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The Federal Government has condemned the destruction of the Nigeria Communication Commission Industrial Park in Kano, a state-of-the-art technology hub, by protesters on Thursday.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, confirmed that the facility, which was set for inauguration next week, was looted and set ablaze.
Online videos showed individuals carrying away computers, chairs, and other valuable items from the facility located in Nigeria’s second-most populous state.
The incident occurred during the nationwide protests against bad governance, with reports of violence in Kano.
Tijani described the destruction as “a slight setback” for Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions and youth job creation efforts, but acknowledged that “millions of naira have gone down the drain.”
“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,” Tijani wrote on X.
The minister said the facility was intended to support the Technical Talent Accelerator programme and host the Buildathon Holiday Maker programme for secondary school students.
The 3MTT initiative is a vital component of the Renewed Hope agenda, focusing on developing Nigeria’s technical talent pipeline to drive its digital economy and establish the country as a hub for talent export.
It was launched with an initial 30,000 participants, representing one per cent of the ambitious three million target. The programme has since expanded to include an additional 270,000 individuals in its second cohort, reaching a total of 10 per cent.
Meanwhile, the protest is scheduled to continue until August 10, as Nigerians demand action from the government to address the country’s economic woes.
The demonstration is a response to the escalating economic hardship faced by citizens, who are struggling with a high cost of living, widespread hunger, soaring unemployment rate, and limited access to quality education, among others.
