The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Revenue diversification huge challenge to investments in Nigeria – Cardoso

    Revenue diversification huge challenge to investments in Nigeria – Cardoso

    DR. Yemi Cardoso, a financial and development expert, says  revenue and its diversification are  key challenges that has affected investments in Nigeria.

    Cardoso, a former chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria and  guest lecturer at the fourth  Arthur Mbanefo Lecture Series  in Lagos,  noted that revenue challenges had contributed  to  Nigeria’s  monolithic economy for too long.

    The  theme of the lecture put together by the Arthur Mbanefo  Digital Research Centre (AMDRC) University of Lagos, is: Impact Investing; The Way of the Future.

    According to him, the  topic is apt because it tends to review the country’s financial trends as it concerns investments.

    He noted that there was a lot more money looking for where they could  be invested  than they were  readily available entities that could take advantage of it.

    Speaking further, he said  that impact investment was the way to go in today’s economy, adding that it had the potential to transform the country’s economy by addressing social and environmental challenges, while also generating financial returns. The guest lecturer stated that for impact investment to effectively contribute to positive social and environmental impacts, it should also be able to maintain credibility.

    He noted that as more capital became available for them, the financial markets needed clear definition of expected practice and the  terms of participation in the market.

    He,  however,  noted that despite the challenges, impact investment was gaining momentum in Nigeria, as there were several key players in the country’s impact investing ecosystem. “There is a lot more money for investing  than readily available entities that can take advantage of it. Now, we are at the stage where we do need as much as possible, to generate revenue and diversify this.”

    Read Also: NRC’s revenue from passengers dropped by 63% in Q1, says NBS

    “The lecture today is basically focused on impact investing, the future for Nigeria . This is apt because we can see like around the world, impact investing today, is estimated to contribute over one trillion dollars in activities worldwide.

    “This is in terms of investing, in terms of assess under management and a lot more.

    “In Nigeria, that ecosystem is still developing and inspite of that, we have assess under management, regularly coming in. In 2021, it was  2. 6 billion dollars.

    “Now, for some people, that may appear like a lot of money but I can assure you, that particular amount of money can go hugely, if the right ecosystem is in place and the right things done,” Cardoso noted.

    According to him, research has shown that most people come into the economy, trying to invest and cannot  because they do not see enough of the transactions as well as  people who are in the right position to take advantage of  investments coming in.

    As a result, he noted, there was more supply of investment, than  there was investable transactions.

  • HND holders in NSCDC decry disparity in career progression

    HND holders in NSCDC decry disparity in career progression

    Some personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) who are Higher National Diploma (HND) holders have decried the disparity between them and their university degree holders colleagues.

    The complainants under the aegis of Concerned HND Holders in NSCDC, therefore, urged the Federal Government to right the wrong.

    They lamented that the discrimination had led to ill-treatment and a lack of career progression in the corps.

    The affected personnel hinted that the disparity in the scheme of service had dampened their morale in the service. 

    Recently, the Federal Government removed the dichotomy between degree and HND holders in NSCDC, Fire Immigration, and Prison Services.

    The aggrieved NSCDC specifically alleged that the 2012 HND holders’ intakes were being discriminated against compared to their mates in other sister agencies in the same Ministry of Interior.

    The group in its petition obtained by our correspondent said that: “HND holders were recruited into the NSCDC in the year 2012 as  Inspector of Corps rank (Grade Level 07). The same year, on the same process, NCE holders were placed on GL 07 and BSc holders on GL 08. 

    “This was based on the conditions of service at that time, which was a bad indicator of suppressing some set of people instead of encouraging competency and proactiveness between HND holders and BSc, as is found in other sister agencies for effective service delivery because of how sensitive security responsibility is.

    “We wrote the Confirmation and Promotion examination in the year 2014, with the BSc counterparts, being the statutory year to be confirmed, according to Public Service Rules. 

    “The BSc holders were advanced, but rather, in our case, we were not advanced neither properly placed nor promoted after passing the COMPRO exam, contrary to extant regulations.”

    The group urged President Bola Tinubu, the Senate President, and all concerned to look into their matter and restore them to the right rank which reflects their years of service.

    It added that in 2016, there was another replacement/recruitment exercise, and all officers recruited then as Assistant Superintendent of Corps II (ASCII) were all given automatic promotions to the next rank while all HND holders recruited in 2012 are still in stagnation as Inspectors of Corps. (Grade level 7) till 2018. 

