Borno re-opens cattle market

By Sadiq Abubakar
Maiduguri

Borno state government has reopened Maiduguri Cattle Market which was closed three months ago following incessant bomb attacks at the market.
Announcing the re-opening of the cattle market yesterday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Usman Jidda Shuwa, said following the recommendation of a high powered committee set up after the closure of the market three months ago, the market has been reopened for full business under tight security.

Blueprint reports that as soon as the announcement was made, traders and cattle dealers stormed the market and the commercial area became a beehive of activities.
Leader and chairman, Borno Livestock Dealers Association, Alhaji Mohammed Klia, expressed satisfaction, saying “we have no words to express our gratitude to Governor Kashim Shettima for reopening the cattle market.”

-He said some of them have been forced pur of business as a result of the closure of the market, pointing out that the re-opening of the market has rekindled their hope and life.
Vice-chairman of the Livestock Dealers Association, Alhaji Yakubu Goni, also thanked the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Ibn Umar El Kanemi, for his fatherly intervention that complemented the efforts of Governor Shettima.

A trader and dealer at the market, Zanna Malam, appealed to the state government to provide adequate security in the market.
Other stakeholders, like Alhaji Umar Mohammed Shuwa of RTEAN and Kalanchi of Jega Transport Service, said their transportation businesses had been grounded, but had “today bounced back with the reopening of the market.”

Apart from livestock sellers, other businesses within the market, particularly those of water and minerals sellers had picked up as confirmed by Abba Kawu, a pure water hawker.
Similarly, Hajiya Aisha, a food seller, and Alhaji Mai Leather, as well as the leader of animal feed sellers, thanked the governor for re-opening the market.