Fintiri unveils modern Yola market, names facility after Modibbo Adama
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on Tuesday commissioned the rebuilt Yola Market, declaring that the project marks the end of decades of recurring fire outbreaks, poor sanitation and disorder that plagued one of the state’s oldest commercial centres.
At the commissioning ceremony in Yola Town, the governor also announced that the facility would henceforth be known as the Modibbo Adama Modern Market, Yola (MAMMY), in honour of the founder of the Adamawa Emirate.
Fintiri said the new market replaced the old structure, which had become synonymous with repeated fire incidents that destroyed shops, goods worth millions of naira and the livelihoods of hundreds of traders.
He said rather than accept superstition as an explanation for the recurring disasters, his administration opted for a permanent solution by rebuilding the market into a modern commercial complex equipped with fire prevention and safety facilities.
According to the governor, the project reflects his administration’s philosophy of identifying problems and delivering practical, lasting solutions.
He recalled visiting the site after one of the devastating fire incidents and promising traders that the market would not only be rebuilt but transformed into a befitting modern facility.
“We have matched our talk with work. This isn’t rhetoric; this is another promise delivered and another problem solved,” he said.
Fintiri said the project was executed entirely by indigenous contractors from Adamawa State, describing it as proof that local firms can deliver quality infrastructure when properly supervised.
The governor said the market comprises 936 shops, including 816 lock-up shops and 120 open shops, alongside wider access roads to allow fire trucks easy access during emergencies.
He added that the facility also includes a dedicated fire service station, fire hydrants, overhead water tanks, a comprehensive water reticulation system, desilted drainage channels, modern toilet facilities, improved sanitation infrastructure and an administrative block for effective management.
Fintiri disclosed that although the traders’ union initially submitted a list of 307 beneficiaries, the government increased the allocation to 350 shops to accommodate omissions and ensure fairness in the distribution process.
He urged traders to protect the new facility by maintaining cleanliness and safeguarding their business premises.
The governor also directed the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industries to engage professional facility managers to oversee the security, maintenance and sanitation of the market to preserve the investment.
He said proper maintenance and collective responsibility would be essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.
Declaring the facility open, Fintiri said the decision to rename it the Modibbo Adama Modern Market, Yola (MAMMY) was intended to preserve and celebrate the rich historical heritage of Yola.
He formally commissioned the market for public use, describing it as another milestone in his administration’s drive to modernise public infrastructure, improve the business environment and stimulate economic growth across Adamawa State.