    Read Also: NSCDC boss to discipline unruly officers

    But in 2018, the Federal Government enforced the removal of the HND/BSc dichotomy, and this order was implemented in other sister paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior since the year 2016. That, therefore, became a saving grace for HND 2012 intakes to progress to ASCII (Level 8) in 2018

    “Majority of our BSc holders, counterparts, that we were recruited together in the year 2012, are now hanging the rank of Superintendent ( Eagle, i.e. GL 11), while up to 95% of us, HND holders of 2012 recruits, are painfully stagnated to one star( ASCII, GL 08) up till now i.e. year 2023!

    “After being denied promotion exams for many years, 2022 made it the 4th consecutive year that we have been writing and passing promotion examinations, yet, without promotion!

    “All other categories of personnel, including SSCE, NCE, and Trade test holders have been writing promotion exams, as at when due, except the holders of the HND 2012 intake who have been variously denied for several years!

    “Some junior officers that were recruited in 2012 with CAIII, GL 03, (The least rank) who later got themselves enrolled in Part-time degree programs, were not only converted to the Senior rank but also inexplicably got promoted to two-star (ASCI, GL 09), thereby placing them above us that were recruited initially with HND Certificates in 2012!

    “Since April 16, 2012 ( 11 years down the line), when we were nominally enlisted into NSCDC, the majority of us don’t know what a promotion letter looks like. Even the so-called 2016 Advancement, up till now, there is no letter issued to that effect!

    “It has become an annual ritual in NSCDC that Officers from the junior cadre get converted into the Superintendent cadre, thereby creating an unnecessary and questionable shoot-up in the number of senior officers in the Corps, and also making promotion to the next rank extremely difficult, to the detriment of us that were recruited with HND certificate in 2012!

    “Having removed the dichotomy, The NSCDC started upgrading both the holders of Bsc and HND of 2019 intakes together. Those who got recruited and trained in the year 2022 were decorated with one star. This means they will be hanging two stars as soon as their COMPRO results are considered, just like their colleagues in the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), are already in two stars. Without mincing words, this places us in an uncomfortable, unpalatable, and unacceptable position of having to be juniors to two batches of recruits after us (i.e. 2016 and 2019 intakes)!

    “Our career stagnancy after 11 years of enlistment into the active service of NSCDC is unfair and unjust. There is no gainsaying this is alien to the Public Service Rule which stipulates that officers in our cadre should have a maximum of three years before they get promoted to the next rank. We shouldn’t be made to write another promotion exam this year again as we have been grossly shortchanged in the years back,” the petition added.

  • Election of Abbas as Speaker shows democracy here to stay, says Edo lawmaker

    Election of Abbas as Speaker shows democracy here to stay, says Edo lawmaker

    The member representing Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dekeri Anamero has said that the open ballot system adopted by the House to elect its Preaiding Officers was a clear indication that democracy has come to stay in the country. He described the emergence of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas ans Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively as democracy in action.

    Dekeri told The Nation that members openly made their choice and their decision was loud following the landslide win of Tajudeen Abass. He said the voting pattern was influenced by the leadership abilities so far displayed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his two weeks old administration.

    Read Also: Abbas appoints seven ad hoc committees, adjourns House till July 4

    “We have seen bold stepsand quality leadership so far exhibited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Leadership should be entrusted to people who know what it takes and people who have what it takes to deliver.

    “It is only logical for us the parliament to que behind this President  who is ready to liberate Nigeria, to take the country out of the shackles of poverty and elect these sets of leaders  that will work with him harmoniously without undermining the principles of checks and balances.

    “We are ready to work with Mr. President to create the Nigeria of our dreams. With time, Nigerians that are currently leaving the country will start coming back. The Jakpa syndrome will be reversed because others people will start coming into Nigeria

  • DESOPADEC funds: Okowa responds to Clark’s allegations

    DESOPADEC funds: Okowa responds to Clark’s allegations

    IMMEDIATE past governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC) got a whopping N208 billion in the eight years of his administration. His media aide, Charles Aniagwu on “Morning Show” on Arise Television, said that the Okowa administration was fair in the distribution of projects across the three Senatorial Districts in the state.

    He said prior to the emergence of Okowa administration in 2015, Delta was 4th in oil production adding that Okowa administration took the state to number one in oil production because the communities were happy with the projects executed in their areas by the state government.

