Former Minister of Defence and one-time Chief of Army Staff, Gen Theophilus Y. Danjuma (rtd), today, commissioned the multi billion Naira Kwankwasiyya city, one of the three mega cities established by the administration of Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
The three cities, namely Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo, estimated to so far have gulped nearly the sum of N30 billion, were initiated to counter the challenges of shortage of housing, overcrowding, overstretching of public infrastructure and related problems, caused by rapid urban growth of Kano metropolis. So far about 2,000 houses have been completed under the phase of the three cities.
Realizing these problems and their attendant consequences, the state government under Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in 2012, conceptualized what it termed “the Kano Mega City project” which entailed constructing the new capital intensive cities among other infrastructure, established the Kano Geographic Information Systems, KANGIS, and banned the demarcation and sales of illegal sub-divisions of plots popularly known as Awon Igiya.
Kwankwaso explained that the first phase of the Kwankwasiyya Housing project covers 205 hectares with 698, consisting 5 and 4 bedroom duplexes as well as 3 bedroom bungalows.
“Government resources were solely used to build these houses and we have sold some while others are being sold to Kano citizens and other Nigerians”, the governor stated.
He said a Chinese company has acquired 250 houses and 41 hectares of land at Amana city, at the cost of about N5 billion, payable within three months, adding that from all indications, all the houses at the three new cities would be sold by May, 2015.
He, therefore, assured that the proceeds generated from the sale of the houses would be channeled to the provision of infrastructure in other layouts like Kuyan Ta’inna, a suburb of Kano city, in the last few months of his administration.
In his speech, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, who expressed happiness over the development, acknowledged the renewed zeal and commitment demonstrated by the Kwankwaso administration to redefine Kano, pointing out that in the past 36 months, the government has changed the face and character of Kano by embarking upon a number of defining public work programmes.
He expressed appreciation for making to be part of this history which will improve the quality and economic well-being of the society. The major road leading into the city has been named “Gen. T. Y. Danjuma Way.
The retired Army Chief who described the Kwankwasiyya city as a befitting legacy noted that the quality of infrastructure, including the road networks and bridges attest to the priority attached by the state government to the close supervision that resulted in high standard of delivery.
Also, General Danjuma has called for the arrest of Tompolo , Asari Dokubo and Boyloaf.The ex-militants last week threatened to wage war against Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the 2015 elections.
In his reaction to the threat while speaking with journalists after commissioning the City, Danjuma reportedly called for the arrest of the ex militants.He said further,“The statements were very reckless coming from irresponsible individuals and they should be condemned, in fact they should be arrested”.
“Politicians should be wary of their provocative and inflammatory statements while campaigning in this crucial time of the general election. Campaigns should be issue-based, not attacking individuals,” Danjuma said.
