Traders at the popular Bulumkuttu ‘Yan Nono market in Maiduguri have expressed support for the Borno State government’s plan to relocate them to a new site for safety and better organization.
For over two decades, the market along Kano–Jos Road has served as a major hub for the sale of traditional milk and fura, attracting hundreds of buyers daily.
However, as business activities expanded, traders gradually moved closer to the main road, creating safety risks for both sellers and commuters.
The relocation plan, according to the Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), is part of governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s ongoing urban renewal efforts aimed at restoring order in high-traffic areas.
During a meeting with the traders’ association on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, BOGIS executive secretary Adam Bukar Bababe said the government’s action is focused on protecting lives and ensuring business continuity.
‘The relocation plan is in your best interest,’ Bababe said. ‘Government will build new stalls for you in a safer and more structured place where your businesses can continue to thrive.’
He directed the association’s executives to submit an updated list of all members, including those without shops, to help plan the new market arrangement.
Association chairman Husaini Ali, who has traded in the area for more than twenty years, said members understand the government’s decision and are ready to cooperate.
‘We have increased in number to the point that the designated space can no longer contain us,’ he said. ‘If government relocates us to a secure and organized place, we will accept it.’
Secretary of the association, Kabiru Abubakar, described the move as timely, noting that traders had also raised concerns over congestion and sanitation in the area.
Some traders, including Ali Abubakar and a group of Fulani women, said the new site should accommodate everyone, especially those currently selling under umbrellas.
The government said the new site will be announced soon after consultations are completed, marking another step toward improving safety and order in Maiduguri’s business centers.
