Food security: Kano govt. boosts Dawanau Grains Market through infrastructure.
By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano
Kano state government has provided infrastructure in Dawanau International Grains Market in Tofa local government area, boosting all areas of agriculture, particularly the value chain of crops and livestock.
The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) Infrastructure Engineer, Engr. Zaharaddeen Hamisu, on Monday told newsmen who were in Dawanau to asses the current trade performance of the market that the intervention is a 90$ million project that would span a period of five years.
Under the project, Hamisu said, the Kano state government is contributing 5$ million while the Islamic Development Bank, Lives Livelihood Fund (LLF) and other partners are sponsoring the rest of the funding.
Through the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project, the state government has been able to provide 4kms of surface dress roads within the market, drainage channels and solar lights that have made business activities in the market to run 24hours, the project engineer said.
“The KSADP, with the support of Islamic Development Bank and other partners, has also provided a conference hall where the traders now hold meetings with their prospective clients, a mosque for worshipers, administrative block with many offices and restrooms as well as a police post to tighten security of the market.
“The Dawanau International Market is the biggest grains market in the Sub-Saharan Africa but was hitherto confronted with many challenges, including lack of access roads for movement of grains and livestock especially during rainy seasons as well as security challenges. But all of these challenges have been tackled by closing the infrastructural gap,” Hamisu said.
He disclosed that the Abba Yusuf administration has so far spent N508 million on roads and drainage channels, and N120 million on infrastructural buildings and solar lights, totalling N628 million.
Deputy Chairman of the market traders, Alh. Baba Wawu, said “for over 30 years this market has never been like this until the Abba Yusuf government came on board, and you can see the changes.
“Since this project was launched, it has never stopped. You can see the transformation. You can see the trucks and other vehicles loading and leaving, and this will continue throughout the night because of the streets solar lights and police presence,” Wawu told newsmen who visited the market on Monday.
