Politics

See the Number of Computers Stolen from Kano Digital Park: Minister Bosun Tijani Reports

Published by admin on August 3rd, 2024.

See the Number of Computers Stolen from Kano Digital Park: Minister Bosun Tijani Reports

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, reported that approximately 150 desktop personal computers (PCs) and laptops were stolen during a break-in at the Kano Digital Park amidst the ‘Endbadgovernance’ protest on Thursday. This incident was discussed during his appearance on a Channels TV programme, where he addressed the protest and the subsequent attack on the Kano facility.

Dr. Tijani highlighted the significant financial loss due to the vandalism, estimating the damage to be in the millions, if not billions, of Naira. He also mentioned that a private company in Kano has expressed interest in renovating the damaged facility.

The Minister acknowledged that the Park was an incomplete project from the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari. “This property is one of the projects the last administration worked on but didn’t complete. The final equipment was installed just two months ago, and we had planned to launch the facility next week,” he stated.

When asked to estimate the value of the vandalized property and stolen equipment, Dr. Tijani replied, “The loss amounts to millions, if not billions. The building itself is valuable, and there were between 120 to 150 computers, both PCs and laptops, inside. We were only awaiting minor work on the generator and power backup before starting to use the computers. Unfortunately, this is the result of the protest.”

In response to criticism on social media questioning why such a facility was located in Kano, the Minister defended the decision. He emphasized that Kano has a high demand for digital skills training, evidenced by the large number of applicants for the government’s ongoing 3 Million Technical Training (3MTT) programme. “People have made ridiculous comments questioning why a center was placed in Kano, as if young people in Kano don’t have the right to dream and participate in the digital economy. Kano had the highest number of applications for the 3MTT, showing a strong interest in acquiring digital skills,” he said.

Dr. Tijani reassured that the future of the Kano ICT Park remains intact, with ongoing support to renovate and restore the facility.

On Thursday, Nigerians began the ‘Endbadgovernance’ protests, scheduled to run from August 1 to August 10 across the country. The demonstrators are urging the government to address the high cost of living and reverse certain policies causing hardship. However, some youths exploited the protest to break into the Digital Park, built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and stole equipment, including computers and furniture.