Traders at the ultra modern market located at Adewole area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital, have called on relevant authorities in the state to address some of the inadequacies in the new market to help business growth in the area.

Speaking with the Community News in Ilorin, the Iyaloja of the market, Hajia Hafsat Dare, said the areas of their need included restoration of electricity, provision of adequate security and upgrading of the abbatoir in the market to a good standard.

"During last rainstorm in the area, some electricity poles were destroyed and thus, the area had been without electricity. The government and the PHCN had not come to effect repairs and as a result, business activities of some traders selling cold drinks, hairdressers, barbers among others had been badly affeected.

"We also need adequate security, although the government provides vigilante services, we don't have a police station yet in the market. Also, our abbatoir is not befitting of a modern market and we want the concerned authorities to help us upgrade it to a standard one," she said.

Hajia Dare, who commended the state government for the good road network in the market area, among other forms of assistance like provision of soft loans to women traders, urged the government to increase the number of loan beneficiaries.

The market, which is the major market for tomato and other soup ingredients in Ilorin, is also the place where other food items like bagged rice, beans and other grains can be found.

Hajia Dare also said that she had helped Hausa, Fulani and Nupe tomato farmers to look for land space to produce tomato for the state and neighbouring states.

She also said that she had intervened on behalf of the traders with government officials to reduce multiple taxes on transporting of their trades to help business growth in the area.

The Iyaloja, who commended the state government for establishing the market, added that many women who had hitherto been without any source of livelihood had been empowered, commended the government for always coming to their assistance.