By Abdul Momoh

The Kwara State Government has been commended for her pro-activeness towards curtailing the scourge of Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Speaking on this development, the Managing Director, Ray Field Construction Company- a Developer of Ilorin Ultra-Modern Market, Emmanuel Sidi stated this during a brief with our reporter in his office, recently.

According to him, ‘the Kwara State Government’s measure towards the containment of the pandemic in the state is laudable.’

“Kwara State Government has been proactive on this issue upfront. It is unfortunate that people don’t know that it is good to be in lockdown than to be 6 feets below.

“The lockdown order by the government is the only alternative. This is a novel virus which is yet to get a vaccine. It is better to stay at home than to come out and die,” Sidi said.

He added that though the lockdown restriction placed by the government has much effect on busineses, but it is the duty of a responsible government to protect lives and property which the leaders were sworn to do.

“The virus will surely go. Ebola and other hitherto pandemics had come and go. I want to thank the Kwara State Government for her proactiveness during the period at the same time the stimulus packages given to the people of the state.”

He further said the upsurge of covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the company by bringing to halts the activities developers at mandate market.

“It’s unfortunate that the virus came. If not we would have gone far in the upliftment of the phase 3 in the ultral modern market.

“Though we are government contractors, we suppose be on site, but ought to adhere to the government’s order. The pandemic has badly affected our job, just like other Nigerians.”

Reacting to the multiplier effects of mandate market on Kwara economy, Sidi said the market has risen to become an economic hub of the state.

“With the support of the Kwara State Government, we were able to turn Mandate Market to an economic hub which has typified to the economic multiplier effect of the state.

“Mandate Market has become a big market that cannot be downplayed in North Central Nigeria. It has birthed sub-micro markets in Ilorin metropolis.

“Nobody could dare imagined that this market which was before now an habitant of wild animals, can now be turned into mega economic hub in the state. We acknowledged the support of the Kwara State for allowing us to turn this market into the state economic eldorado.”

He however added that the company had finished with the construction of the first two phases at the market as work is ongoing on the Phase 3.

“We built and sell and we had an agreement with the Kwara State Government. We have three phases at the market, we are at the phase three now,” he concluded.

  Coronavirus, Emmanuel Sidi