Construction of ultramodern market excites Enugu community

By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu

RESIDENTS of Adani community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State, have rolled out the drums to celebrate the commissioning of the newly completed ultramodern market retail and lock-up shops in the community.

The market constructed by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program –Phase One (ATASP-1), a Federal Government special agriculture intervention initiative, was handed over to the community, which is a host to the famous Ada Rice Irrigation Project.

The project was said to be in fulfilment of the yearnings of rice farmers and dealers in the area to have where they could trade like other communities.

Speaking at a brief hand-over ceremony, National Program Coordinator of ATASP-1, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Arabi expressed delight that the programme had fulfilled the yearnings of rice farmers and dealers to have a modern market lock-up shops and stalls where they can sell their products.

Arabi, represented by the National Agriculture Specialist, Mr Adekunle Alege, called for proper use of the facilities to ensure that the ultimate goal of the federal government through the ministry of agriculture and rural development to invest multi-billion naira on infrastructure projects and programs in the community was realized.

He urged the community to maintain the market and make good use of it so that ATASP could do more things for them.

The zonal programme coordinator, ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Crops Processing Zone, Mr Romanus Egba explained that the facility was constructed with grants from African Development Bank (AfDB) group and state government’s counterpart funding, with zero financial contribution from the community.

“Apart from supporting our farmers, who cultivate rice, cassava or sorghum to attain maximum yields and create employment opportunities along the value chain, we also provide social infrastructures and support services that enable them sell their produce and attain better living standards.

“Initially, we wanted to drill borehole in the community to provide clean water for them, but we discovered that traders in the market do not have roof under them and were easily exposed to the bad elements,” he said.