Ganduje reacts to accusation of conversion of public properties to individual use

Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has announced that his administration is converting abandoned public structures in the state to purposeful infrastructure, befitting of a megacity.

“Instead of allowing economically viable structures to lay fallow, we are considering proposals on how to make the projects that will change the physical landscape of Kano as well as revenue earners for the state”, he said.

This was contained in a statement issued by Director-General, Media and Public Relations, Kano, Government House, Ameen K. Yassar on Wednesday.

Solacebase reports that Kano PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2019 Abba Kabiru Yusuf had threatened to sue the state governor Abdullahi Ganduje for converting public properties to individuals use.

According to the statement, apparently responding to allegations by critics that his administration was selling off public property, Dr. Ganduje said:” we need to be innovative in ensuring that such abandoned structures are converted into edifices that will ensure the sustainability of Kano city”. Therefore, critics will not lead us to derail from our goal”.

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‘’His administration was focused on re-inventing the economy of Kano and would not sit and watch reasonably viable infrastructure to continue to add zero value to the socio-economic status of the state,’’ said the statement.

It said Dr Ganduje made the assertion on today (Wednesday) shortly after presentations before the state executive council, by two companies, willing to work with the state government to transform two abandoned public structures, on a build-operate-transfer basis.

‘’The first proposal was from FARI Properties Ltd, intending to transform the abandoned Daula Hotel in the state capital into a residential complex while the other proposal was from LAMASH Properties Ltd., who signified intention to remodel the old Triumph Publishing Company to a Modern Forex Market.’’

The statement said the governor stated that the State Executive Council would consider proposals on how to make the best use of the abandoned public property and make due consultations before arriving at a decision that would be in the best public interest.

Gov. Ganduje said he was particularly disturbed about the security situation at WAPA Forex market, in the vicinity of Triumph Publishing Company, which was operating under a fragmented arrangement, even as the hitherto moribund Triumph Publishing Company needed more compact space in a serene environment and modern equipment, to make it a resilient public enterprise.

Earlier, the representative of FARI Properties Ltd., Mr Abdulkadir Abdulkadir, told the Kano State Executive Council, that his company envisioned a luxury housing project that would host 57 families with ancillary facilities, on the grounds of Daula Hotel, explaining that “while the government will provide the land as its equity, our company will provide the financing and technical expertise for the project to be delivered”.

In his presentation on behalf of LAMASH Properties Ltd., Engr. Rabi’u Sa’id explained that his company planned to make use of the old Triumph Complex to create “Yan Canji Forex Market”, with full security and other infrastructure as obtained in vibrant commercial cities like Lagos or Dubai.