Emirate tussle: Kano to renovate mini place with N99.9m

The Kano State Government said it had earmarked N99.9m for the renovation of the Nasarawa mini palace, where the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is currently staying.

The dtate Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Saturday.

The commissioner said the money was for the renovation of the defective wall or fence and surroundings at the Nassaawa Emir’s palace.

Recall that the state government had on Thursday night through the Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, directed the Commissioner of Police to evict Bayero from the palace ahead of demolition and renovation of the place.

But Dariye said the government earmarked N8.6 billion for various projects around health, education, water supply, and agriculture among others.

He said, “Revocation and re-award of contract for the construction of Post Midwifery Institute at Gezawa Local Government Area at the cost of N770.8 million, reconstruction and renovation of defective wall/fence and surroundings at Nassarawa Emir’s Palace at the cost of N99.9 million.

“Others are rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure at Government House at the cost of N126.9 million, the release of funds for the procurement of essential drugs and welcome packs for newborns, free maternal, neonatal, child health and free accidental and emergency commodity for January to March 2024 at the cost of N165 million.

“Repair of 18km old water pipeline at Dambatta LGA and its environs at the cost of N129.6 million and construction of 138 No. new hand pump boreholes under the second phase of PEWASH programme State Matching Project at some local government areas at the cost of N193 million.

“Revocation and re-award of contract for the completion of the construction of College of Nursing and Midwifery at Madobi local government area at the cost of N57.06 million, payment for the excess workload allowances to the two state-owned universities ADUDT and YUMDUK at the cost of N447.6 million and construction of Magistrate courts complex at the premises of Gidan Murtala at the cost of N259.1 million and the procurement of fertilizer by the 44 Local Government Councillors to enhance food security and agricultural productivity during the 2024 raining season at the cost of N5.07 billion.

“Others include, renovation and upgrading of D-ward for the establishment of a sickle cell unit at Murtala Muhd Specialist Hospital, Kano at the cost of N81.6 million, Construction/Renovation works at Infectious Diseases Hospital to accommodate the new Kano State Centre for Diseases Control at the cost of N64.8 million and 25- Reconstruction/Conversion of Gidan Murtala ground floor to accommodate a new ministry at the cost of N196.8 million among others to the total of N8,629,636,749.49 billion.”

Meanwhile, a Kano-based group known as War Against Injustice has described the palace renovation project as a misallocation of resources and unacceptable.

The group’s Executive Director, Umar Ibrahim, said the government should place priority on the welfare of the common man and not the interests of the elite while calling on the government to redirect the funds towards projects that will benefit the majority of the population.

“We are appalled by the Kano State Executive Council’s decision to approve the reconstruction and renovation of the Nassarawa Emir’s Palace at a staggering cost of N99,928,541.63.

“This gross misallocation of resources is unacceptable when primary schools and healthcare facilities in Kano State are in a state of disrepair.

“The government’s priority should be the welfare of the common people, not the interests of the elite. We demand that the government reconsider this decision and redirect these funds towards projects that benefit the majority of the population,” Umar said.