Niger APC, PDP Disagree over N1.8b Market Funds

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Niger State has accused the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) of not giving a good account of N1.8 billion loan meant for building an extra modern market at Madalla.

The absence of such a market has meant an exposure of the market men and women to danger every market days.

APC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, said in Minna, on Monday, that the party was worried about the insensitive nature of government towards the plight of the people.

He that said despite collecting loan to build the ultra-modern market, the Aliyu administration had refused to understand the danger in using the market still located on the Abuja-Kaduna road.

“The party is indeed pained by this disturbing insensitivity of the government despite collecting such huge amount of money for the purpose of relocating the market for a modern one.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State, Mr. Isreal Ebije, dismissed the allegation of APC indicting the administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu over alleged abandoning of the Madalla market near Zuma.

He described it as spurious and ‘election’-motivated blackmail by the party, insisting that the state government had since relocated the market, adding that the new Madalla market is just opposite the old location.

He accused the APC of unproved attack on the person of Aliyu to score cheap political points.

“There was a consortium that indicated interest in contracting the Madalla new market, which was relocated across the road. The stake of Niger State Government was the land, which was provided with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Niger state government was also to help in supervising the project,” Ebije said.