From Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
Yobe Government says it has so far spent N243 million on the fencing of the site for Potiskum Modern Truck Transit Park.
Alhaji Barma Shettima, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, told the Neptune Prime on Tuesday, that the project had reached about 85 per cent completion.
Shetima said the state had also paid over N60 million compensation to owners of the 50-hectare land where the park was sited.
He said the project, which began in 2019, was done by the state government single-handedly, contrary to the earlier plan to do it in partnership with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
He said: “Initially, we thought the park will be constructed in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council but that did not happen.
“Therefore, the state government alone decided to cater to the project in view of its socio-economic significance to our people.”
The commissioner said the project’s main design was advertised, bidding process concluded and a contractor had emerged.
He said the successful contractor had submitted his bill of quantity and proposed design for the main project, adding that relevant agencies were presently scrutinising the document.
Shetima said the park would have roads, parking lot, canteen, warehouse, garage, a filling station, conveniences, recreational centre, a fire service station and a police post.
Neptune Prime recalls that at a recent town hall meeting and during the electioneering in Potiskum, Governor 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 also hoped that it would help to decongest the city, which has one of the highest concentration of trucks in Northern Nigeria.
