By Mu’azu Osekalago

The Nasarawa State Government will soon establish a market development board to coordinate the activities of traders and other commercial ventures in the state.

Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma stated this in Lafia, last week, while receiving the report of a committee constituted to look into the fire incidence that affected Lafia and Doma markets early this year.

He said budgetary provision has been made for the construction of modern markets in Doma and Akwanga, assuring that similar gestures would be replicated in all the major towns of the state.

The governor said that government would work out modalities to avoid future recurrences of fire outbreaks in public places in the state.

He commended the members of the committee for "a job well done" adding that "government will study the committee’s recommendation carefully and implement it to the letter".

Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ango, said lack of access road to the Lafia market had impeded the smooth operation by men of the fire services in their effort to put out the fire.

He advised the government to build a modern market in all the local government headquarters of the state.

"Government should ensure the provision of standard fire fighting equipment in all of these markets as well as engage in training and re-training of men of the fire service", he stressed.

It would be recalled that in January this year, Lafia and Doma township markets were gutted by fire.

About one hundred (100) shops were affected in the Lafia inferno, while eighty (80) shops were destroyed in Doma market.

Following the two fire incidences, government set up a committee to investigate the causes of the inferno and make appropriate recommendations to it on how to guard against future occurences.

In another development, the Nasarawa State Government has paid the sum of one hundred and nineteen million (N119, 000, 000.00) as leave/transport allowances to civil servants in its determination to improve the workers welfare.

The commissioner for information and orientation, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustapha Aliyu, disclosed this in Lafia, last week, at a media briefing organized by the ministry of information and orientation.

He said the government was committed to providing conducive atmosphere for civil servants to perform effectively.

Alhaji Aliyu said government has resolved to take adequate care of the welfare of workers so as to enhance professionalism in service "and ensure effective and efficient service delivery".

He said as part of capacity building for civil servants, the government has organized retreats and workshops for different categories of workers in the state.

The commissioner who gave account of government stewardship in four areas, namely Office of Head of Civil Service, Planning Commission, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and State Environmental Protection Agency, said the organs have been restructured for efficient service delivery.

He said government has awarded contract for flood and erosion control in Lafia, Doma, Keana and Akwanga towns, adding that government would also look into similar problems in all towns across the state.

He decried the low allocation accruing to the state as ecological fund, stressing that the government would do everything possible to ensure that Nasarawa State received reasonable amount as its share of the fund.

Responding to question on the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lafia, Alhaji Aliyu said "government will soon engage in serious war against indiscriminate dumping of refuse’ in its bid to improve on the sanitary condition in Lafia, the state capital and its environs.