Angry residents of Kano came out in droves to protest the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to commission federal government projects in the state.
This is coming a few days after a similar incident occurred in Katsina, the president’s hometown.
According to reports, protests are connected with the current hardship Nigerians are facing due to rising costs and scarcity of petrol as well as the redesignation of the naira.
The irate youths, who set bonfires along Maiduguri Road in the capital and chanted ba ma yi (down with you), threw stones at the convoy from afar despite heavy security presence and teargas.
Some sections of all the four major roads leading to the newly constructed Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover were closed for two days in anticipation of the president’s visit.
In video clips circulated on social media, other youths were seen throwing pebbles at the president’s helicopter as it took off after commissioning a solar project at Zawaciki.
According to reports, Buhari commissioned a $15 million (N120billion) 10-megawatts solar project; Family Homes at Darmanawa Royal City; Dala Inland Dry Port and; 41-terabyte National tier-4 Data Center in Kano.
He arrived at exactly 10:32 a.m., accompanied by some of his cabinet members.
He was received by the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje and the minister of Transportation, Jaji Sambo, and the Managing Director of the Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu.
Ganduje had earlier told the president the government of the state could not guarantee his safety because of the discontents among residents over the deadline over the new naira notes. However, on Sunday morning, after the governor of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele visited the president and announced the extension, Ganduje visited the president in Daura and said the coast was clear for the visit.
It is not however, clear if the pelting of the president’s convoy was connected with the anger of the people.
