- President set to inaugurate projects
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – President Muhammadu Buhari will arrive in the ancient city of Kano today (Monday) for a state visit after Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje recanted on Sunday that the stage is now set for the State government to host the Presidential team.
The news of the visit comes barely 24 hours after the government had initially advised the President against embarking on his scheduled visit, citing security reasons and public anger over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s January 31 deadline for its Naira swap policy.
It was gathered that with the apex Bank granting a 10-day extension period on the Naira swap deadline to February 10, 2023, Governor Ganduje on Sunday led a delegation of Kano critical stakeholders to brief President Buhari in his Daura country home in Katsina State on the State’s preparedness for the visit.
Confirming his change of position to journalists, Governor Ganduje said; “We are very much ready to receive him and we have a lot for him to commission including federal government projects and state government projects. They are state-of-the-art projects.”
Also, a statement by Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba on Sunday said; “The state government has concluded arrangements to receive President Muhammadu Buhari who will pay a state visit to inaugurate eight development projects in the state.
“Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will receive the President and his entourage. While in Kano, President Buhari will inaugurate the 10 megawatts (MW) Federal Government, Kano Grid Solar Power, multi-billion naira Dala Inland Dry Port at Zawachiki in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
“Other projects to be inaugurated include Kano State Data Centre at Audu Baki Secretariat, Tier Data Centre and office complex at Galaxy Backbone Limited Project at Ahmadu Bello Way.”
According to the state government, the President will also inaugurate the Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu; and Muhammadu Buhari Road Rotary Interchange at NNPC Station on Maiduguri Road.
Also due for inauguration during the visit are; Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road, and the Federal Government Housing Units at Gandun Sarki, Darmanawa.
Recalled that about 24 hours earlier, Governor Ganduje, following an interactive session with critical stakeholders, including Islamic scholars, clerics, legislators, political leaders and the business community in the state, disclosed that the State government had requested the President to shelve his trip because the State was deeply concerned about the hardship principally induced by ongoing cash swap from old to redesigned Naira notes.
Maintaining that the decision was taken for security purposes and to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, the State government conveyed to the Presidency its reasons for requesting that the planned visit be postponed to a more auspicious time.
