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By Abiodun Adewale.
Members of Kano Club, the oldest golf course in West Africa, have vowed to take legal action after the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje revoked the title of the club and allegedly planned to allocate the land to a developer for the construction of a shopping complex and hotel.
The 26-hectare club was established in 1903 at the beginning of colonial rule, with golfing starting in the course in 1908
It is also reportedly where the first aircraft in Nigeria landed on November 1, 1925.
As reported by DAILY NIGERIAN, the Kano State Bureau for Land Management notified the club managers that the title of the club, which was issued April 6, 1979, for a term of 40 years, had expired April 6, 2019.
“Kindly refer to the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978 which specified terms and conditions governing land allocation and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.
“In this respect, I wish to notify you that the term of your title above has expired with effect from April 6, 2019, having been issued on 6th April, 1979 for a term of forty years,” a letter signed by Ibrahim Naabba, and copied to the Governor, read.
It was also reported that the Director-General of Kano State Bureau for Land Management, Zainab Braji, had written to the Governor as a reply to a letter minuted to her recommending allocation of Kano Club to Alpha Property Development Limited and Alif Hotels Limited.
“The esteemed attention of your excellency is humbly invited to refer to your directive at page 1 for the Bureau to examine properties with expired titles in respect of an application for Mega Shopping Complex and Five-Star Hotel from Alpha Property Development Limited and Alif Hotels Limited respectively.
“Your Excellency may wish to further note that the expired titles were examined and the Certificate of Occupancy no. LKN/COM/RC/82/268 bearing the name of Kano Club over a piece of land measuring 25.9395ha situated at Murtala Muhammad Way is hereby recommended for utilisation for the purpose applied for in view of the following reasons.
“The said Certificate of Occupancy is a commercial title which is normally granted for a period of forty (40) years and it commences from 6” April, 1979 as such it is expired even though there exist no term on the copy of their Certificate of Occupancy at the back cover bearing an open term.
“The size of the piece of land is 25.9395ha as such it can be subdivided to be utilized for a Mega Shopping complex and a Five-Star Hotel,” the memo read.
Reacting to the government’s decision, the Vice President, Kano Club, Umar Adam-Kolo, said they would take legal action to stop the Governor.
“We are taking legal action to stop this impunity. This decision is unacceptable as we have paid all the ground rents due to us.
“This is the last green area in the metropolis, and we will do our best to save it for posterity.
“The Certificate of Occupancy of the course was issued in 1979 for 99 years. So, the title has 55 more years of validity,” he added.
