By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
Following the recent unprecedented improvements in the standard of the newly upgraded Yam Market in Kyado, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, the state has once again reaffirm its earlier acclaimed slogan of “Food Basket of the Nation”.
The director of the market Mr. Aondohemba Kyado during an interactive session with our reporter in Kyado recently described the yam market as the second largest Yam Market in the whole of West Africa after the Zaki Biam International Yam Market which is also located in the same Local Government Council.
Director Aondohemba while revealing the recent trends in the market to our reporter, said “the market is booming. I want to tell you that from October to December last year, we used to dispatch not less than thirty fully loaded trucks of yams on each of the market day. It is only during the first weeks of the New Year that we dispatched less than thirty trucks”.
“Also, the chairman, Hon. Steve Ayua is not living any stone unturned towards uplifting the market to an international standard. As I am talking to you now, work is ongoing on the construction of a security post in the market. The chairman is also trying to fix certain amenities in the market such as boreholes, electricity and modern toilets. This is just aside his plan to rehabilitate the road linking the market with the Federal Road.” He added.
Mr. Aondohemba Kyado who said several administration’s efforts towards uplifting the market to an international standard had suffered so many levels of setbacks, appreciated the efforts of the Chairman, Ukum Local Government Council, Hon. Steve Terwase Ayua for taking it upon himself to ensure that the market meets the modern standard.
He equally appreciated the dogg edness of the past chairman Hon. Bier Logo and the Ter u Ukum, His Royal Highness, Zaki Orkuma Kaave whose relentless efforts moved the market to its present location.
The Kyado International Yam Market which holds on every Tuesday of the week was commissioned on the 3rd of April 2020 by Hon. Bier Logo, the former Chairman, Ukum Local Government Council.