Kano Governor Moves to Resettle 75 Traders from Demolished Eid Prayer Ground

Auwal Sa’id Umar, who leads the Association of Shop Owners at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground, confirmed that the Kano State Government has provided 75 shops to business people impacted by the June 2023 demolition exercise. This revelation came on Saturday during a special prayer gathering held at the Eid ground, where Umar clarified that the allotted shops cover 25 percent of the total land designated for the displaced traders.

He extended appreciation to His Royal Highness, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II of Kano, for his intervention in advocating for land and recompense from the state government on behalf of those affected by the demolition. While thanking Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts, Umar also pleaded for further support, highlighting that numerous traders lacked the financial capacity to construct new shops and restart their enterprises. The gathering, he noted, was specifically arranged to commemorate the successful completion of 111 recitations of the Holy Quran and to offer prayers for both the Emir and the Governor, acknowledging their compassionate actions towards the traders.

"We are profoundly thankful for the assistance we have received. We express our gratitude to His Royal Highness the Emir and His Excellency the Governor for their compassion towards us," Umar stated. Nevertheless, he reiterated his plea to the governor for more aid, pointing out that despite receiving land, a significant number of traders still did not possess the funds required to re-establish their businesses. "We are all your people, your subjects. We implore His Excellency the Governor, out of his benevolence, to consider our plight, as many of us lack the resources to develop this allocated site," he appealed.

Umar further elaborated that the livelihoods of many association members were solely reliant on these businesses to support their families. He tragically added that some traders had passed away since the June 2023 demolition, leaving their dependents in precarious situations. This recent development comes nearly a year after the controversial demolition of shops at the Kofar Mata Eid prayer ground in June 2023, an action undertaken shortly after Governor Yusuf took office. That particular exercise was part of a broader campaign by the current administration to dismantle structures it deemed illegal across the Kano metropolis. At the time, various reports also detailed incidents of shop destruction and the opportunistic looting of goods by hoodlums during the demolition process.

The immediate aftermath of the demolition saw the affected traders pursue legal avenues to seek compensation for their losses. Consequently, in September 2023, a Federal High Court in Kano issued a ruling mandating the state government to pay a substantial sum of ₦30 billion as compensation to the aggrieved shop owners. Umar affirmed that while the traders appreciate the measures taken so far to address their grievances, he stressed that further assistance is crucial to enable more victims to restart their businesses and rebuild their livelihoods. He also conveyed his strong belief that the association, along with individuals linked to the traders' businesses, could form a substantial part of the governor's political support base leading up to the 2027 governorship election.

"I bring good tidings to His Excellency the Governor: from the populace of the Eid ground alone, we guarantee a minimum of 500,000 votes. That is our absolute minimum commitment," Umar declared. He concluded by pledging the association's unwavering support for Governor Yusuf in the 2027 elections, while simultaneously imploring the government to address the ongoing hardship faced by traders still struggling to recover from the demolition incident.