…Says ‘Abuja is not anyone’s property’
Kano State Government has expressed concern over the repeated deportation of citizens from the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja, to Kano and other states in the North.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled Persons, Amina Sani-Abdullahi, who made this known yesterday in a statement to newsmen in Kano, said the state government observed that within the last four weeks, several Nigerian citizens, including indigenes of Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna, were deported from the FCT to Kano.
According to her, the action of the FCT Administration contradicts the constitutional right of every Nigerian to reside and seek livelihood in any part of the country, provided they do not pose a threat to public peace and safety.
“The FCT is not the property of a single state or region; it is the common heritage of all Nigerians and, as such, a home for all.
“If certain individuals are found engaging in activities that you consider undesirable, the humane and constitutional approach would be to design empowerment programmes.
“Provide grants, or create opportunities for rehabilitation and meaningful economic engagement not forceful deportation.
“In Kano, we host people from all over Nigeria, including Rivers State and other regions, and they live, work, and contribute to our economy without discrimination. This is the spirit of national brotherhood that strengthens our unity”, she said.
The Commissioner added that reports from some of the deportees indicated they were allegedly held in custody for more than 10 days under harsh conditions, and fed once daily. She described the treatment as degrading and unacceptable in a democratic society.
Sani-Abdullahi said the state government, under Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, would not tolerate the humiliation of its citizens, urging the FCT Administration to end unconstitutional deportations.
“We urge the FCT Administration to reconsider its approach and adopt more humane, lawful, and constructive measures in handling such matters going forward”, she stressed.
