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KANO — Kano State on Saturday strengthened its position as a commercial powerhouse with the commissioning of the Hajaj-ZOEC Digital Market, a landmark commercial facility projected to generate about ₦50 billion annually and create more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Kano State Government, Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited and ZOEC Construction, the market was inaugurated at the former Luxurious Bus Park along New Road, Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Chief Executive Officer of Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited, Alhaji Jamilu Abdussalam, described the facility as one of the largest dedicated electrical and electronics markets in West Africa, saying it would transform Kano into a major commercial and distribution hub for Nigeria and the wider African market.
“We believe this market is not only an opportunity for Kano State or Northern Nigeria but for the entire African continent. Instead of travelling all the way to China to purchase goods in bulk, traders will be able to come to Kano and place their orders here,” Abdussalam said.
He disclosed that the project, valued between ₦25 billion and ₦30 billion, would accommodate over 1,500 shops, bringing dealers in electrical and electronic products under one roof while providing modern infrastructure to support commerce and investment.
According to him, the market has already attracted international interest, with companies from China and Egypt establishing permanent showrooms within the complex. He added that between 60 and 65 per cent of the shops had already been sold ahead of full operations.
Abdussalam said the facility features a basement parking area with capacity for about 700 vehicles, underground storage capable of accommodating more than 30 forty-foot containers, as well as a central firefighting system and modern sprinkler installations designed to enhance safety.
He said more than 1,000 workers were engaged daily during construction, while over 8,000 people had already benefited through the project’s value chain.
“The economic impact will be enormous. After the market is fully operational, we project that more than 100,000 people will benefit directly and indirectly,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, represented by his Special Assistant (Technical), Kabir Aminu Dutse, said the Federal Government had removed major bottlenecks associated with Public-Private Partnership arrangements to encourage greater private sector investment in infrastructure.
“As part of our mandate, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has streamlined the bottlenecks associated with Public-Private Partnership arrangements. We have developed a workable model that is accessible to all our partners across Nigeria and even beyond,” the minister said.
Ata described the Hajaj-ZOEC Digital Market as a reflection of the growing role of digitalisation in modern commerce, stressing that technology-driven markets remain central to economic growth and global competitiveness.
“There is no better way to transform the market sector today than through digitalisation. Across the world, every meaningful improvement in commerce and economic prosperity is driven by digital innovation, and that is exactly what we are witnessing in this project,” he added.
He commended Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited, ZOEC Construction, Summit Bank and the Kano State Government for delivering what he described as a landmark investment capable of expanding commerce, attracting investment and reinforcing Kano’s longstanding reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial centres.
The commissioning ceremony drew government officials, business leaders, investors, development partners and industry stakeholders, who expressed optimism that the digital market would stimulate regional trade, deepen investment and further cement Kano’s status as Northern Nigeria’s commercial hub.
