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.

Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Kayode Yusuf     Lithium Deposit     Kassim Babamale     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Amada Jidda     Rotimi Oyedepo     Mansur Alfanla     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     Ajibike Katibi     Kunbi Titiloye     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Shonga     Ajayi Okasanmi     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Shuaibu Yaman     Aliyu Alhassan     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Daud Adeshola     Fareedah Dankaka     Hassanat Bello     Kamoru Kadiri     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Yahya Mohammed     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     Bashiru Makama     Nigerian Medical Association     Olatunde Olukoya     Jumoke F. Ajao     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Saka Abimbola Isau     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Ahmad Belgore     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Kwara Poly     Oja-Oba     Shoprite     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Halidu Danbaba     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Isau     Salami Adekunle     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Isin     Saliu Ajia     Kwara University Of Education     Wasiu Onidugbe     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Lanre Issa Onilu     Olaitan Adefila     Quran     Eghe Igbinehin     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Eruku     Oyin-Zubair     Albert Ogunsola     Usman Yunusa     Kayode Bankole     Isaac Gbenle     Michael Nzekwe     Ilorin West     Oba Sulaiman Asude     Yusuf A. Usman     Ibrahim Taiwo     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     SSA Youth     Aliyu Umar     Umar Adelodun     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Yahaya Dumoye     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Ahmed \'Lateef     Abubakar Olusola Saraki    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Agor Market     Turaki     Femtech     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Facebook     Malete     Kwara Pdp     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Saka Adeyemo     Matthew Okedare     Quarry Royal Valley     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Yusuf Ali     Abegunde Goke     Amusa Bello     Okoolowo     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Abdulfatai Baakini     Guber Aspirant     Oluranti Idowu     Aliyu Salihu     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Mary Arinde     Joseph Daudu     Folorunsho Alao     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Magaji Are     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Zulu Gambari     Halimat Yusuf     Olateju Lukman     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Hakeem Lawal     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Makama Of Ilorin     Ibrahim Abiodun     Jebba     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Sarakite     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Ajakaye     MATTA Girls Foundation     Akeem Lawal     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Ilesha-Baruba     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Yemi Sanni     Moremi High School     Afetu Of Alabe     Offa Descendants Union     Ohoro Of Shao     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     CELF     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Bola Sagaya     Yusuf Badmus     Alagbado     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Ahmed Bayero     Roseline Oni Aremu     Saliu Alamoyo     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     New Naira Notes     Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria     Noah Yusuf     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Suleiman Abubakar     Ifelodun