Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has reversed his predecessor’s decision to revoke land from Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies. The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar, presented the land documents to the college’s Deputy Rector, Dija Isa. The decision was made possible by Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which empowers the governor to take such action. The college had been upset by the initial revocation, which they saw as a setback for the education system. They are now grateful to have the land back.
However, this development highlights a larger issue in Nigerian governance: the problem of policy reversals and predecessor projects abandonment. This cycle of reversal and abandonment comes at a significant cost to the state and stakeholders. It leads to a waste of resources, undermines investor confidence, and creates uncertainty in the policy environment.
When a project or policy is abandoned by a new administration, several parties lose out. The citizens who were meant to benefit from the project are left disappointed and disillusioned. The investors who committed resources to the project suffer financial losses. The government itself loses credibility and trust with the public. In some cases, the abandonment of projects can also lead to legal disputes and damage to the state’s reputation.
Commenting on the development, political analyst, Mr. Ike kalu, stated that the old adage “don’t start what you can’t finish” could be a useful advice for governments. “It’s important for governments to be mindful of the projects they initiate and ensure that they have the resources and political will to see them through to completion. Abandoning projects midway not only wastes resources but also erodes trust in government.”
In Kano State alone, several projects initiated by previous administrations have been abandoned or reversed, including a multimillion-dollar transportation project and a healthcare initiative. Similarly, other states in Nigeria have also experienced similar instances of policy reversals and project abandonment. For example, the Lagos State Government reversed the Lagos Monorail project, while the Rivers State Government abandoned the Rivers Monorail project. The Federal Government also reversed the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reforms.
This trend of policy reversals and project abandonment highlights the need for a more stable and consistent approach to governance in Nigeria.
