By Mahmud Garba Shawai
Roads and bridges in Kano state are seeking the utmost attention from the Kano state government more than the light rail.
Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje reaffirms his intention of constructing light rail in the state, this made his request for an outrageous and gigantic international loan of Six Hundred and Eighty-Four Million, One Hundred Thousand, One Hundred Euros (€684,100,100.00) Loan Facility from China Development Bank, Roads and Bridges development will have a set back
This amount is equivalent to N299,533,228,785.00 at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official exchange rate and N339,313,649,600.00 at the official black market exchange rate of N469.00 to one Dollar.
It was a baffling moment when I heard the Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, saying ” the light rail project, apart from other benefits, is designed to expand commercial activities, and ease transportation of agricultural goods and services across the state for the benefit of the good people of our dear state.
The places the train would be able to move around are within Kano metropolis, if that is the case then, how could the project help the rural people in transporting their goods from remote villages? which are the cornerstones of Agricultural productions?
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In addition, if this project is meant to ease commercial activities in the state, then, hundreds of commercial motorists and tricyclists within the domain at which the train will move are at the stake of losing their job.
Certainly, the number of staff that will operate the train is comparatively in hundredth if you compare them with the youth that are driving commercial motorists, lorries, and the ones riding tricycles. Then, is the project going to ease commercial activities or relieve commercial vehicle operators from their jobs?
Your Excellency Sir, what is the rationale behind coming up with a project which will serve as a liability to your people? If the rails, train, operators and principal workers/ contractors will all come from China and yet, the state will keep paying for the loan with gigantic interest rates which cannot be generated by the project to be executed in the next several decades then, why must you collect the loan if you are truly after the development of Kano State?
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With an elementary knowledge of economics, one can categorically, see the minimum advantage of this project if you compare it with other infrastructures that need serious attention of the government like roads and bridges
It is of no doubt, the incumbent government will keep hitting the wrong focus in all aspects of good governance since it lacks the think tanks that will foresee and weigh different projects on a scale of preference.
Numerous projects in the state are done with selfish and mischievous minds for the government either to enrich its allies or to cripple the hard work of its predecessors.
I continuously become a captive of thought whenever the Governor or his cabals keep defending the wrongdoing of the government by citing references with what has been done in the previous governments.
If we truly voted for continuity and progressive change then, we need to see it by positive actions.
Consequently, if Governor Ganduje is truly after the prosperity of the state then, he needs to embark on empowering the youths in all aspects of human endeavors. This will promote not only the economy of the state but also the status and well being of the dwellers will be propelled.
The Government should focus more on fixing the states dilapidated Roads and Bridges
Finally, I know my request may be futile but I want the Governor and his allies to know;
The adherent of truth always succeeds and the love to truth has two sides; one is constituted with knowledge while the other with faith.
Tammat bi hamdullah
Mahmud Garba Shawain is the Chairman North-West Youth awareness Foundation wrote from Kano, Shawai can also be reached on 08066971973
