As President Muhammadu Buhari pays a two-day visit to Kano State today, security has been beefed up in the state especially Kano metropolis, Persecondnews reports.
The presidential visit which Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje had earlier advised Buhari to shelve for security reasons over tension generated by the January 31 deadline for old Naira notes swap, began on Monday with massive deployment of security agents.
The governor backtracked when Buhari directed the Central Bank to extend the deadline until February 10.
Persecondnews reported that Ganduje said the state government is “deeply concerned’’ by the hardship induced by the ongoing cash swap of old notes for new naira notes.
He said the government took the decision to avoid any “unforeseen circumstance’’.
But the President appeared unswayed by the reason adduced by the Ganduje administration for the postponement of the trip and is likely to visit the state tomorrow (Monday, January 30) as scheduled.
Ganduje had during an interactive session with some stakeholders, including scholars, legislators, political leaders and business community in the state at Government House, Kano, announced the decision asking Buhari to defer the visit.
However, as early as 7.00 a.m. on Monday, scores of Police, the Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Roads Safety Corps as well as the state’s Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) officials had taken strategic positions on some roads in the city in preparation for the visit.
The roads manned by the security operatives include Sabo Bakin Zuwo road, formerly known as State Road ,Emir’s Palace Road, Ahmadu Bello Way and Audu Bako Way.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, a former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has confirmed the impending visit of President Muhammadu Buhari through a statement.
He said arrangements had been concluded to receive the President.
Garba said that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje would receive the President and his entourage.
He said while in Kano, Buhari would commission the 10 megawatts Federal Government financed, Kano Grid Solar Power, and the multi-billion Naira Dala Inland Dry Port in Zawachiki, Kumbotso local government area.
He also said the president would commission the Kano State Data Centre at Audu Bako Secretariat, Tier Data Centre and office complex at Galaxy Backbone Limited Project at Ahmadu Bello Way.
Other projects are Cancer Treatment Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu; Muhammadu Buhari Road Rotary Interchange at NNPC Station, along Maiduguri Road; Aliko Dangote Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre, Zaria Road and a Federal Government Housing Units at Gandun Sarki, Darmanawa.
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