    “Let me put it on record that we recognise the contributions of the elder statesman to the development of our democracy in time past. The issues he has canvassed are not original to him and because they are not original to him, in a number of areas he progressed in error. Premium Trust Bank does not in any way belong to Okowa. In Delta State during the administration of Governor Okowa, the state operated three distinct accounts.

    Read Also: AFN President Okowa upbraided for violating federation’s constitution

    “The FAAC Account which takes remittances from the Federation Account and other remittances is domiciled in Zenith Bank and its still there. The second account is called the State and Local Government Joint Account which is the JAAC account and that account is with UBA and you know the owners of UBA. The third account is the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account which is with Sterling Bank,” he said.

    On the issue of 13 percent derivation, Aniagwu said the elder statesman was not correct when he claimed that former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike exposed the refunds to the oil producing states.

    “The Federal Government agreed they were owing oil producing states but they were not in a position to refund the entire money at once and that they will pay instalmentally for a period of five years. When we went to the State Assembly and we publicised it in line with our transparency principle. There was no time anybody reported in this country that Buhari doled out N200 billion to one state without publicising it.

    “In the case of Rivers, as soon as it was agreed that these funds need to be refunded, Rivers state without following laid down principles approached a commercial bank and discounted that the expected refund to the tune of 30 percent to the bank and the bank was able to give them the money. When we approached the House of Assembly with the list of projects we intended to fund with the discount facility it was well publicized,” he recalled.

  • CSO lauds Tinubu’s resolve to appoint more women into cabinet

    CSO lauds Tinubu’s resolve to appoint more women into cabinet

    AN advocacy group, the Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (COGGA), has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his commitment and resolve to appoint female technocrats and core professionals to man sensitive ministries in his proposed cabinet. The group made the commendation yesterday at a press conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, and urged the President to make good his promise to boost the confidence of Nigerians in his administration.

    The National Coordinator of COGGA, Comrade Amatare Mozimo, applauded President Tinubu so far for hitting the ground running barely three weeks after assuming the leadership of Africa’s most populous nation. Mozimo said the President in the appointments he had made so far had demonstrated his resolve that he meant well for growth and development of the country.

    Read Also: Refinery owners urge Tinubu to accept naira for crude oil

    “We call on President Tinubu to keep his commitment of appointing women of integrity with verifiable track record, who worked for the party towards actualising victory as president, especially in states like Bayelsa under the enclave of the PDP,” he said, urging the President to consider a frontline chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Ongoebi Maureen Orubide Etebu, as a minister.

    “No just because of her integrity as a woman with the fear of God and a submissive team player that can be relied upon, but also considering her years of experience in public service as a former Commissioner, a two-time governorship aspirant of the APC in 2019 and 2023 as well as a former Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier Federal Maritime University (FMU).

    “APC stalwarts like Prof Etebu worked in synergy with leaders of the party, especially Chief Timipre Sylva in getting the desired results for President Tinubu in far-flung Bayelsa State. Hon. James Faleke personally signed the appointment letter of Prof. Etebu as a capable woman, young-at-heart, agile and efficient enough to mobilise voters across the six states of the South-South geo-political zone for the APC Presidential candidate,” he said.

  • I didn’t influence my wife’s decisions as judge – Bulkachuwa

    I didn’t influence my wife’s decisions as judge – Bulkachuwa

    EMBATTLED Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, the member who represented Bauchi North Senatorial District of Bauchi State in the 9th Assembly, has denied media reports that he confessed to influencing the decisions of his wife, Zainab Bulkachuwa, a former President of the Court of Appeal, while she was still on the bench.

    The Senator had come under criticism from Nigerians following reports that he spoke of how he used his position to influence the decisions made by his wife in matters concerning his colleagues while serving as the President of the Court of Appeal. He reportedly made the revelations on the floor of the Senate at the valedictory session of the 9th Assembly.

    Read Also: Agbakoba urges Tinubu to probe Bulkachuwa, NDIC

    The reports drew condemnations from many Nigerians. Calls for both the Senator and his wife to be probed, intensified all through the week. But speaking to BBC Hausa, Bulkachuwa clarified that his statement on the floor of the Senate was misrepresented as he was interrupted by the former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

    “I was not even allowed to finish, I just started with some words like thanking her, saying she was patient with me as she was legal practitioner and I am a politician,” he said in the interview. I wanted to elaborate on the specific nature of the help she provided. There exists a wide range of support that professionals in various fields, such as legal practitioners, doctors, or engineers, can offer in their respective roles.

