Sani donates N20m grant to 700 traders for shop mortgage, rent

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Uba Sani, has donated N20 million grant to 700 traders across Kaduna state to enable them pay 10% mortgage down payment, and for others to pay rent on their shop.

The Managing Director, Kaduna Market Development and Management Company, Ms Tamar Nandul, who disclosed this on Friday at the commissioning of two shopping centers at the Sheikh Gumi Central Market Kaduna by Sen. Sani, said the benefiting traders were drawn from various markets across the state such as Sheikh Gumi Central Market, Chechenya Market, Kabala Market, Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari and Dan Magaji markets, as well as Ungwan Rimi, Kawo, Kasuwan Bacci and Kwoi markets.

She said, “in September 2022, traders across Kaduna state endorsed his candidacy for Governor of Kaduna state and inaugurated a support group towards the campaign effort. At the event, we called on the Senator to provide support to traders who are finding it difficult to purchase their shops and at that same event, Senator Uba Sani pledged the sum of N20 million (N20,000,000) as support to traders across the state. We are pleased to confirm that he has fulfilled that pledge to our traders.

“Because of his generosity, over 700 traders have been empowered. In Sheikh Gumi Market, 197 traders are getting support to make their mortgage down payments, in Kasuwan Magani, 80 traders have been supported to pay their rent for a year, 25 petty traders in Checheniya Market have been empowered, 10 women in Kabala Market, 185 traders across Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari, Dan Magaji have been empowered. Of course traders in Ungwan Rimi, Kawo, Kasuwan Bacci and Kwoi are not left behind. The impact of this grant is immediate and transformational.

“We have heard some people claiming that this is because of politics and I have asked them to also come and do their own politics, we want to strongly encourage this kind of politics that empowers people to become owners of their business premises, this kind of politics that provides support for traders to increase their capital or pay off their debts. I want to also advice the traders not to allow anyone politicize their development.

“This administration of Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, of which Senator Uba Sani is a core team member, is focused on the development of people regardless of their political party. These naysayers are out to deceive you and cheat you. They are the same people who boasted to you that the market redevelopment program of Governor el-Rufai was a scam but we are here today and you can all attest to the transformation going in markets across Kaduna state. We are aware that some of them have peddled the fake news that we demolished 40,000 shops and we challenge them to show their proof.

“Today, we are building over 20 markets across the state, some have even been completed, some have been commissioned, some are already in use. It is only in 9 markets that there was demolition, in 8 of these markets apart from Kasuwan Bacci, we provided temporary markets for traders to continue their business while construction is ongoing. Across these 9 markets, 7,915 traders were affected by our activities but most of them did not even have shops, the number of shops demolished is just about 5,000 and in their place we are building 14,677 shops and have already allocated 7,915 in these 9 markets.

“Furthermore, we have also started handing over shops to traders in Ungwan Rimi and Barnawa and we will start in Kawo next week and by God’s grace, the third phase of Sabon Gari and Kasuwan Bacci will be handed over soon. Governor Nasir el-Rufai will also commission the Ungwan Rimi Market next month. Today, Senator Uba Sani will commission this shopping centre which was built on the former club 69 Garage and the GSM Market at the former 740 Garage, on Lagos street,” Nandul said.