Kano signs MoU with companies

The Kano state government has signed Memorandum of understanding with 10 companies.The MoU is to help further develop the second biggest commercial center in Nigeria.It came as a result of a two day Economic and Investment summit organized by the state to attract local and foreign investors.Three companies Black Rhino and Dangote Group, Quinddu Investment International and  Arewa Solar PV signed a clean energy solar power MoU  to help boost supply to the state.The companies are set to generate 100 megawatts each amounting to 300 megawatts.Most of the projects will be 100 per cent financed by the companies, while Kano state government will provide the land and own equity shares in some cases.Transforming Kano Governor of the state, Dr. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje said the signing of the MOU was aimed at transforming Kano from city to a mega city where things like electricity for industries and private consumption works, transportation and waste management systems are efficient with minimum level of unemployment.“A mega-city is a place where commercial activities are modernized so that foreigners who are used to commercial in foreign lands are treated in the same manner, so that business activities will flourish. A mega city is a place where you have maximum security with possibilities of collecting internally generated revenue.“Electricity is a big problem”“everybody knows, electricity is one of the things that made our industries to collapse. So, that is why we decided in getting three investors in the area of electricity to get us 100MW of Solar system each. They will not wait for gas from the riverine areas, because they will say there is no pipeline,”Â Â governor Ganduje explained.He said land is already being provided as well as Certificate of Occupancy and other logistics as such there is no time to waste.He called on the investors to get serious and warned all public service workers connected to the MOU to desist from using red tapism to delay the projects.Signing, earlier on behalf of Black Rhino and Dangote group, Engineer Ahmed Mansur said the project was part of a 500 billion dollar investment plan for Africa by the group and Kano is the first beneficiary.“The project will transform Kano because power is the back bone to any industrial city, which the state is known for,”Â Mansur stated.He said the company will mobilize and commence work in the next two weeksProjects A Broadbase Fibre Optics MOU worth 200 million dollars to enhance easy and speedy access to communication networks in the Kano metropolis was signed.Also, a 1.68 billion naira Kano light rail system to be constructed by a Chinese company was signed. Under the agreement, the company will provide 85 per cent of the funding, while Kano State will provide 15 per cent of the total cost.The MOU for Dangote large scale integrated Rice farming and milling project worth 30 million dollars and that of the Kanawa Economic city being handled by Brains and Hammers limited, where over 8,000 market shops are going to be constructed and expected to generate hundreds of thousands of job were also signed.A waste management contract was also signed with Sharaduka Company worth 100 billion dollars. Source: VON