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.

Michael Nzwekwe     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     YAKOOYO     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Seed Technologies     Olatunde Michaels     Offorjama     Shuaib Jawondo     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Pacify Labs     George Innih     Kubra Kazum     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Owo Isowo     Ajike People Support Centre     Hassanat Bello     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Wahab Isa     Just Law Forum     Raji AbdulRasaq     Charles Ibitoye     Air Peace     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Okiki     Voices Of Tomorrow     GGDSS Pakata     Olaoye B. Felix     A.E. Afolabi     RTEAN     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Ben Duntoye     Edu     Kwara 2023     Ethical College     SGBN     Funke Adedoyin     Odolaye Aremu     Ilorin.Info     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Col. Adedipe     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Durosinlohun Kawu     KWAFFA     Budo Egba     Sunday Fagbemi     Abdulrosheed Okiki     NAWOJ     Babajide Ajayi     FOMWAN     CCT     Zara Umar     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Old Oyo     Doyin Agbamu     Temitope Ogunbanke     Ejidongari     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Adedeji Onimago     Oyun     Alaiye     Balogun Ajikobi     Nigerian Medical Association     International Vocational Centre     Amusa Bello     3MTT     Ganiyu Taofiq     Ayobami Akanbi     Abdulrauf Aliyu     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Ademola Kiyesola     Iyiola Oyedepo     IDPU     Awodun    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Ayinde Oki     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Binta Sulyman     Irepodun     Rashidi Yekini     Diagnostic Centre     Muhammed Danjuma     Ajakaye     Offa Grammer School     Yakubu Shaaba     Ajike People Support Centre     Iqra Books     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Maryam Ado Bayero     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Bibire Ajape     Quareeb Islamic Association     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Ajuloopin     Abiodun Oyedepo     Baboko Primary School     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Playing Host     Women Radio     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Chief Imam Of Offa     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Bureau Of Lands     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Lithium Deposit     March 28     Hijab     Hassan Taiye Salam     Gaa Olobi     Computer Based Test     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Bello Bature     Abubakar Ndakene     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Ben Duntoye     Olatunde Jare     Monsurat Omotosho     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Ethical College     Aisha Buhari     Abioye Bello     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     KWASEIC     Saadu Yusuf     Bolakale Saka     Quarry Royal Valley     Fola Consultant     Borgu     General Hospital, Offa     Popo-Igbonna     AbdulGafar Tosho     Azeez Bello     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Mashood Dauda     Owo Isowo     Aso Ofi     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Femi Oladiji     Salami Adekunle     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Hassan Saliu     Timothy Akangbe     Agbarigidoma     Sobi FM     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Shururat Olatinwo     Isau