CALABAR—Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has given reasons why the popular Watt Market in Calabar South Local Government Area and Ika-Ika Oqua Market in Calabar Municipal council are to be relocated.

According to Imoke “after the state government had signed an N8billion  agreement with Blue Waters Development Company Ltd, on a new Calabar Central Market in Governor’s Office, Calabar, Wednesday, it had  earlier been noticed  that the markets have become over crowded and out grown their infrastructure ,  which calls for a proper management, irrespective of their sanitation status as the cleanest markets in Nigeria.”

He added that government embarked on a Public Private Partnership, PPP ,which is unique in many ways to carry along the consultant and market associations as stakeholders.

Imoke noted that the consultant has the capacity to finish the project because of its access to banks and financiers, which will entail it building and operating the markets within the stipulated time.

He explained that the new market is intended to tackle the challenges posed by Watt and Ika-Ika Oqua markets, with  modern facilities as it will be monitored to ensure a classic PPP project, while assuring the total cooperation of government to ensure it is realized.

He described the signing of the agreement as significant to the state to deliver infrastructure for development because as Calabar metropolis expands,  there is need also to provide it with a befitting market that meets the needs of the people.

Prof.  Jerry Gana, Director Blue Waters Development Company Ltd and a former Minister, speaking on behalf of the company, described the proposed market as a well planned site, with beautiful structure,  which will create wealth and generate jobs to make the city second to none in Africa.

He added that it will be made of 4,500 shops,  which will include retail shops, cold rooms, warehouses, abattoir and a car park.

Gana said given the company’s track record, it will build a modern market that will rival any modern market elsewhere,  as they will not give anything less, adding that the present administration in the state will leave the project as a good legacy of pride.