Yam market opens near Abuja

The Ayatutu Yam Market has opened in Tudun Wada, Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Nasarawa State, just about 26 kilometres from the nation’s capital, Abuja.

Located opposite the popular National Agricultural Showground, the yam market is the hub of high-breed yam varieties from Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

According to the Managing Director of the Market, Prince Nicholas Akpene, the market is established to ameliorate the high cost of food, and cope with food supply needs for Abuja and its environs, adding that the yam market also acts as a supply hub for north-central states, attracting big-time yam merchants.

He said the market supplies directly from farms at a reduced price and that it has the capacity to accommodate over 100 000 tubers of yam in a day. The market operates 24 hours, including Sundays.

Akpene said the market has attracted wholesale buyers who, before now, only operated in Lagos and Port Harcourt yam markets, adding that big farmers within these states would no longer be taking their yams to Lagos or Port Harcourt since the wholesale-buyers are already on ground.

Other food items available in the market in commercial quantity are groundnut, garri, and beans.

Commissioning the market last weekend, the Esu Karu, His Royal Highness Pharm. Baba Panya, represented by His Royal Highnesses, Esu Kodape and Saigari Tudun Wada, said the market would boost commercial activities in the community and enhance the livelihood of the locals.

He called on Governor Sule of Nasarawa State and the Federal Government to support the market with equitable infrastructure to ease transactions.