The Plateau State Government on Wednesday approved the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market gutted by fire in 2002.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dan Manja, disclosed this at the end of the state’s executive council meeting in Jos.

Mr Manja said that the market would be reconstructed through a public-private partnership with Jaiz Bank.

“Jaiz Bank Plc. made an offer to the government listing three options for consideration for a public-private partnership in the development of the market, and the cabinet adopted one.

“It will be developed in three main blocks and a shell fenced up to three floors totalling 4,231 shops,’’ the commissioner said.

He said the government was committed to complete the reconstruction of the market to boost the economy of the state and fulfil Governor Simon Lalong’s campaign promise for economic rebirth.

Speaking further on the reconstruction project, the supervising Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Idris Gambo, said the signing of the joint venture would be completed within a few days for work to begin.

He said the bank assured the government of completing the project within 12 months, saying that it had embarked on similar projects in Kaduna States for 13 markets and in Enugu, Kano and Niger States among others.

The ultramodern market was further hit by twin bomb blast in 2014.

It was demolished by the state government in 2019 with the promise of early reconstruction.

(NAN)