From Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
The Yobe Government on Monday says it actually released N153.4 million and not N242 million to Guza Integrated Nig. Ltd, the company handling perimeter fencing of the proposed Potiskum Modern Truck Transit Park (TTP).
Alhaji Barma Shetima, Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, told the Newsmen in Damaturu, that N242 million was the total contract sum approved by the state.
The Government said the amount was released to Guza Integrated Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the project as against N242 million being speculated by some section of the media.
He said the state had paid over N60 million as compensation to owners of the 50-hectares land on which the project was sited, the fencing has reached about 85 per cent completion.
The Commissioner also said the design of the main project was earlier advertised, the bidding process was concluded and a contractor had emerged the winner.
He said the successful contractor had submitted his bill of quantity and proposed design for the main project, adding that relevant agencies were scrutinizing the submission.
Shetima said the inner structures of the main project would include roads, parking areas, canteen, warehouse, vehicles garage, filling station, convenience, recreational centre, fire service station and police outpost.
Shetima said the groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held in 2019, and it was handled by the state singlehandedly as against in partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
“Initially, we thought the park will be constructed in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. That did not happen.
“Therefore, the state government alone decided to cater for the project in view of its socio-economic significance to our people,” he said.
Newsmen recall that at a recent town hall meeting and during electioneering campaigns in the Potiskum, Gov. Mai Mala-Buni had pledged to construct a modern trailer park, few miles away from the town.
He said that the park would create over 5,000 direct jobs, generate wealth and improve the economy of the state.
The governor noted that it would also help to decongest and clean up the town which had one of the highest concentration of trucks in Northern Nigeria.
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