    “Note that this assistance does not involve any illegal or unethical activities. In my personal relationship with her, I have never imposed upon her professional autonomy or attempted to influence her judgment in handling cases or running her office. Such matters are not even discussed in our home,” he said.

  • Cede ministerial slot to Kwara north, zone urges Tinubu, Abdulrazaq

    Cede ministerial slot to Kwara north, zone urges Tinubu, Abdulrazaq

    KWARA north senatorial district in Kwara state yesterday pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to appoint an indigene of the area as minister in his about-to-be-formed cabinet. Kwara northerners under the aegis of Kwara North Initiative Pioneers (KNYIP) also prevailed on the state Governor AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq to cede the state’s ministerial seat to the district.

    The move according to the group would ensure equity, justice fairness for their people. KNYIP President, Na’Allah Badamasi, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, adding the zone “is the most backward in the areas of social and infrastructure development among the three senatorial districts in the state.

    Read Also: AbdulRazaq commiserates with victims of boat mishap

    “This call becomes necessary considering the fact that the two senatorial districts of Kwara Central and South produced the two ministers on the same platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) throughout the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The two ministers are Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator Gbemisola Saraki.

    “The consideration of the Kwara north for ministerial appointment becomes imperative when we also consider the huge turnout of votes from the zone in the last general elections.Consideration of the zone for ministerial appointment would in no small measure bridge the gap of high unemployment rate, social amenities and infrastructure deficit in the zone.”

  • Osun APC rejects elders’ caucus position on Aregbesola

    Osun APC rejects elders’ caucus position on Aregbesola

    The leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC), Osun State has distance its self from the resolve of its Elders’ caucus that ‘only genuine apology can return former minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola to the fold of the party.’

    The party through its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal addressing the members and supporters of the party in Ilesha during the weekend at the homecoming reception and award for some former political office holders in Ijesaland maintained that those involved in members of the party who involved in anti-party during the last governorship and general election will be dealt with at the appropriate time.

    He also urged its members not to lose hope, noting that with hard work and commitment, the party will take over governance at the state level in 2026. According to Lawal, “a statement credited to the elders’ caucus of the party that the immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, should seek genuine forgiveness to find way back into the party was not the position of APC in the state.

    Read Also: ‘Aregbesola should explain why he didn’t vote for Tinubu, Oyetola’

    “We are the party and we know the members of our party. We know who voted for Tinubu and Oyetola during the last presidential and governorship elections. At the appropriate time, the party will come out with its resolution on the matter. We are not restructuring the party. The party is intact in Osun under Baba Bisi Akande and Gboyega Oyetola. At the appropriate time, we will reveal the plans we have for those who engaged in anti-party.

    “I read what the Igbimo Agba of our party said but they are in the advisory role of the party. The party is going to say its position about it. People should just wait a little bit.”

  • Pantami: A minister’s graceful exit and detractors’ anguish

    Pantami: A minister’s graceful exit and detractors’ anguish

    Abbas Abdulazeez

    While he held sway as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, between 2019 and 2023, Prof. Ibrahim Isa Ali Pantami was the target of malicious attacks by persons who have an axe to grind. It appears they are not done yet, even after he bowed out with unrivalled achievements.

    Recently, there was a futile attempt to discredit his feat regarding the passage of the NITDA Bill. An article, titled “Telecom: How Gbajabiamila saved Nigeria from Pantami’s curious Bill”, highlighted some issues that manifested the author’s ignorance about the legislation.

    It would be recalled that in March 2021, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi proposed the realignment of the agency’s Act with “tenets and ideals of the fourth Industrial Revolution” and Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy.

    On 30th August 2021, the Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Hadiza Umar, who urged IT stakeholders to participate in the 2007 Act re-enactment, clarified that the agency was not seeking to regulate the telecoms industry nor operators, but to promote the development of the sector.

    The NITDA bill seeks to introduce a licensing regime for IT operators and the digital economy. It empowers the agency to issue regulations, approve renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses, provide conditions that promote free market operation and competition, among others.

    After studying the draft NITDA Bill 2021 and NCC Act 2003, 2007, I make bold to state that there is no basis for anyone to think otherwise but the critics are determined to pursue a sinister agenda. Detractors attempt to hide facts in plain sight but have failed to explain the purported clash of NITDA and NCC mandates.

