N38bn International Market: Stakeholders worry over delay, C of O, others

Some concerned stakeholders in Bayelsa State, led by Market Women and Leading Igbo Traders, have expressed concern over the silence of the Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on the proposed N38billion International Market to be constructed in Akaibiri community, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

The Proposed International Market, which was slated to be built in line with the Public Private Partnership (PPP), is expected to contain building material market with 5,200 shops, schools, a Police station, a bank, among other facilities. The market is also expected to generate employment of over 5,000 indigenes of the state when completed.

It was gathered that though the state government and the investment company handling the project, the Kesio Associate Limited, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); and compensation paid on the 25 hectares of land needed for the project, but nothing reasonable has been done since then.

While some of the stakeholders alleged that the officials of the current administration had demand for gratification, others say that an interplay of politics within the Capital City Development Authority (CCDA) is inhibiting the development of the market.

A stakeholder and businessman, Dr. Daniel Bright, while speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, state capital, said though the site for the project has been cleared over 12 months ago, the ‎non-issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) by the government, has stalled the project.

Bright, said that ‎in line with the Governor Seriake Dickson’s quest for improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), “there is the need to issue the investor a Certificate of Occupancy and let the project commence in earnest.”

‎He said, “The Bayelsa State Government should do something as fast as possible, because it will bring so much credit to the administration, which describes itself as, ‘Restoration Government’. The company is not asking the Government of Bayelsa state to bring money.

” Money and OTHER expenses have been made; andthe MOU has been signed between the government and the company and compensation has been made; and I was told it is a PPP project. I believe my Governor has not seen the C of O document to sign because, I know Governor Dickson is a good man, who has Bayelsa state at heart.”

According to him, “Should Bayelsa State Government not be happy about an investor with 38billion?
“To build a building material market with 5200 shops, schools, a police station, a bank, etc, in Akaibiri near the Niger Delta Television and over 5,000 Bayelsans will be employed directly or indirectly, is a good initiative.

“This investor has been waiting for a year now for the Bayelsa State Government to issue them a C of O for a 25 hectare of land, this investor has cleared the land, but it can’t move into the site except they are issued a C of O; but for a year now the government can’t issue this simple paper.”