Lalong vows to rebuild Jos Market with or without funds

By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Denies budgeting N1bn for demolition

Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong has vowed that he would not renege on his promise to rebuild the Jos Main Market, irrespective of the financial status of the state.

The governor who gave the assurance when spoke to State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the Presidential Billa, Abuja, said “with or without money, I will rebuild the market.”

Lalong said that whatever he promised the people of Plateau state, he had always fulfilled it.

Reacting to news making the rounds that he budgeted N1 billion for the demolition of the market, the governor denied the allegation, saying that the report was “not very fair.

“If you understand the history of the Jos Main Market, you will understand my passion for rebuilding that market. That market was blown off years ago and has remained like that. 

“The market was our main source of revenue and I saw it as very necessary to rebuild the main market in other to address the challenges of the state, including that of minimum wage. 

“What somebody saw was the presentation before the budget committee and when he saw N1.1 billion, he said it is for demolition. N1.1 billion cannot be for demolition. There are four components of demolition and reconstruction of the market. The person saw one aspect and jumped into conclusion. 

“I just got back from London this morning and I also read the report and I was worried. I called to ask what happened and I was told that he saw an aspect of the budget presentation and he said it was for demolition of the market.

“We have two proposals, either to bring down the entire market and start building a new one or carry out the special demolition and reconstruction and the overhaul of the market. There is the technical aspect, the consultancy aspect and the contract itself. 

“So, I have asked them to make everything public so that people will not jump to conclusions that we are demolishing the market. It is not everyone that can do that type of special demolition, in Nigeria it has only been done either twice or thrice.

“I had to travel to South Africa to ensure that if we are going to carry out the demolition, it must be a very special demolition. Otherwise, the next option was to bring down the entire market and start rebuilding. The sum of N1 billion can build a new market. 

When asked if more money was going to be budgeted for the actual rebuilding of the market, the governor said, “first, we are starting with the demolition before we move to other things. Without technical drawing you will not understand what I am saying. If you have seen Jos Main Market, it is a choked up area and if you have to rebuild you must put security outpost there, even the parking space has to be changed. 

“But, I have had to face serious opposition as regards that market because good things don’t come easy. You don’t get gold on the surface, you must dig. That is why I said, during my time I must rebuild the market. Plateau people know that whatever I say I will do; I always do it.”

On how soon the market will be ready to contribute to paying the minimum wage, Lalong said, “It will not take us long to rebuild the market. As for the minimum wage, when I inherited nine months’ salary arrears and what was left in the treasury was N95 million, I was asked if I was going to pay, I said by God’s grace. Each time you use that phrase, God’s grace, God will always provide.”