The nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests has taken a violent turn in Kano today as protesters reportedly vandalised and looted the yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park.
The ICT Park, which is intended to serve as a hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the northwest, was slated to be inaugurated next week.
Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, expressed his dismay over the incident on X (formerly Twitter).
He wrote, “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters. Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week. A slight setback for our journey to deepening our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of Naira down the drain.”
The Kano ICT Park was designed to include laboratories for ICT innovations and commercial hubs to provide capacity building for ICT startups and enhance entrepreneurial activities. It was expected to support the growth of technology talent and create job opportunities in the region.
In response to Tijani’s comment, individuals argue that prioritising human development should take precedence over infrastructure projects like flyovers and buildings. They highlight the irony of focusing on advancements like AI in a country where over 65% of the population is illiterate and more than 13 million children are out of school.
Nonetheless, NCC has yet to comment on the damage to the park or the impact on the scheduled programs. The loss of equipment and infrastructure will greatly affect the planned activities and the future of tech innovation in the area.
Individuals also raise questions about the security measures in place to protect these infrastructure, especially those meant to facilitate development and innovation. The local authorities are reportedly investigating the attack and are expected to increase security around key facilities in the region.
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