Kano digital market targets ₦50bn revenue, 100,000 jobs

July 25, 2026 5:42 pm

The newly commissioned Hajaj-ZOEC Digital Market in Kano is expected to generate about ₦50bn in revenue and create more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, the Chief Executive Officer of Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited, Alhaji Jamilu Abdussalam, has said.

The market, commissioned on Saturday at the former Luxurious Bus Park along New Road, Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari, was developed under a Public-Private Partnership involving the Kano State Government, Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited and ZOEC Construction.

Speaking during the inauguration, Abdussalam described the facility as one of the largest dedicated electrical and electronics markets in West Africa, saying it would position Kano as a major commercial and distribution hub for Nigeria and the sub-region.

He said the market would accommodate more than 1,500 shops, bringing dealers in electrical and electronic products under one roof while providing modern infrastructure to support trade and investment.

“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,” he said.

Abdussalam disclosed that the project, valued at between ₦25bn and ₦30bn, had already attracted international partners, including companies from Egypt and China, establishing permanent showrooms within the market.

According to him, between 60 and 65 per cent of the shops have already been sold, while the facility features basement parking for about 700 vehicles, underground storage capable of accommodating more than 30 forty-foot containers, a central firefighting system, and sprinkler installations.

“The economic impact will be enormous. During construction alone, over 1,000 people, including labourers, masons and professionals, worked on the site every day. When suppliers and other participants in the value chain are included, more than 8,000 people have already benefited from the project. After the market is fully operational, we project that more than 100,000 people will benefit directly and indirectly,” he said.

He added that the project was designed to deepen commerce, create employment opportunities and reduce the need for Nigerian traders to travel overseas to source electrical and electronic products.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, said the Federal Government had streamlined the bottlenecks associated with Public-Private Partnership arrangements to encourage greater private sector participation in infrastructure development.

Ata, who was represented by his Special Assistant (Technical), Kabir Dutse, said the ministry had developed a workable PPP framework that was accessible to investors across Nigeria and beyond.

“As part of our mandate and responsibility as a government, 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,” he said.

The minister described the Hajaj-ZOEC Digital Market as a reflection of the growing importance of digitalisation in modern commerce, stressing that businesses must embrace technology to remain competitive.

“There is no better way to transform the market sector today than through digitalisation. That is the global trend. 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 said.

He congratulated Summit Bank, Hajaj ZOEC Real Estate Limited, ZOEC Construction and the Kano State Government for partnering to deliver the project, describing it as a landmark investment that would promote commerce, attract investment, create jobs and strengthen Kano’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading commercial centres.

The commissioning attracted government officials, business leaders, investors, development partners and industry stakeholders, who expressed optimism that the Hajaj-ZOEC Digital Market would stimulate economic activity, expand regional trade and reinforce Kano’s status as Northern Nigeria’s commercial hub.

Hussaini Ibrahim

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