Group Backs Jigawa Govt. Planned N3.5 Billion Shopping Complex In Kano As Opposition Mounts Against Project

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

As opposition mounts against the plans by the Jigawa state government to construct 1,000 commercial shopping centres on its land at the Farm Centre in the neighbouring Kano state, a coalition of civil society groups has thrown its weight behind the state government’s planned investment.

It has, however, appealed to the supporters and opponents of the planned construction, especially politicians to apply wisdom in canvassing their views so as not to plunge the state into unnecessary controversy.

The President of the Civil Society Coalition on Security, Peace & Conflict Resolution, (CCSPCR), Muhammad Musbahu Basirka, during a media interaction in Dutse on Friday tasked the contending parties to tread with caution so as not to jeopardize the economic interest of the state

The State Executive Council (SEC) had at its meeting this week approved over N 3.5 billion for the award of contract for the construction of the shops on the land it inherited following the creation of Jigawa state from the old Kano state in August 1991.

But the main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some pressure groups in the state have expressed opposition and criticized the government’s position, saying the shops should have been constructed in Dutse, the state capital.

According to a statement by the PDP deputy state chairman, Umar Danjani, “There are so many ways to use the money and improve the lives and economy of the people and the state through agricultural mechanisation, livestock development, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) etc.”

Also, ELIP-Initiative in a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Isa Mustapha, recommended that instead of deploying the over the ₦3 billion for the construction of Shops in Kano state, the state should invested in well-targeted, revenue-generating sectors that harness Jigawa’s comparative advantages”.

The ELIP-Initiative advised the government to adopt a deliberate, future-focused approach in the deployment of public resources.

The CSO also advised the government to build Agro-Processing and Industrial Clusters, adopt Mechanize Commercial Farming, Livestock Market Modernization, Transport Terminals and Parks in major towns and markets, embark on Property Tax Reform, and develop the tourism sector, ICT and Innovation Hub.

“We therefore urge the State Executive Council to pause and reflect before committing funds to projects that do not yield sustainable returns.

“Adopt a Strategic Investment Framework grounded in data, feasibility, and long-term revenue potential and engage stakeholders including local businesses, development partners, and civil society for transparent planning and effective implementation.

“The choices made today will define our state’s self-reliance, resilience, and prosperity for generations,” the organisation stated.

But Basirka, who was flanked by a sizeable members of his group said, ‘Following extensive and careful consultations with the diverse range of experts, community leaders, and critical stakeholders in the state.

“We want to inform the good people of Jigawa state that our government has made an informed, strategic, and most importantly, responsible decision to utilize this vital asset for the collective good,” he stressed.

He added, “Because of the strategic location of Kano as the business hub of the north, the group had engaged financial experts and their professional insights are unequivocally positive. Indeed, they have affirmed that developing commercial properties in a high demand, high traffic areas like Kano’s phone market will provide a consistent, substantial and sustainable boost to Jigawa state’s internally generated revenue.

“The vision is clear, boosting Jigawa’s Internally generated revenue (IGR). Our state, like others across the nation, grapples with the imperative of diversifying its revenue streams beyond the fluctuating federal allocations. Therefore, this project offers a golden opportunity to achieve that.”

He maintained that the project, if executed according to plans would generate to the state government coffers an average of N 1 billion in returns every year, “meaning that in five years, the state would have recovered its cost and recorded an impressive profit.

“In the light of the above, I want to make a passionate appeal to all Jigawa sons and daughters and indeed, all well meaning stakeholders and citizens to embrace this monumental development with understanding, unity and a shared vision for our future.

“This is a moment for collaboration, not division. This is the time for thoughtful engagement. We implore all to resist the urge to politicize the matters that are tied to the future, the well-being and the economic survival of our beloved state.”