From HASSAN JIRGI, Maiduguri
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum has inspected the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern shopping complex in Bama town, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to quality and transparency.
The governor was received at the project site by his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Grema Terab, who is supervising the project under the state’s direct labour arrangement.
During a briefing, Terab revealed that the complex was designed to feature three major blocks, each with 30 ground-floor shops and 30 upper-level shops. While the original plan included 200 shops, slight adjustments—due to road alignment and entrance design—have revised the total to 198 shops.
Construction commenced with reinforced concrete foundations and work is already underway on the first block.
Terab noted that the complete market will comprise over 1,000 shops, including 400 interior stores and 600 surrounding lock-up shops. Ongoing survey and landscaping work which is aimed at enhancing accessibility by improving the market’s elevation.
Governor Zulum expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, emphasized the need for strict adherence to engineering standards.
“What matters most to me is durability. From my observation, the quality of work is encouraging, and we hope for timely delivery,” he stated.
The governor also addressed public misconceptions regarding the project’s execution, where he made clarifications about Terab not being a contractor but a government appointee supervising a government project.
The shopping complex is expected to significantly boost local commerce and contribute to the town’s post-insurgency recovery.
