KANO GOVT REVOKES KANAWA MARKET PROJECT, DEMANDS N460M REFUND BY PARTNER

POSTED BY ADEPOJU ADEYEMI

Kano State Government has revoked construction of the multi billion naira Kanawa International market at Dangwauro on Zaria road in the state capital.

The project to de-congest the markets, especially Kwanar Singer in the metropolitan city was conceived as a partnership project during the Shekarau administration through Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT).

Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was speaking at a meeting with executives of the state Internal Revenue Service said over the weekend that the partner company, Messrs IDIS Limited and their collaborating bank defaulted on the contractual agreement, as a result of which the project remained at foundation level years since it was awarded

In a press statement, issued and signed by Governor Ganduje’s Director-General, Media and Communications, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the governor said the company had being ordered to refund the N460 million paid by the government as compensation to the original land owners on which the project was sited, as the State government cannot afford to waste its money, following the lukewarm attitude of the investor.

Ganduje hinted that the State government would soon unveil the next line of action on the cancelled project site, noting that the good people of Kano should expect another viable project to yield money to the administration, in view of its dwindling resources.

The governor said: “We can no longer depend on oil in view of the dwindling revenue globally, so we must look inwards to generate money to tackle the developmental needs of our state.”

He therefore charged the state Internal Revenue Service to remain alive to its responsibilities, stressing that they must not induce, fear or favour anyone, while performing their functions while promising to lend a helping hand, so as to achieve their objectives.

In his remarks, the chairman of the state Internal Revenue Service, Sani Abdulkadir Dembo briefed the governor on his plans to transform the agency to render services in line with international best practices, just as he also solicited the support of the State government, including other stakeholders, so as to forge ahead.

In another development, the governor, who received a delegation of Northywood Musicians Association, led by its chairman, Misbahu Ahmad tasked them to uphold professionalism in their trade.