Kano: ₦99.9m Allocation for Nasarawa Palace Renovation Sparks Controversy

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Kano Emirate, the Kano State government has allocated ₦99.9 million for the renovation of the Nassarawa mini palace, currently occupied by the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

The State’s Commissioner of Information, Halilu Dantiye, announced this during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Abba Yusuf. Dantiye stated that the funds would be used to repair the defective wall or fence and surroundings of the Nassarawa Emir’s Palace.

Previously, the government had instructed the Commissioner of Police to evict Emir Bayero from the palace, citing trespassing on government property, with plans for demolition and renovation following the eviction.

The renovation funds are part of a larger ₦8.6 billion budget earmarked for various projects across health, education, water supply, and agriculture, among other sectors, throughout the state.

The Commissioner highlighted several other key allocations from the budget, including:

• Revocation and re-award of the contract for the construction of Post Midwifery Institute at Gezawa Local Government Area at ₦770,858,450.39.
• Reconstruction and renovation of the defective wall/fence and surroundings at Nassarawa Emir’s Palace at ₦99,928,541.63.
• Rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure at Government House at ₦126,987,787.
• Release of funds for procurement of essential drugs and welcome packs for newborns, free maternal, neonatal, child health, and emergency commodities for January to March 2024 at ₦165,000,000.
• Repair of an 18km old water pipeline at Dambatta LGA and its environs at ₦129,636,102.
• Construction of 138 new hand pump boreholes under the second phase of the PEWASH programme State Matching Project at various local government areas at ₦193,000,000.
• Revocation and re-award of the contract for the completion of the construction of the College of Nursing and Midwifery at Madobi Local Government Area at ₦57,066,422.52.
• Payment for excess workload allowances to the two state-owned universities, ADUDT and YUMDUK at ₦447,621,640.79.
• Construction of Magistrate courts complex at the premises of Gidan Murtala at ₦259,143,824.08.
• Procurement of fertilizer by the 44 Local Government Councillors to enhance food security and agricultural productivity during the 2024 rainy season at ₦5,073,840,000.
• Renovation and upgrading of D-ward for the establishment of a sickle cell unit at Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano at ₦81,621,546.76.
• Construction and renovation works at Infectious Diseases Hospital to accommodate the new Kano State Centre for Diseases Control at ₦64,825,000.83.
• Reconstruction and conversion of Gidan Murtala ground floor to accommodate a new ministry at ₦196,853,158.99.

“These projects aim to enhance the state’s infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security,” read the approvals by the State Executive Council.

However, the allocation for the renovation of the Nassarawa Emir’s Palace has sparked criticism from the Kano-based group War Against Injustice (WAI). The group’s Executive Director, Comrade Umar Ibrahim, condemned the allocation as a misallocation of resources, deeming it unacceptable.

“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 ₦99,928,541.63,” Ibrahim stated. “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,” Comrade Ibrahim emphasized.