The Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture has raised the alarm over moves by some unknown persons to dispose of Ado Bayero Mall, a structure they insist belongs to the Chamber.
Speaking to newsmen on Saturday, the President of the Chamber, Ambassador Hamza Darma, hinted that when they came on board some nine months ago, they had written to their tenants, Alpine Investment Limited, notifying them of new arrangements.
He said, “Some 18 years ago, the land on which Ado Bayero Mall built their shops was leased to Alpine Investment Limited by the Chamber on a 35-year ‘build, operate, and return’ agreement, and since then, they have been paying us only N5 million annually.”
“How can you be sitting on 11 hectares of land at this strategic place for the last 18 years and be paying only N5 million annually? Despite this, they also collected another one hectare, for which they are paying only N1 million. So, we said we have to review this agreement.”
However, the Chairman noted that, surprisingly, as they were moving to review the agreement, they suddenly woke up to trending news on social media that some people were putting the whole place up for sale.
“We cannot take lightly anybody selling our lands. These lands belong to the Kano Chamber of Commerce. Anyone who thinks he can dispose of them is doing so at his peril because he will bear the consequences.”
Although the Chamber recognized the people behind the ownership of Alpine Investment Limited, including Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), TY Danjuma, Hayyatoudeen, and others, the Chairman noted that they are going to write to them regarding the issues.
He said the term of the agreement was for 35 years, and they have already taken 18 years, which is more than 50 percent of the whole agreement. “So, we are going to review it and ensure that the place receives the rightful payment from them,” he added.