By Mahmud Gambo Sani
The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) has instituted a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging what it describes as the unlawful conversion of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano under a controversial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The case, assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Judicial Division, is scheduled for hearing on July 8, 2026.
Named as defendants are the Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Minister of Education, Pluck Global Company Limited, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
According to a statement issued by FGCKOSA National Publicity Secretary, Malam Aminu Haruna Maipampo, the association is seeking judicial intervention over what it considers an opaque land-swap agreement that could result in the transfer of part of the school’s land to a private developer.
He explained that the Attorney-General was joined in the suit because the matter raises significant legal and constitutional questions concerning the management of public assets and the powers of federal agencies.
“This is not an ordinary private dispute. It concerns the legality of government actions, the authority of federal ministries over public land, the validity of a concession affecting a Federal Government school, and the protection of public assets held for educational purposes,” the statement said.
FGCKOSA argues that the central issue before the court is whether land reserved for a Federal Government educational institution can legally be converted into private property and transferred to a private company through a PPP arrangement.
The association further seeks clarification on the roles and powers of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Executive Council, the ICRC, and Pluck Global Company Limited in relation to the disputed land.
According to the statement, repeated requests for information regarding the concession agreement and approval documents were either redirected or left unanswered.
FGCKOSA disclosed that while the ICRC confirmed that the transaction was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education as the contracting authority, critical documents, including the concession agreement, approval records, valuation reports, procurement details, and evidence of Federal Executive Council approval, have not been made public.
The association also expressed concern over reports that activities connected to the project continued despite an existing court order in Kano restraining further actions on the disputed land.
“Persons connected with the project were reportedly seen entering the school premises and marking out portions of the land. This was a direct attempt to advance the land-swap arrangement despite ongoing legal proceedings,” the statement alleged.
FGCKOSA further criticised reported plans to relocate or recreate some school facilities outside the concession area, arguing that the land in question serves critical educational, recreational, security and expansion purposes.
The association warned that carving out about 30 hectares for residential and commercial development could permanently undermine the future growth of the institution.
While emphasizing that it is not opposed to development, FGCKOSA maintained that public educational assets should not be disposed of through processes lacking transparency and public accountability.
The association revealed that it had already proposed an alternative redevelopment strategy based on alumni contributions, grants, corporate social responsibility support and other funding mechanisms aimed at improving infrastructure and academic standards without sacrificing school land.
“We do not need to sell the school to save it,” the statement stressed.
Among the reliefs sought before the court are declarations that the land cannot be converted to private use through a PPP arrangement, the nullification of any concession or transfer deemed unlawful, and a perpetual injunction restraining all parties from further dealings on the disputed property.
FGCKOSA is also asking the court to compel full accountability from all public institutions involved and to establish clear legal boundaries regarding the treatment of Federal Government school land.
Describing the matter as one with implications beyond Kano, the association warned that the outcome could set an important precedent for the protection of public school lands across Nigeria.
It called on all parties involved to immediately suspend activities on the disputed property pending the court’s determination and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to defend the public interest and uphold the rule of law.
“Federal Government College Kano is not disposable real estate,” the statement declared, reaffirming FGCKOSA’s commitment to protecting public education and preserving the institution for future generations.