    The authority of NCC is derived from the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003) signed into law by President Olusegun Obasanjo on July 8, 2003 after National Assembly’s approval. It applies to the provision and use of telecommunications services and networks, including on ships and aircraft registered in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Gwarzo supports PRNigeria’s books as Pantami advocates diversified economy

    It is important to point out that the laws that guide and enable the operations of the commission include NCC decree 75 of November 1992, the National Telecoms Policy (NTP) 2000, (under review), the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1990, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

    The NCA 2003 would facilitate telecom investment and entry into the market; protect the rights and interests of service providers and consumers; manage and deploy state-owned assets; ensure quality telecoms services, and advise the minister on the formulation of policies and other matters.

    In a nutshell, one can understand that the key function of NCC is to regulate and oversee the country’s telecom industry. Therefore, Pantami should not be the target of abuses for no other reason other than his resolve to leave the digital space in Nigeria better than he met it. And he did.

    NCC’s Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, a loyal and trustworthy public officer, appreciated the ex-minister’s efforts in the digital economy and at different times praised his actions and utterances. So why the brouhaha now that he is no more in the saddle?

    Pantami came up with innovative ideas that expanded the digital space to accommodate more young citizens who would have been jobless, putting Nigeria’s digital economy on the global map. During his tenure, the ICT sector contributed 18.44 percent to the country’s GDP, the highest ever.

    Also, apart from securing the approval and supervision of the distribution of 6,000 iPads to educational institutions to promote virtual teaching, learning and other scholarly activities, Pantami secured a partnership with Microsoft to train five million Nigerians in ICT and emerging technology courses.

    The professor also sealed a partnership with Huawei that led to free training for over 30,000 Nigerians and the establishment of 300 ICT Academies. Another cooperation with KOICA attracted $13million aid to boost digital governance in the second phase of the e-Government Project.

    Others are the implementation of broadband connectivity, reinvigoration of the digital economy sub-sector, implementation of a Digital Identity Programme, implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, digitization of government processes, 4G deployment and the launch of 5G network.

    The stuff of career attackers is to hit below the belt when their target is no longer in office. But a lie is a lie irrespective of when it is being told, who is telling it, or how often it is relayed. Whether disparagers accept or not, posterity will be kind to Pantami.

    Abbas Abdulazeez writes from Federal Housing Lugbe, Abuja.

  • Outrage as new gov demolishes N126b structures in two weeks

    Outrage as new gov demolishes N126b structures in two weeks

    • Monument, malls, residential buildings, others affected
    • Two dead, others injured during demolition exercise

    Tension rose yesterday in Salanta quarters of Kano metropolis as residents  sought to resist the demolition squad sent to the area by the  state government in continuation of the pulling down of alleged illegal structures.

    Properties estimated at N126 billion have been leveled since the commencement of the exercise on June 3,according to an investigation by The Nation.

    They include a  three storey plaza consisting of over 90 shops on the Race Course, Nasarawa GRA, worth over N100 billion and the almost completed 90-room Five-Star Daula Boutique Hotel costing  over N10 billion.

    Thousands of people have been displaced on account of the demolition and more structures are billed for flattening  as sanction for  what the government  called encroachment on public land.

    The government yesterday confirmed the death of  two persons it described as scavengers in the aftermath of the demolition.

    It commiserated with the bereaved families but warned  scavengers to keep away from demolished structures, warning that scavenging on  the sites of the demolished structures across the state is not only criminal, but dangerous to human safety.

    Governor Abba Yusuf gave the go ahead for the exercise six days after his assumption of power. He had accused his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje of giving out public land to private individuals.

    Ganduje dismissed the allegation and said some of the structures were  approved by his executive council as  Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

    The government’s bulldozers first rolled over the Kano Race Course where  the  three storey plaza consisting of 90 shops  was reduced to rubble.

    The governor then ordered developers in  the Hajj Camp area to stop construction.

    But as soon as the  night fell, the bulldozers roared back into action, leveling all buildings there.

    Also demolished were the 90 per cent completed Five-Star Daula Boutique Hotel and the N160 million Golden Monument, which the government said it pulled down because it carried the cross in a state with a large Muslim population.

    But the demolition took a twist yesterday when residents of Salanta Quarters sought to physically stop the demolition of their buildings by the government task force allegedly without prior notice and compensation.

    They claimed to have followed due process in buying the land from the Ganduje administration.

    One of the residents who appeared to be injured during the pushing and shoving that ensued between them and the demolition squad was seen on video calling for help from someone by phone.

