The Kano State government says it has budgeted the sum of N99.9 million for the renovation of the Nassarawa royal residence, amidst an emirship tussle that rocks the state.
The dethroned Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, occupies the Nassarawa palace while the reinstated emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, occupies the Emir’s Palace in the city.
The state government had ordered the Commissioner of Police to evict Bayero from the Nassarawa palace because it was going to demolish and then renovate it, an order the police declined to carry out.
At a news briefing on the outcome of a state Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the state Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Halilu Baba Dantiye, said the budget was made for the renovation of the defective wall or fence and surroundings at Nassarawa royal residence.
He said the budget was out of the N8.6 billion total sum earmarked for various projects around health, education, water supply and agriculture, among others, expected to be executed across the state.
Dantiye said: “Revocation and re-award of contract for the construction of Post Midwifery Institute at Gezawa Local Government Area at the sum of N770,858,450.39, Reconstruction and Renovation of Defective Wall/Fence and Surroundings at Nassarawa Emir’s Palace at the sum of N99,928,541.63 and Rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure at government house at the sum of N126,987,787.
“Release of funds for the procurement of essentials drugs and welcome packs for newborns, free maternal, neonatal, child health and free accidental and emergency commodity for January to March, 2024 at the sum of N165,000,000, Repair of 18km old water pipeline at Dambatta LGA and its Environs at the sum of N129,636,102 and Construction of 138 No. new hand pump boreholes under the second phase of PEWASH programme State Matching Project at some local government areas at the sum of N193,000,000.
“Revocation and re-award of contract for the completion of the construction of college of Nursing and Midwifery at Madobi local government area at the sum of N57,066,422.52, Payment for the excess workload allowances to the two state owned universities ADUDT and YUMDUK at the sum of N447,621,640.79, Construction of Magistrate courts complex at the premises of Gidan Murtala at the sum of N259,143,824.08 and the procurement of fertilizer by the 44 Local Government Councillors to enhance food security and agricultural productivity during the 2024 raining season at the cost of N5,073,840,000.
“Others include renovation and upgrading of D-ward for the establishment of sickle cell unit at Murtala Muhd Specialist Hospital, Kano, at the sum of N81,621,546.76; construction/renovation works at Infectious Diseases Hospital to accommodate the new Kano State Centre for Diseases Control at the sum of N64,825,000.83 and 25-reconstruction/conversion of Gidan Murtala ground floor to accommodate a new ministry at the sum of N196,853,158.99, among others, to the total of N8,629,636,749.49 billion.
“These projects aim to enhance the state’s infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.”
