Light Rail Project: Kano Unity Forum threatens to sue state government

Kano Unity Forum has threatened to drag the state government to court to stop the Light Rail Project except for explanation and some clarifications are made.

Solacebase reports that Kano Unity Forum is a conglomerate of over 15 Kano based local and specialized groups.

The forum is expressing grave reservations against the resolve of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to obtain colossal loan from China Development Bank to construct only the phase 1 component of Light Mono Rail to service a segment of Kano Metropolis.

The forum includes Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI), Advocates For United Kano(AUK), Inuwar Jama’ar Kano, Kano State Foundation, Kano Peace and Development Initiative (KAPEDI), Kano Leadership, Enlightenment and Advocacy For Development (K-LEADS), Kano Peoples Consultative Council (KPCC), Kano Youth Promotion Council (KYPC) and Council Of Ulama.

Others are Network for Development Foundation (NDF), Muslim Lawyers Association Of Nigeria (MULAN), Coalition Of Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs), Coalition OF Northern Groups (CNG) Kano Professionals Forum, Muslim Sisters Organisation (MSO) and Kano Like Minds.

A letter dated August 19^th and titled ‘’call for an urgent review of the proposed Chinese Monorail Loan to Kano State Government’’ signed on behalf of the forum by Alhaji Bashir Tofa demanded clarification on the exact amount of the loan and mode of payment, which is described as covered in secrecy.

Read Also:PHOTOS: Man chained for 30 years by family in Kano rescued(Opens in a new browser tab)

                                  The Full Text

TO ALL THAT MAY BE CONCERNED

CALL FOR AN URGENT REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CHINESE MONORAIL LOAN

TO KANO STATE GOVERNMENT

In a bid to ensure civil society gain stronger foothold in policymaking and implementation, the

KANO UNITY FORUM, a conglomerate of over 15 Kano based local and specialized groups is hereby expressing grave reservations against the the resolve of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to obtain colossal loan from China Development Bank to construct only the phase 1 component of Light MonoRail to service a segment of Kano Metropolis.

Since the public domain is not acquainted with quantitative and qualitative information, serious ambiguity surrounds the transparency of the process. Save for few in official circles, nobody else knows the terms and conditions of the loan agreement. The exact amount being borrowed is shrouded in secrecy: is it 684 million euros equivalent to over N300 billion alluded by Vanguard 27/7/2020 or N828 billion imputed by a Kano political opposition movement? The nature of the loan portfolio is equally suspicious: Is The loan to be repaid directly by KNSG or are the Chinese constructing the project on Built, Operate and Transfer basis?. As critical contributors to economic growth and development, the KANO UNITY FORUM, demands full disclosure of loan agreement details. As citizens, we will employ the Freedom of Information act for this purpose. Social infrastructure is no doubt essential for improving life quality of the people and the Gunduje administration could, after wide-scale consultations, rightly explore available opportunities to realize this aspiration. However, KANO UNITY FORUM would not give any self-serving politician the latitude to increase poverty and deprivation within the general public through ill-conceived public works. If necessary, we shall immediately engage a technical team of consultants to thoroughly review all components of the Kano deal and compare it with similar Chinese projects in other cities of the world to find its true cost.

If it is padded with the intention of diverting our commonwealth, Kano State would remain indebted to the Chinese for the next 50 or more years.

However, should a loan be deemed absolutely essential, we firmly believe that any responsible government dedicated to benefiting its people would prioritize Agriculture, Education, Skills Acquisition, Youth and Women Empowerment, Industrial and Commercial Infrastructure etc.

Although we do appreciate the Government’s efforts to upgrade the basic infrastructure of the State and give it befitting status commensurate to its leadership role, not only as a commercial hub but also as a model for the entire Nation, KANO UNITY FORUM deems it appropriate to share our observations in order to help the government reach a viable and cost-effective decision.

A 1st Phase of the project costing Over N300 Billion, or may be even the N828 Billion mentioned by others, coming mostly from a foreign loan is mind-boggling, to say the least. A rethink is not only needed, but necessary.

Having, therefore, noted that the activities of any responsible Government are driven by data, we have conducted research and found that this humongous amount could conveniently assist the government build: –

1. More fully-equipped classrooms with teaching and instructional materials. It is now a known fact that in Kano alone, there are over three million out of about 10 million out-of-school-children in the country” (Daily Trust February 19th 2017).
2. Provide two-three sets of uniforms to all primary school pupils in Kano estimated at 3.7 million (2018/19 annual schools census report)
3. Reconstruct and refurbish and fence all the schools to enhance their security and convenience
4. Fully equip General Hospitals in all the 44 LGAs
5. Repair all abandoned road projects requiring attention.
6. Provide essential agricultural implements and inputs needed by most farmers
7. Repair and build a new network of Rural roads that will help grow our economy
8. Design and construct durable drainages all over the State
9. Provide potable water for both human and animal consumption as well as irrigation purposes by the activation of our more 20 abandoned Dams in Kano State

It is also to be noted that Kano State, at the moment, only provides the opportunity to just a little over 35% of the children who finished primary school to proceed to the JSS, and a much fewer number are eventually admitted into senior secondary schools. (See annual school census report Ministry of Education, Kano 2014 – 2015 The Travail of Access to Basic Education in Kano Daily Trust of 3rd December 2016).

If indeed the Chinese want to genuinely help with cheap loans, they should be requested to support critical sectors such as education, health, agriculture, power, science and technology, infrastructure, industry and water supply. After all, since time immemorial, the Chinese are reputed to be excellent in all these areas, and have become world leaders in these aspects of transformative development. They certainly have the ability to assist Kano State and Nigeria in all of these areas, either freely or with very soft loans that will not threaten the future of our children and grandchildren such this Monorail Loan will.

Again, based on the analysis of the present indebtedness of Kano Sate as provided for by the Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible for Kano State to sustain any indebtedness beyond the current liability portfolio of the state.

It needs to be noted that a rail project is never a project to be put in haste as we observed that it is neither in the medium nor long term plans of the State Government. Similarly, we shall not be deluded by the attractive idea of a good return from the investment. Rail project world over are known as highly capital intensive with a very negligible rate of return on investment. It’s more of a social welfare project, especially in Less Developed Economies. An elaborate feasibility study by a competent and experienced company would have revealed all these details.

In the event, however, KNSG chooses to remain impervious to this well-intentioned intervention, KANO UNITY FORUM will diligently pursue court processes and other lawful means to stop the Light Rail project. We also vow to ensure the next administration in the State repudiates the agreement altogether and disregard any responsibly for whatever money the Chinese expended on this project. We must emphasize that the people of Kano State do not need this expensive white elephant project.

This document is sent to the following for their information and necessary action:

1. The Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2. The Leadership of the National Assembly
3. Members of Kano State in the State and National Assembly
4. The Federal Ministry of Finance
5. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
6. The Debt Management Office (DMO)
7. The Chinese Government, through their Embassy in Nigeria
8. The China Development Bank
9. The OAU Secretariat
10. Selected Media in Nigeria, including the BBC, VOA Etc.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

On behalf of all members of the Kano Unity Forum.