From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
The All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Sokoto State, Hon Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, has assured the people of Illela local government, a border town with the Niger Republic, that he’ll ensure the actualisation of the long-awaited international market in the area.
Ahmed stated this while addressing a crowd of APC supporters who turned out to welcome him while attending wedding ceremonies in the area.
He said the current PDP administration in the State has failed to redeem its campaign promise of setting up the international market in the area.
According to him,since the pronouncement was made by the current administration seven years ago, nothing has been done about the market issue.
He wondered why any serious government would fail such a promise which has a lot of economic benefits not only to Sokoto State but to Nigeria and Niger republic.
He said Illela as a border community has a lot of commercial activities that need to be supported by any serious government.
To this end, the APC candidate assured people in the area that if voted come 2023 his administration will execute the project.
This he said became imperative considering the need to beef up internally generated revenue for the State.
“I’m very much sure that the establishment of this international market will also create a lot of job opportunities for people in this area,” he added.
He further expressed optimism that when established,the international market will boost the state’s revenue drive and also improve the long-existing economic and social ties between border communities of the two countries.
He said the border communities of the two countries have for long intermingled with one another with lots of intermarriages and business ties.
Earlier, the APC chairman for Illela local government, Muhammad Sarkin Alaru, expressed optimism that APC will deliver Illela in upcoming polls.
He appealed to party supporters to redouble efforts to ensure the party’s victory.