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.

Eghe Igbinehi     Busari Alabi Alausa     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Abdulraheem Olesin     John Kehinde Salako     Hamidu Olowo     Tanke     Jawondo     Femtech     Hajj     Sa\'adu Gambari     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Shururat Olatinwo     Olokoba     Muhammed Akanbi     Kwara Apc     Old Oyo     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Ope Saraki     Lanre Olosunde     Oloyede     AGF Abdulrazaq     Bello Oyedepo     Arandun     Ilorin Curfew     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Esuwoye     Ben Duntoye     Okasanmi Ajayi     Yeketi     Share/Tsaragi     QuickWin     Toyin Falola     Oladimeji Thompson     Sidikat Akaje     Dankaka     Deji Ajani     Ahmad Lawan     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Y.A. Abdulkareem     Hussein Olokooba     Ajasse-Ipo     Tayo Alao     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Hausa     Cornelius Adebayo     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Ilorin International Airport     Tsado Manman     Roseline Oni Aremu     GAMA     Taofik Abdulkareem     Logun     Alaro     Babatunde Idiagbon     Sun Qing Rong     Doyin Group     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Michael Nzwekwe     KWIRS     Yekini Adio     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Hassan Saliu     Ilorin Amusement Park     Aminat Omodara     Isa Aremu     Moses Salami     John Olobayo     Dele Belgore     Kwara Metro Park     April 11     Abiodun Oyedepo     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     International Aviation College     Bamidele Aluko    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Oluwatoyin Lukman     Oke-Ero     Umar Ayinla Saro     Afeyin-Olukuta     Rasaq Jimoh     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Ahmad Ali     Kayode Bankole     Tafidan Kaiama     Fareedah Dankaka     Tuesday Assayomo     Pakata Patriots     Al-Adaby     Kayode Alabi     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     VADA     Oke-opin     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Kamoru Kadiri     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Lola Ashiru     Sulyman Tejidini     Sobi Hill     Shururat Olatinwo     Jimoh Bashir     John Dara     Agor     Ibrahim Gambari     Yaman     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Taofik Mustapha     Pategi     Yahaya Seriki     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Nupe     Ogbondoroko     Mary Arinde     HICA     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Haliru Dantoro     Durbar Festival     Budo Egba     Bank Of Industry     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Atiku Abubakar     Babatunde Idiagbon     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Oye Tinuoye     ER-KANG     Tunji Oyawoye     John Kehinde Salako     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     IsDB     Lai Gobir     Owode Market     Sherif Sagaya     Kulende     Summit University     Tsado Manman     SUBEB     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Idowu Laro     Principal Private Secretary     Umar Adelodun     Edu     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     SARS     Sayomi     Offa     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Ojuekun