Kano Residents Stone Buhari’s Convoy, Helicopter
SOME irate residents of Kano yesterday protested the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to commission federal government projects in the state.
This is coming a few days after a similar incident occurred in Katsina, the president’s hometown.
The protests might not be unconnected with the current hardship Nigerians are facing due to the rising cost and scarcity of petrol as well as the redesignation of the Naira.
The irate youths, who set bonfires along Maiduguri Road in the capital and chanted ba ma yi (down with you), threw stones at the convoy from afar despite heavy security presence and teargas.
Eighteen-Eleven Media gathered that some sections of all four major roads leading to the newly constructed Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover were closed for two days in anticipation of the President’s visit.
In video clips circulated on social media, other youths were seen throwing pebbles at the President’s helicopter as it took off after commissioning a solar project at Zawaciki.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje had earlier told the President to postpone his visit to the state as he could not guarantee his safety due to the difficulty in getting the new Naira notes. He later told the President to continue with the visit after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) extended the swapping of old notes with new notes.
The President commissioned a $15 million (N120billion) 10-megawatts solar project; Family Homes at Darmanawa Royal City; Dala Inland Dry Port and; 41-terabyte National tier-4 Data Center in Kano.
The President arrived at exactly 10:32 a.m., accompanied by some of his cabinet members.
The President was received by the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Minister of Transportation, Jaji Sambo, and the Managing Director of the Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu.
Speaking during the commissioning of the solar project, Mr. Buhari said it would help revive ailing industries in the state.
At the commissioning of the data centre, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami said the data centre was the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria and the best so far in the country.
“The reliability of data collection of the facility is 99.99% so it is almost a hundred per cent reliable,” he said.
