The alumni association of Federal Government College (FGC) Kano has raised serious concerns over a controversial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that transfers approximately 33 hectares—about 40% of the school's total land area—to Pluck Global Construction Company. While government officials describe the deal as a strategic intervention to upgrade dilapidated facilities, the alumni body, known as FGCKOSA, has condemned it as a coordinated contract scam that threatens student safety and the school's future.
Financial Disparity Sparks Outrage
The land-swap arrangement has ignited fierce criticism due to its financial imbalance. According to FGCKOSA, the prime land being handed over is valued at over N36 billion, yet the developer has committed to infrastructure projects worth only N8.5 billion, including a sports complex, health center, and classroom renovations. Critics argue that this lopsided deal effectively pockets over N28 billion for private developers at the expense of the federal government. Whistleblowers have even suggested that the land's true market value could exceed N70 billion, making the transaction even more dubious.
Allegations of Political Interference
FGCKOSA leaders have accused top government officials, including Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, of having vested interests in the PPP. Further scrutiny has fallen on Musaddiq Ado Bala Talle, Managing Director of Pluck Global, who is reportedly a close associate of high-ranking regional political figures. This has led to accusations that the school's heritage is being traded for political patronage.
Impact on Student Welfare
Stakeholders warn of catastrophic consequences for student welfare. Introducing a private residential estate within the school's perimeter merges a high-security boarding environment with a public commercial zone, exposing students to avoidable risks. The land earmarked for the swap includes the school's main sports fields and open spaces, essential for physical and mental health. Additionally, the sites of the school mosque and chapel, central to the spiritual life of the Unity School, are also affected.
Legal Battle Intensifies
The dispute has reached the courts, with a Federal High Court ordering the maintenance of the status quo and halting construction on the disputed land. However, alumni allege that Ministry officials have encouraged workers to remain on-site in defiance of the law. FGCKOSA President Shoyinka Shodunke has called for full prosecution, petitioning the EFCC and ICPC for a criminal investigation. A high-level complaint has also been sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, co-signed by prominent alumni like BUA Group Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu, demanding the immediate cancellation of the deal.
The alumni association maintains a strict Caveat Emptor warning, stating that any land purchased within this development is part of an illegal transaction that will be fought to the end.
