Ganduje dismisses purported move to revoke Golf Club’s title

Kano State government, yesterday, debunked alleged revocation of Kano Golf Club’s Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), insisting the purported accusation was mere misrepresentation of facts to settle political scores.

The trustees of the only green area initially owned by British colonial masters before it was ceded to prominent individuals, had alleged that Kano State government were perfecting plans to lease the large ground to private developers. Addressing journalists on the allegation, Chairman, Kano Club’s Caretaker Committee, Rufai Ahmad Tanko, said the vast land, duly acquired in 1908 with 99 years renewable land title, serves recreational purposes and is a valued heritage.

He wondered why the state government decided to jettison the greener value of Kano heritage for commercial purpose, despite prompt and consistent payment of its yearly grant tent.

However, a statement by the state’s Commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, claimed the content of the letter sent to owners of the club has no mention of revocation of the land’s title, adding that the rumour was simply intended to smear the good image of the government.

According to Garba, the owners of the club were only informed about the expiration of the term of title of the land in question since April 6, 2019 and the need to comply with the due process.
The commissioner said as statutory agency saddled with the responsibility of land management and informed by the reform in land administration, the state’s Bureau for Land Management ensures payment of ground rent by property owners, as well as renewal of land titles.

Malam Garba added that the oldest Golf Course’s term of title issued on April 6, 1979 has expired and the bureau has communicated to the club about the expiration of its title and need for urgent settlement of the ground rent, only for an online publication, owned by an element of the opposition in the state, to twist the story in its favour.
He said the story medium would stop at nothing to discredit the ruling party.

Garba affirmed that the status of the club remains and called on the public to be wary of agents of destabilisation bent on creating confusion in the state and therefore called for total rejection of the fabricated story.