By Francis Ogwo
The Government of Kano State is set to change the economic fortunes of the state as it prepares to unveil the multi-billion naira Kano Economic City.
Reports say the edifice would become one of the largest business hubs in West Africa and a major revenue spinner for the state.
The site according to reports is located on the Zaria – Kano Road and sits on 117.2 hectares.
Also known as Kanawa International Market, the Kano Economic City (KEC) has been reported to have stirred up excitements in the commercial city.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, while inspecting the project, said Kano is an industrial and commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria and some West African countries. Because of the state’s burgeoning population, markets in the city are becoming inaccessible, so the best way is to find a site on the outskirts of Kano and develop a world-class modern market.
Why such a gigantic trade centre? “We want to provide a platform for entrepreneurs, traders, and business tycoons to have easy access to world-class infrastructure befitting of a modern market place. The essence is to harness product value-chain opportunities and improve economic growth,” Ganduje said.
KEC represents the largest economic hub in Northern Nigeria, designed as an architectural focal reference point for major market development projects within West Africa. It was learnt that the master plan of the Kano Economic City was laid out in a pattern inspired by the Arewa logo, which symbolises the unity of the North.
The project is a Public-Private Partnership between Kano State Government (which provided the land) and Brains and Hammers Limited (developer), with Jaiz Bank as the financier. The project risks have been appropriately shared in a bid to ensure successful delivery and use of the market by traders and customers alike.
- The market, with 13,000 shops, has trailer and passenger motor parks, conference centre, amusement park, educational institute, banks, petrol stations, hotels and motels, malls and medical facilities, among other ancillary facilities.
There are power supply and distribution, street lighting, 24-hour security, telecommunications ducts and other essential plug and play facilities that typify an efficient trade community.
