The land title of the oldest golf course in West Africa, the Kano Club, has been revoked by the Kano State Government.
The land is being considered for development to accommodate a mega shopping complex and a five-star hotel by the Kano State Bureau for Land Management.
The bureau has informed the club managers that the title of the club, given on April 6, 1979, for a term of 40 years, has expired on April 6, 2019.
“Kindly refer to the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978 which specified terms and conditions governing land allocation and issuance of Certificate of Occupancy, ” it said a a letter signed by Ibrahim Naabba and copied to the governor,
It further reads: “In this respect, I wish to notify you that the term of your title above has expired with effect from 6th April, 2019, having been issued on 6th April, 1979 for a term of 40 years.
On March 7, The Director-General of Kano State Bureau for Land Management, Zainab Braji, has written to the governor as a reply to a letter minuted to her that recommended the allocation of Kano Club to Alpha Property Development Limited and Alif Hotels Limited.
“The esteemed attention of Your Excellency is humbly invited to refer to your directive at page 1 for the Bureau to examine properties with expired titles in respect of an application for Mega Shopping Complex and Five Star Hotel from Alpha Property Development Limited and Alif Hotels Limited respectively.
“Your Excellency may wish to further note that the expired titles were examined and the Certificate of Occupancy no. LKN/COM/RC/82/268 bearing the name of Kano Club over a piece of land measuring 25.9395ha situated at Murtala Muhammad Way is hereby recommended for utilization for the purpose applied for in view of the following reasons.
“The said Certificate of Occupancy is a Commercial title which is normally granted for a period of forty (40) years and it commences from 6” April, 1979 as such it is expired even though there exists no term on the copy of their Certificate of Occupancy at the back cover bearing an open term.
“The size of the piece of land is 25.9395ha as such it can be subdivided to be utilized for the Mega Shopping complex and five Star Hotel,” the memo read.
Reacting to the government’s decision, the vice president of the club, Umar Adam-Kolo, said they are taking legal action to stop the governor.
“We are taking legal action to stop this impunity. This decision is unacceptable as we have paid all the ground rents due to us.
“This is the last green area in the metropolis, and we will do our best to save it for posterity.
“The Certificate of Occupancy of the course was issued in 1979 for 99 years. So the title has 55 more years of validity,” he added.
The land covers 26 hectares on which the club was established in 1903 at the beginning of colonial rule, with golfing starting in the course in 1908. It was also the land where the first aircraft in Nigeria landed on November 1, 1925.