    Another one was heard  saying:“You cannot demolish our properties overnight without prior notification  when we have all our documents intact. We all have our families here, and this is injustice. They have voted calamity for us.

    “They have demolished our shops in the market, and now they have returned to our residences without any compensation. We will die here, and if you demolish this house, it will (be a curse on) your life.”

    Some others  chanted  Allahu Akbar! (God is the greatest) and vowed to protect their properties from demolition.

    Lamash Properties Limited, the developer of the properties on the old Daula Hotel land, has gone to court ,seeking a compensation of N10billion from the state government.

    It described the demolition of its properties  as a “flagrant disregard for globally acceptable principle of fair hearing.”

    Lamash, in a statement by its  Director of Sales, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar,said it  was invited by the State government alongside other companies in 2020 to bid for the redevelopment of the old Daula Hotel under a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

    His words:“We submitted a bid of three components:

    * Residential – to comprise 25 luxury apartments

    * Commercial Hub – Various sizes of lettable commercial space

    * Daula Boutique Hotel – A 90-room five star hotel

    “Our bid, like every other bid submitted, went through all the processes including going before the State Executive Council after which we won the bid. We were issued the letter of award and we signed a PPP contract agreement with the Kano state government after which we began work on the project.

    Lamash Properties Limited, the developer of the properties on the old Daula Hotel land, has gone to court, seeking a compensation of N10billion from the state government.

    It described the demolition of its properties as a “flagrant disregard for globally acceptable principle of fair hearing.”

    Lamash, in a statement by its Director of Sales, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, said it was invited by the State government alongside other companies in 2020 to bid for the redevelopment of the old Daula Hotel under a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

    His words: “We submitted a bid of three components:

    * Residential – to comprise 25 luxury apartments

    * Commercial Hub – Various sizes of lettable commercial space

    * Daula Boutique Hotel – A 90-room five star hotel

    “Our bid, like every other bid submitted, went through all the processes including going before the State Executive Council after which we won the bid. We were issued the letter of award and we signed a PPP contract agreement with the Kano state government after which we began work on the project.

    “The value of the land being the equity contribution of the Kano State government into the project plus the agreed profit share of the state government all in the sum of Two Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Two Naira, Eighty Nine Kobo (N2,297,016,622.89) only was converted into the hotel and its ownership was given to the Kano State government as its share of the project under the PPP arrangement.

    “On May 27, 2023, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, performed the commissioning ceremony of the hotel and it was handed over to the state government as its share in the project.

    Read Also: New governors groan under heavy debts

    “To our utmost surprise, we received a call around 2am on Sunday June 4, 2023 that officials of the state government led by the new governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, had mobilized to the site of the project with bulldozers and were tearing down all the buildings on the land including the already completed 90-room 5-star Daula Boutique Hotel, the 90% completed commercial area (malls) as well as the ongoing residential apartments.

    “We wish to put it on record that at no point did the state government or any of its officials notify us or invite us for clarification on the project.

    “We have made it clear on several occasions that we did not purchase the supposed land but that it was made available to us to provide facilities, one of which was the Daula Boutique Hotel which formed the equity of the state government in the project. This action of the state government is a minus and a negative development which will scare away other potential investors willing to invest in the state.

    “We have instructed our legal team to institute legal actions against the state government to claim compensation to the tune of N10billion already invested in the project and to stop the state government from further taking actions that will negatively affect us based on the PPP contract agreement we signed with it. We are resolute in seeking redress in the court of law and we are optimistic that justice would be served.”

    But it was the demolition of the Golden Monument that has attracted the most criticism. The monument was constructed at a cost of N160 million by the Ganduje administration in 2017 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state.

    The project was the brain child of the sub-committee on monuments and endorsed by the main committee of 51 prominent Kanawas led by the late Prof. Umar with the then deputy governor of Kano state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar as co-chairman.

     The unique cultural edifice, which was built strategically at the roundabout in front of Government House, Kano, was engraved in traditional models with artistic works depicting Hausa cultural heritage.

    Hajiya Kaltume Gana,prominent  artist who designed the monument says the demolition has left her deeply sad and heartbroken.

    “I am very sad and displeased by the demolition of this monument which has become the symbol of Kano. In fact, it is the face of Kano; the people keep appreciating its tourism essence,” she said.

    The design, according to her, embedded cultural and traditional arts and crafts inherent in Kano as well as local patterns unique to Kanawas (Kano people).

