No going back on light rail project, Ganduje tells critics

Governor Abdullah Umar Ganduje has insisted that no amount of blackmail will deter his administration’s intention to access Chinese loan to execute the construction of a light rail transit project in the state.

Ostensibly reacting to critics rebuking the government plan to revisit the project, Ganduje maintained the light rail project, apart from other benefits, is designed to expand commercial activities, and ease transportation of agricultural goods and services across the state for the benefit of the good people of our dear state.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, the governor said: “no amount of criticism will deter the government from carrying out laudable projects that aim at transforming Kano to a megacity.”

The deputy governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and member of Kwankwasiyya Movement, Comrade Abdulsalam Aminu had revealed the opposition’s readiness to drag the APC government to court if it insists to embarking on the multi-billion dollars project. Abdulsalam told a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

Ganduje who counter the view of the opposition party, however, stressed that since the foreign loan has already been approved by the China Export-Import Bank, the government would go ahead with the projects.

He added that the state lawmakers have also recommended the contractor Messrs CR18G-CRCEGJV to commence the project from Dawanau Grains Market-Bata, being the Phase I of the project and to be completed within 20 months.

The statement stated that ” all the due processes are being followed which include getting approval from the state House of Assembly and clearance from the relevant federal agencies and the National Assembly.

“Hence, no amount of blackmail will stand as a stumbling block for the APC government to initiate people-oriented policies and programmes in the overall interest of the state”.

The commissioner’s released further explains that the Kwankwasiyya position on the project is not in any way surprising considering that the movement never appreciates anything no matter how well thought out by the APC administration in Kano.

He noted that the Kwankwassiyya Movement, which has been overawed by the uncommon achievements of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration in all facets of development, and particularly, the initiation and execution of mega projects, is now afraid of its shadows.