The Plateau State 2020 appropriation bill has captured another N50 million for the demolition of the 35-year-old burnt Jos Main Market a year after N1.1 billion was allocated for the same purpose and eight months after, weak spots of the market structure were demolished.

At the budget breakdown on Monday, N50m was captured for the demolition under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry even after the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Sylvester Wallangko had stated that the market demolition had been completed. When asked to clarify the ambiguity, the Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Regina Soemlat, had stated that the N50 million will be used for “paper work.”

Daily Trust reports that N1.1bn earmarked for the demolition last year attracted outrage forcing the state government to clarify that the budgeted amount was not only for the demolition exercise but to address four components of the project including sanitation, reinforcement, the demolition and clearing of the debris.

The multi-billion naira market structure, once regarded as the largest indoor market in West Africa, was razed in 2002 in the wake of a controversial fire incident, and the incumbent governor is the first to commence the process of rebuilding the market.

Source: Daily Trust

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Jos market demolition: Plateau Budgets N50m For ‘Paper work’