Victims of Kano demolition exercise seek financial assistance to revive their businesses

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

The victims of the 2023 shop demolition exercise at the Kofar-Mata Eid Prayer Ground in Kano State have appealed for financial assistance to revive their businesses.

The victims made the appeal on Saturday during a special prayer session organised by the leadership of the Kofar Mata market.

Speaking to the media at the occasion, the Chairman of the Association, Auwal Sa’id Umar, acknowledged the reallocation of 75 shops to some of the victims.

Umar, however, said that the 75 shops represent 25 per cent of the land earmarked for the affected traders while stressing that the current intervention would have limited impact unless beneficiaries receive financial support to rebuild and revive their businesses.

According to him, several traders have continued to struggle financially since the demolition was executed by the government, while some have died without recovering from their huge losses.

He said the traders were not ungrateful for what has been done so far, but insisted that allocating land without financial support would leave many unable to resume business.

He explained that the prayer session was organised to mark the completion of 111 recitations of the Holy Qur’an and to offer special prayers for the Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi, for their efforts towards alleviating the sufferings of the victims of that exercise.

On assuming office in 2023, the current administration in the state embarked on mass demolition of shopping complexes at the Eid prayer ground and other locations.

It could be recalled that the affected traders had initially gone to court to challenge the demolition and seek compensation.

In September 2023, a Federal High Court sitting in Kano ordered the state government to pay N30 billion compensation to the affected shop owners.

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