Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has firmly declared that it will proceed with the controversial land swap arrangement at the Federal Government College in Kano, dismissing widespread opposition from alumni, parents and school management committees. Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, reaffirmed the government's commitment to the Public-Private Partnership initiative during an inspection tour of key education projects in Kano State on Monday, July 20, 2026, insisting that there is "no going back" on the project.
The proposed deal involves swapping approximately 30 hectares of the school's land—valued by alumni at over N36 billion—for N8.5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, including classrooms, hostels, and a health centre. The agreement, which has been met with fierce resistance, would see the land handed over to Pluck Global Services, a private developer. Minister Alausa defended the decision during the inspection, stating that the government would make decisions based on what benefits students rather than public sentiment. "There is no going back. We will do what we think is right for Nigerian children. It is not about sentiment or emotion; it is about giving every child access to the highest quality of education," he said.
The minister argued that the project would allow the government to utilise unused portions of the school's land to generate funds for new infrastructure. "There is no need keeping so many hectares of land that we are not going to use in the next 100 years. If we can mobilise resources through partnerships to improve infrastructure and expand capacity, then we should do so," Alausa stated. He added that the ministry conducted several assessments before approving the plan and did not rely solely on reports from Abuja. During the visit, he also commissioned an upgraded digital e-library at the college, describing it as a major milestone in the Federal Government's drive to prepare Nigerian students for a technology-driven future.
However, the announcement has done little to quell the outrage from the Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association and the Unity Schools Old Students Association, which have mobilised thousands of alumni across the country in opposition. The alumni have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful conversion of school land into a private estate. The suit, assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo, challenges the PPP arrangement and argues that public land held for educational purposes cannot be converted into private property.
FGCKOSA has accused the government of failing to carry out due diligence or consult key stakeholders before approving the agreement. "The future of Federal Government College Kano cannot be decided in secrecy or through a private commercial arrangement that converts school land into a private estate," the association said in a statement. The alumni have also proposed an alternative plan, including the launch of a N5 billion development fund to finance infrastructure upgrades without ceding any land.
Despite the legal challenge and widespread protests, Minister Alausa has remained steadfast, insisting that the government is open to engaging the college's alumni and other stakeholders willing to contribute to the institution's development through similar partnerships. He maintained that the initiative would unlock resources for better classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure. "Our responsibility is to ensure that every policy translates into better opportunities for our students. We have no interest other than providing quality education and improved infrastructure for Nigerian children," he said.
The controversy has drawn attention to the broader issue of land management in federal unity schools, with several institutions established in the 1970s facing similar challenges. As the legal battle continues and protests show no sign of abating, the Federal Government appears determined to push forward with the project, setting the stage for a protracted confrontation between the state and a mobilised alumni community that views the deal as a dangerous precedent for public education assets.
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