KANO GOVERNMENT DEMANDS FEDERAL COMPENSATION FOR CANCELLED DURBAR CELEBRATIONS

The Kano State Government has demanded reparations from the Federal Government for the cancellation of the annual Durbar celebrations for two consecutive years, citing heavy economic losses. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tajo Uthman, made this demand during the Sallah homage by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II at the Government House.
Uthman argued that the Durbar, beyond its cultural significance, was a major economic catalyst, generating revenue for hospitality, transportation, food vendors, artisans, and traders. “Even shoe shiners and Gurasa sellers made income,” he said, lamenting that budgetary projections tied to the Durbar have now created deficits.
The state blames the ongoing emirship crisis and police-imposed bans, dating back to 2014, for the repeated cancellations. Uthman urged the federal government to cover the resultant financial shortfall, stressing that the Durbar was more than a spectacle—it was an economic pillar for Kano State.