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FG commissions modern market in Enugu community

 

The ultramodern market constructed by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program –Phase One (ATASP-1) at Afor Isu-Ehamufu, in Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State has been commissioned and handed over to the community.

ATASP-1 is a program of Federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) with Enugu State as one of the seven benefitting States across Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Zonal Program Coordinator, ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Crops Processing Zone, Mr Romanus Egba expressed delight that ATASP-1 Adani-Omor zone had fulfilled its mandate of setting up the first ultra-modern market in the whole of Ehamufu aryea of Enugu sttate.

According to him, the two markets built under ATASP-1 in Enugu were built in two locations with huge productive base for cassava and rice.

“This is the second market built under ATASP-1 in Enugu after the Adani rice market. While Isu Ehamufu is the major cassava producer in this area, Adani is the major rice producer in the state and that’s why the two markets were built in the communities respectively”, he said.

He added that the program had also sited other social projects like primary school blocks, solar motorized bore hole and health clinic in Enugu State.

He thanked the Enugu State government for the immense support to the program.

“We are thankful to the Enugu State Governor, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for making it possible for the project to succeed in the state through payment of its counterpart funds.

“We are also grateful to the Governor for approval of the market project to be sited in the community,” he stated.

The Program Coordinator further assured that efforts were in top gear to secure an off-taker for the huge cassava produce from the community as part of the bid to boost the income of cassava producers in the area.

Also speaking during the hand-over of the facility, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, represented by Mr Bassey Unaowo, Deputy Director, Projects Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed government’s delight in the completion of the market.

“What touched my heart is the joy that I saw in the faces of people, especially women that gathered in this market today.

“Women are the pillar of families and local economy and we are glad that this project will benefit the rural people, especially women. We are happy that ATASP-1 built this facility in this community; I was told that there are bigger markets in the area that did not have this kind of structure.

“So, we expect this community to take good care and make good of the facilities here. Keep it clean, make it a place where people across the local government will like to come and sell their produce, especially cassava,” he further stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, the traditional ruler of Isu-Ehamufu autonomous community, Igwe Engr. Samuel Ogbodo, expressed joy that his community was chosen for such multi-billion Naira project by the federal government.

“We thank Enugus State government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by ATASP-1 Adani-Omor zone for siting this great project in our community.

“So, it’s a thing of joy that our people, especially the women will now have proper market equipped with toilet and incinerator where they can sell their produce instead of travelling to Eke Ehamufu market to sell.

“We are promising you that this infrastructure would be well utilised and maintained for the benefit of the people in the community and beyond”, he assured.

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