Former Head of Nigerian Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan on Monday commissioned Bandirawo City, one of the three new mega cities built by the government of Kano state, under Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
In the first phase, the Bandirawo city, mainly a high density settlement near Tumfafi, along Kano – Dambatta road, entails 441 housing units of 4, 3 and 2 bedroom bungalows. It also has commercial plots for shopping malls, filling station, hotels, etc. There is also provision for schools, recreational areas and a range of other locational advantages.
The city, alongside the two other cities, namely Kwankwasiyya and Amana, was conceptualized by the Kwankwaso administration as part of efforts to address the housing deficit in the state and the country at large. Nigeria’s housing deficit is about N17 million, due to a very high urban growth rate, according to a recent World Bank report.
In this regard, the three mega cities would not only provide shelter to low, medium and high income earners, open for the government the vast and untapped investment potential of the country’s real estate sector as well as upgrade Kano to the status of a competitive modern city.
Speaking shortly before commissioning the Bandirawo city, Chief Ernest Shonekan commended Gov. Kwankwaso for initiating the project said in these days when financial resource are scarce, governments must make sure that all commissioned projects are used carefully.
“If commissioned projects are well used, government will be encouraged to do more for the people”, he stated, adding that it is also imperative for governments to work with the private sector in the area of infrastructure projects.
Chief Shonekan enjoined citizens of Kano and other Nigerians to cooperate with government so that development can happen fast and people can reap the dividends of democracy.
In his speech, the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said the Bandirawo City, built on 191 hectares, is one of the landmark projects of his government and one of three new mega cities established in Kano to improve housing, which is a basic human need and a key factor for economic development.
“All the three cities were constructed at the combined cost of about N45 billion, with the aim of not only decongesting the old Kano city but also to providing better shelter for our citizens in line with global best practices”, the governor stated.
According to him, all the new cities were constructed solely by the state government through the state Housing Corporation in conjunction with the state Investment and Property Company, without any local or foreign loans.
Gov. Kwankwaso stated that the houses would be sold to all Nigerians without discrimination and appealed to investors to complement government’s efforts by making meaningful investments in the real estate sector of the state.
Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, fnge, mni
Director of Press and Public Relations
to the Executive Governor of Kano state,
