The Kano State government, in the early hours of Wednesday, demolished the multi-million naira roundabout located close to the Government House entrance.
Governor Abba Yusuf was said to have personally supervised the demolition of the roundabout, which is a few metres away from the entrance of the Government House.
It was gathered that the demolition exercise was carried out under tight security.
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The historic roundabout was remodeled and renovated by the immediate-past administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje at the cost of N160m in 2017.
The edifice was constructed to serve as a monument for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Kano as a state.
The demolition of the roundabout was the latest in the spate of demolitions that have been witnessed in Kano since Yusuf assumed office on May 29.
Recall that the governor had in the early hours of Sunday demolished shops built by the fence of Sani Abacha Stadium at Kofar Mata, GSS Kofar Nasarawa facing IBB road and buildings by GGSS Dukawuya, Goron Dutse.
Following public criticisms, the state government, in a statement on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bature Tofa, said the Government House roundabout was demolished in the public interest.
“Prior to the exercise, the government had consulted professional engineers in the relevant fields who ascertained the fact that the roundabout construction was substandard and had the tendency to collapse between 2023 and 2024.
“This is because it was done with used ‘foam work’ and too much sandy materials instead of normal cement concrete.
“Also, the structure is too tall to be placed in front of the Government House as it defaces its main gate which blocks the view for security surveillance.
“Additionally, it poses traffic challenges around the area because of its size, blocking the view of drivers accessing all routes linked through the roundabout.
“The government wishes to make it clear that it became very necessary to take down the structure for the purposes of immediate reconstruction and downsizing to ensure visibility of the Government House entrance and safety of motorists, “ the statement said.
When contacted, the immediate-past Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs under the Ganduje administration, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said he had nothing to say because already members of the public had condemned the government’s action.
“This is a Kano Golden Jubilee Monument, erected to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kano as a state.
“So, even if I want to say something, I will condemn the action but the public has already condemned it. So, what do you want me to say?” Garba queried.
Meanwhile, Yusuf, on Wednesday, pledged to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the state and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the benefit of both governments.
A statement on Wednesday by his Press Secretary, Bature Tofa, quoted the governor to have stated this when he received the Saudi Arabian Consul in Kano, Khalid Al-adamawi, at the Government House in Kano.
The consul was in company with the country’s Co-ordinator of the Muslim World League, Dr Salisu Ismaila, according to the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The governor appreciated the visit and solicited increased scholarship by Saudi Arabian Government for Kano indigenes, to either study or further their education in Saudi Arabian universities.
Yusuf further prayed for the actualisation of a dream of establishing a medical university and a teaching hospital, as an initiative to cater for the medical needs of many people in Kano, neighbouring states and beyond.
He also sought support in the area of reducing the number of out-of-school children through the construction and renovation of classrooms.
The governor also asked for cooperation in the provision of medical equipment to public schools and hospitals.
In response, Al-adamawi said the delegation visited the government house to brief the governor on the ongoing open heart surgery at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital sponsored by the World Muslim League with support from King Salman Humanitarian Foundation.
(Punch)