    Hajiya Kaltume Gana, Curator of the National Art Gallery in Kano, whose works have been exhibited in Washington DC, United States, Vienna in Austria, as well as in London and some African cities, could not fathom what informed the decision to destroy the Golden Monument, saying “we must all condemn this thoughtless decision.”

    Journalist and public analyst, Jaafar Jaafar was similarly shocked.

    He said: “We must all condemn this thoughtless decision to demolish this monument, designed by a young female architect to commemorate Kano’s Golden Jubilee.

    “I support the ongoing demolishing of private buildings in schools, hospitals and mosques, but not wanton destruction of public monuments/buildings, simply because they were built by Ganduje.

    “I do not like the politician in Ganduje but I like some of his projects as a governor,” Jaafar wrote on his Facebook wall.

    Adams Jerry, a journalist and developer, accused the governor of pursuing a bitter political vendetta against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, while injuring the innocent people of Kano State. He said: “The ongoing demolition in Kano State is totally wrong and unacceptable. People should look beyond just Ganduje and what have you; for this is pure vendetta against the former governor and to the innocent citizens of Kano who bought and developed those places.”

    Some of the affected persons are seeking redress in court, while the helpless ones have taken to the social media to lampoon Yusuf over his actions.

    A resident, Nasiru Umar, advised the governor to stop the demolition, or risk a second term.

    He said: “Governor Abba should learn not to throw the baby and the bath water in the name of a proxy war. Now that he is the governor, he must see things objectively, otherwise he will crash land before 2027.”

    Calamity has befallen Kano -APC:

    The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) branded the demolition barbaric and a calamity.

    The state APC Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Maigari, told reporters in Kano that the new NNPP-led administration had gone too far in its action.

    “This barbaric and wanton destruction of the people’s means of livelihood by the state government calls for serious prayers by all well-meaning persons, as the people are now counting their losses in billions of naira,” Maigari said.

    According to him, the demolition has paralysed and brought to a standstill, commercial activities at the Kantin Kwari and Kofar Wambai markets, among other business centres in the ancient city.

    Read Also: ‘New govt’s bold moves will favour businesses’

    “We call on all those affected to maintain calmness and explore all legal means to protect their properties and seek legal redress for the damages done and the losses incurred,” the APC deputy chairman said and urged security agencies in the state to “step up action that will restore the people’s confidence in the light of the shock and calamity that has befallen the state.”

    Ganduje commiserates with victims of demolition:

    Ganduje has commiserated with the victims of the demolished Daula Hotel building.

    The former governor in a statement through his Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, described the incident and the attendant death and injuries as a huge loss to the state.

    He prayed for quick recovery for the injured and for God to give the family of the dead victims the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Ganduje expressed regrets over the “theft of properties by looters” from several demolished buildings in different parts of the state capital.

    The former governor has also commiserated with property owners who legally acquired and developed their properties for business and other purposes but were destroyed by the NNPP government in the state without any form of investigation.

    Govt confirms two deaths; commiserates with families of victims

    The state government has also commiserated with families of scavengers who were killed or injured at the sites of the demolished Daula Hotel and other structures at the Eid ground,

    Debris from demolished structures at the two sites crushed two persons to death and left several others injured.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi described the victims as scavengers.

    He warned scavengers to keep away from demolished structures.

    He said: “The attention of Kano State Government has been drawn to the activities of scavengers at the sites of the illegal structures demolished by the Special Taskforce, especially at the former Daula Hotel and Eid praying ground.

    “The activities led to accidents on both locations that regrettably involved the loss of two lives.

    “We commiserate with the families of the deceased and wish the injured ones rapid recovery.

    “It has also been reported that more than 100 such scavengers have been arrested by the security agencies.

    “We commend the efforts of law enforcement agencies, especially the Nigeria Police and National Security and Civil Defence Corps for protecting these sites and for their vigilance in ensuring the protection of lives and properties at, and around the sites.

    “Government is further appealing to these agencies to redouble their efforts in the fight against crime while at the same time preventing access to the demolished illegal structures by scavengers.

    “We equally appeal to parents, community leaders and religious leaders to continue to guide our teeming youth in channeling their energies into productive ventures.

    “We wish to assure the general public that the demolition of illegal structures in our schools, places of worship, hospitals, city walls (badala), graveyards and all other public lands will continue in an orderly manner and will be completed in due course.”