Unity Schools Alumni Threaten Legal, Legislative Action Over FGC Kano Land Concession

Unity Schools Alumni Threaten Legal, Legislative Action Over FGC Kano Land Concession

By Primetime Report

Strong opposition has continued to trail the proposed concession of part of the land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, as alumni of Unity Schools across Nigeria staged coordinated protests in Lagos, Abuja and Kano over the weekend.

Operating under the umbrella of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), hundreds of former students from more than 60 Unity Schools took to the streets, warning the federal government against what they described as an attempt to commercialise and permanently transfer public educational assets.

In Lagos, protesters converged at the Eko Atlantic City Gate before proceeding to Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “FGC Kano Is Not for Sale”, “Hands Off Our Heritage”, “No to PPP that liquidates school assets”, and “Unity Schools are a legacy; preserve them.”

The protesters specifically rejected the planned concession of over 30 hectares of land belonging to FGC Kano to a private firm under a proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Speaking during the rally, President-General of USOSA, Michael Magaji, said Unity Schools occupy a strategic place in Nigeria’s nation-building process and should not be stripped of assets meant for future development.

According to him, the schools were established to foster national integration, leadership and discipline among young Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

“These schools are more than learning centres. They are nation-building institutions that have shaped generations of Nigerians and strengthened unity across the country,” he said.

Magaji explained that the association was not opposed to development or improved management of school facilities but insisted that alternative measures exist outside concession of public land.

“We are engaging the Ministry of Education on sustainable ways to utilise school assets without transferring public property to third parties. These lands can still serve educational purposes and support future expansion,” he added.

Also addressing protesters, President of the FGC Idoani Old Students Association, Alex Akindumi, described the development as a critical test of transparency and responsible governance.

He warned that reducing the land space of Unity Schools could negatively affect future planning and infrastructure expansion.

“When lands originally reserved for sports facilities, agriculture, staff housing, workshops and academic growth are taken away, the long-term future of these institutions becomes threatened,” he said.

Akindumi maintained that the issue had gone beyond FGC Kano, stressing that it concerns the protection of public educational assets nationwide.

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On his part, Lagos Chapter President of the Federal Government College Kano Old Students’ Association, Humphrey Nwafor, said alumni were prepared to support government efforts financially rather than allow school lands to be concessioned.

“If the challenge is funding, alumni are willing to contribute. There are better ways to support Unity Schools without sacrificing assets that belong to future generations,” he stated.

Nwafor disclosed that tensions escalated after the Federal Ministry of Education allegedly introduced PPP guidelines without adequate consultation with major stakeholders, including alumni bodies.

According to him, FGC Kano possesses about 85 hectares of land, while about 33 hectares are being proposed for concession for approximately N8.5 billion.

“Our association alone is already mobilising close to N5 billion this year without surrendering any portion of school land. Once these lands are lost, they are gone permanently,” he said.

He further emphasised the role Unity Schools have played in strengthening national unity, noting that many Nigerians built lifelong relationships across ethnic and religious lines through the schools.

“You can see people from different parts of Nigeria standing together today because these schools shaped their lives and created bonds beyond tribe or religion,” he added.

The alumni also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the planned concession.

“Public educational assets should not be treated as commercial property. Governments will come and go, but these institutions remain part of Nigeria’s legacy,” Nwafor said.

Retired General Abdulrasheed Lawal, who also addressed the gathering, argued that the disputed land was originally meant for future expansion of the institution.

“The concern is not what will eventually be built there. The issue is that the land belongs to a federal school established for Nigerian children,” he said.

The protesters vowed to intensify their campaign if the federal government proceeds with the concession plan, warning that the matter could be taken to the National Assembly and the presidency.

They also revealed that legal action had already been initiated, adding that a restraining order had reportedly been secured pending determination of the suit.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Education had not issued any official response to the protest.

However, a senior ministry official reportedly insisted that the concession proposal formed part of broader plans to modernise unity schools through private sector participation.