The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) has formally petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a controversial Public Private Partnership (PPP) land-swap arrangement within the college, raising concerns over transparency, stakeholder exclusion, and the long-term implications for the institution’s academic environment.
In a detailed protest letter titled “Notice of formal objection to the Public Private Partnership land-swap deal & proposed groundbreaking ceremony within Federal Government College Kano on grounds of lack of transparency and stakeholder exclusion,” the association said it “write[s] on behalf of the Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) to formally register our strong protest against the decision of the Federal Ministry of Education to excise and concession portions of land within the premises of Federal Government College Kano to third-party entities under a so-called Public Private Partnership Land-Swap Deal.”
The alumni body stated that its objection “is anchored primarily on the lack of transparency surrounding the said decision,” stressing that “at no time was the proposed concession publicly advertised or made available in the public domain.”
It added that “more concerning is the fact that key stakeholders, including FGCKOSA, a body duly recognized by the Honourable Minister, were neither consulted nor carried along in the process,” describing the omission as contrary to established stakeholder engagement principles.
Citing regulatory frameworks, the association argued that the process “appears inconsistent with the framework contemplated under the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Public-Private Partnership guidelines, including the PPP Project Financial Model Guide (2025), which underscores the importance of inclusivity and transparency in concession processes.”
A major highlight of the petition is the association’s breakdown of the ₦36.26 billion valuation attached to the project, which it said represents the projected market value of land parcels to be carved out and allocated for commercial development. According to FGCKOSA, the proposed development comprises two categories of plots with distinct sizes and pricing structures.
“For Plot A (50 by 100), are numbered in total 194 units at N70m each = N13.58 billion,” the association disclosed, indicating that the smaller-sized plots alone account for over ₦13 billion of the projected value.
It further explained that the second category consists of larger parcels: “For Plot B (100 by 100), Total 189 units at N120m each which equals N22.68 billion.”
When aggregated, the figures bring the total projected value to ₦36.26 billion, which the association said “was earmarked to be made from the deal,” underscoring what it described as the commercial scale of the proposed development within a public secondary school environment.
FGCKOSA argued that the financial projections reinforce its position that the initiative is fundamentally a real estate venture that may not align with the educational mandate of the institution.
“While we acknowledge that private commercial entities may approach such developments from a profit-driven perspective, we respectfully submit that such motivations do not necessarily align with the long-term interests of the College,” the petition stated.
The association further warned that the proximity of the proposed development to critical school infrastructure raises “legitimate concerns regarding its potential adverse impact on the academic environment, including avoidable risks and disruptions inconsistent with the ethos of an educational institution.”
Providing a timeline of events, FGCKOSA disclosed that its representatives visited the Federal Ministry of Education on March 30, 2026, to inquire about the PPP arrangement and seek clarification on why the alumni body was excluded from the process. However, the association said it was subsequently informed that the deal had already been concluded.
“On April 2, 2026 the Ministry of Education formally wrote to the Federal Government College Kano, to inform them of successful conclusion of the PPP deal and their intention to have a ground breaking ceremony in the school on April 6, 2026,” the letter stated.
In a separate communication to its members, the association raised an alarm over what it described as encroachment on critical school facilities, stating that “the land on which our sports field stands, has been bequeathed to a real estate company for commercial development.”
It warned that such a move threatens the heritage and future expansion of the institution.
“FGC Kano should be expanding, not shrinking,” the statement read, adding that “a massive mixed-use development encroaching on the school, is detrimental to academic growth and wholly unnecessary.”
FGCKOSA emphasized that its intervention is driven by “one overriding objective: the continued preservation of the institution and the advancement of academic excellence within it,” noting that these aspirations align with national education goals.
The association also argued that alumni stakeholders “ought to be accorded with a right of first refusal in any proposal involving the use, development, or repurposing of unused land within the College,” given their longstanding connection and contributions to the institution.
To demonstrate its commitment to the college’s development, FGCKOSA disclosed that it has completed the registration of the Federal Government College Kano Alumni Foundation, aimed at supporting infrastructure and academic excellence.
It added that “all regulatory requirements have been fulfilled,” and that the foundation “is currently preparing to launch a N5 billion development fund toward these objectives.”
The alumni body further expressed confidence that it possesses the capacity to mobilize resources and deliver development projects that align more closely with the institution’s academic mission, without compromising its environment or heritage.
It, therefore, called for urgent presidential intervention to halt the ongoing process.
“In light of the foregoing, we respectfully plead that you use your good office to immediately suspend the Public Private Partnership Land-Swap Deal and the proposed groundbreaking ceremony,” FGCKOSA said.
The association added that it trusts the President will give “this matter the urgent and serious consideration it deserves in the overall interest of the institution and the nation’s educational development.”
Copies of the petition were also sent to key government officials, including the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, relevant National Assembly committees on education, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education, and the Principal of Federal Government College Kano.