HAJJ CAMP DEVELOPMENT: NAHCON signs concession agreement on PPP in Kano
By YUSUF MOHAMMED KULLOMA and SAN SHAFI’I
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has singed a concessionary agreement on the Public-Private Partnership with DID Al amanah on the development of over 500 shops in the Kano Hajj Camp market.
The agreement was signed on 7th September 2022 in the Hajj House Boardroom, Abuja as the project was said to have reached 80% completion.
The Chairman/CEO Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan welcomed those present to witness the signing ceremony that included representatives of D I D Al amanah, the partners in the concession agreement, Barr. Abdulsalam Musbah; Legal Adviser and Alh Awwalu Shinkafi; Director.
Others present at the occasion were representative of Ag. Director General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Olusola Ogunsola and Mr Chinedu Nwiyuwe. Also present was the Transaction Adviser, Mr. Tomiwa Aregbesola from Halcrow, as well as the committee members from NAHCON.
In his opening remarks, the NAHCON Chairman stated that since inauguration of the board into office, they had pursued the intention of turning waste into wealth dedicatedly with the intention of remaining independent of government funding.
To nurture this independence successfully, Alhaji Hassan said the Commission needed the ICRC to guide it towards expanding its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under the PPP arrangement. The NAHCON Chairman expressed appreciation on the trust displayed by DID AL-amana for partnering with NAHCON and commencing work even without signing of agreement.
The Chairman also commended the NAHCON staff committee charged with the concession program under the Chairmanship of Dr Ibrahim M. Sodangi (FCIA). Alhaji Kunle Hassan expressed confidence that the Commission’s landed properties in Ilorin, Lagos and Maiduguri will soon follow on the development plan.
In his own submission, representative of the DG ICRC congratulated NACHON for the successful implementation of the Kano project. The signing between NAHCON and DID Al-amana took place while ICRC representatives witnessed the process.
On his part, NAHCON Commissioner Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakasai revealed that one of their priorities after taking over was deliberating on how to improve the Commission’s IGR. Due to the vast land and commercial activities in Kano, the center became first choice for this project and NAHCON appreciates ICRC for its zeal in making the project materialize.
“Our next project will be in Lagos. We also want to give thanks and appreciation to the members of the committee headed by Dr. Ibrahim Sodangi and also to our Chairman,” he said.
