In 2019, the former Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong allocated N1.1 billion for the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market burnt over a decade ago.
An additional N30 million in 2020 and another N10 million was allocated for the project in 2021, according to Udeme, a social accountability project that aims to galvanize citizens to get involved in tracking projects promised by the Governments.
Three years later, the then Plateau State government approved another 9.4 billion naira for the project planned to be executed in three phases.
Plateau Govt Approves Reconstruction Of Jos Main Market At N9.4bn
The reconstruction was proposed for a Public-Private Partnership Joint Venture to be funded by Jaiz Bank Nigeria Plc.
Despite the allocated funds, the project remains unexecuted, forcing traders to install temporary structures.
The market, popularly called Jos Terminus Market was gutted by midnight fire in 2018 leaving over 200 shops in ashes.
WikkiTimes earlier quoted the former commissioner for Information and Communication Dan Manjang saying that the reconstruction of the market was to fulfill Lalong’s campaign promises and to revamp the economic sector in the state.
Finally, Plateau Govt Surrenders Razed Jos Main Market To Jaiz Bank
The entire project was planned to be funded by the Jaiz bank with a total of 4,231 shops of different sizes expected to be constructed on 44 per cent of the land totalling 7.4 hectares, while the rest of the land space will provide for parking, banks, fire station, police station, administrative blocks, and other facilities.
A few months later, the move took another dimension as a member representing Jos South/Jos East federal constituency of Plateau State, Dachung Musa Bagos, secured a court injunction restraining the state government from signing an MoU with Jaiz Bank.
Subsequently, some of the youths in Jos and the indigenes of the state living in the U.S. protested over the move by the former governor alleging that the state government surrendered the reconstruction and ownership of the market to Jaiz Bank.
When contacted for comment on why the project was stalled despite its significance and the funds earmarked, the former commissioner, Dan Manjang told WikkiTimes that he would not speak about the reconstruction project at the moment.
The market is the major source of revenue generation for the state.
Babaji Usman Babaji is an investigative journalist with over four years of experience, renowned for his impactful reporting on corruption, human rights violations, and holding those in power accountable in Nigeria.
His career is distinguished by participation in numerous media training programs and conferences, which have honed his investigative and reporting skills. Babaji’s data-driven stories have made a significant impact, particularly in Northern Nigeria, shedding light on critical issues and driving meaningful change.
As a reporter under WikkiTimes’ Collaborative Media (CMEDIA) Project, Babaji has led several groundbreaking investigations. He was a 2022 fellow of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and a 2024 Media Foundation for West Africa DPI/DPG fellow. His contributions to accountability journalism earned him a Certificate of Recognition from Xchange Hama Media for impactful community work.
