceful disposition. “Many are coming from Kano, Bauchi, and Maiduguri to get market for their goods, but many of them could not get shops. Our prayer is that government should construct a befitting market in Damaturu,” he said.

“We need a modern market that will have a police outpost, fire service, boreholes and all other facilities found in an ultra modern market,” he said.

He assured that if government can provide them with their demands, traders are ready to leave the motor park within two to three months.

The state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam had promised during his state wide campaign in Damaturu that he will build an ultra modern market in the state capital

“Discussions have reached advance stage, we have entered into partnership with some investors who are ready to build the market with our support”. He said.

It is now left to be seen if the government will fulfil the promise, a move which many believe will transform the social and economic development of the state.