OPINION: Is Kwara State Not Being Sold Out? By Abdulmajeed Wahab

Date: 2016-10-21

I chose to write on the above subject because of what I can best describe as “indirect selling” of Kwara assets. Recently, the Federal Government of Nigeria thought of selling our National assets so that the proceeds from those sales can be injected directly into the economy while the Government would also not be involved in maintenance of these assets thereby saving taxpayers money for more important projects. As good as this might sound, some of us kicked against it because, we know nothing good will come out of that. At least the FG listened and put the idea on hold. 

Just last month, I read that a company known as “Investment One” will be in charge of some capital projects in Kwara State including our celebrated Geri-Alimi Diamond under- pass. Then I asked, “Do we still have ministry of Works and Housing in our dear state?” Do we have commissioner and Permanent Secretary in this ministry? Is this organization helping Kwara State for free? Who owns this Investment One? Just like the State Government indirectly took over the responsibility of the ministry of Finance through Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) and almighty Harmony Holdings, the AbdulFatah Ahmed-led administration has taken over the activities of the Works ministry. Investment One will now serve as middle man between the contractors and ministry of Works or what?

As if that is not enough, Just few days ago we got another shocking news that a private company has formally taken over our Kwara Hotel through a Public –Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. It means our hospitality industry is slipping through our hands also. The Government claimed that the hotel is degenerating and with the current economic situation, the best option would be to allow a private company to bring it back to World-class standard. Then, I asked, who has been in charge of this hotel? Thanks to Google, I found that since 2012 it has been under Harmony Holdings. Then, what went wrong? Are we saying the Government is not generating enough income from this establishment? This PPP needs to be re-examined. We lost Kwara Express, Tshonga farm and now Kwara hotel among others. We lost them because we are not getting feedbacks (expected income). 

I am saying this because we are not sure of which one would follow; this Government started by selling the lands that belongs to our established Institutions. From Legal Studies land to that of Government Secondary School Ilorin. We all knew what happened to the land that belongs to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and many others. Now, the State Government is collecting revenue on behalf of the Local Governments, where is the separation of power? I think all these are happening because Kwarans are quiet people.

My humble suggestion is simple let the State Government give us the reasons why our valuable assets cannot be managed by the Government? Explain to the citizens the role of Harmony Holdings in bringing the number one hotel in the State to this degenerating condition. It would also be important if the Government can get financial details of these establishments published.

Stop the direct and indirect sale of Kwara assets.

Abdulmajeed Wahab (abdmajeedwahab@gmail.com), a Taiwan International Graduate Program Ph.D. fellow writes from Taipei, Taiwan.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Okoolowo     Sam Okaula     Saka Adeyemo     Royal FM     REO CAKES     Modibo Kawu     Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Ilorin West     All Peoples Party     Kayode Ishola     Abatemi Usman     Simeon Ajibola     Owu Fall     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Micheal Imoudu     Sobi Hill     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Saliu Tunde Bello     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Fulani     Kumbi Titilope     KWAFFA     Lawal Olohungbebe     Kola Bukoye     IESA     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Bature Bello     Abdulfatai Baakini     John Mayokun Dada     Gbugbu     Tosho Yaqub     Kwara 2023     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Folorunsho Erubu     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Akeem Lawal     Tanke     New Model Police Station     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Abubakar Lah     Ohoro Of Shao     ANCOPPS     General Hospital, Ilorin     Alaaya     Deji Ajani     Monsurat Omotosho     Forgo Battery     Ojuekun     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Kolo     Olusegun Adeniyi     Mohammed Saidu     Iyeru Grammar School     Umar Sanda Yusuf     08001000100     KWSUED     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Onilorin     Olofa Of Offa     Maryam Nurudeen     Patigi Regatta     Baba Isale     Ahman Patigi     IsDB     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Rasaq Jimoh     Biliaminu Aliu     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Aliyu Kora Sabi    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

John Kehinde Salako     Ayinke Saka     Adijat Adebiyi     A.O. Belgore     Ita-Nmo Market     Lola Olabayo     Mamatu Abdullahi     Kumbi Titilope     Kwasu     CACOVID     Face Masks     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Aliyu Muhammed     TESCOM     NaAllah     Saliu Tunde Bello     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Ola Falade     Kola Ologbondiyan     Saba Jibril     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Arandun     Okanlawon Musa     Joseph Daudu     KWAFFA     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Ibrahim Jawondo     Ayodele Shittu     Rabiu Kwankwaso     LABTOP     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Baruten     Toyosi Thomas     NIPOGA     Bolaji Gambari     Kishira     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Balogun Gambari     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Oba Abu     Olatunji Bamgbola     IPSAS     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Kwara State Football Association     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Olaiya Lawal     Oyedepo     YAKOOYO     Erubu     Kwara State Governor     Umar Danladi Shero     Emir Of Yashikira     Okin Group     Abatemi-Usman     Wahab Agbaje     Kayode Yusuf     Titus Ashaolu     Www.Kwarareports.com     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Abdullateef Abdussalam     National Democratic Congress     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Ahman Pategi     Radio Kwara     Kayode Zubair     Emir Of Ilorin     Ogbondoroko     KWACOBPA     Olabanji Orilonishe     Kale Ayo     Kwara State University Of Education     Baba Issa     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani