Protesters have vandalized and looted the newly constructed Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Industrial Park in Kano, which was slated for commissioning next week.
The facility, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center, was attacked by demonstrators participating in a nationwide youth-led protest against economic hardship that began on Thursday.
The protests have turned violent in several locations, including Yobe, Lagos, Borno, Gombe, and Abuja, with police deploying tear gas against peaceful protesters.
In Kano, protesters made off with various items, including desktop computers, chairs, keyboards, and other appliances, after setting the ICT center ablaze.
According to Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, this incident will hinder progress and represents a significant setback.
“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.
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week.
“A slight setback for our journey to deepening our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of Naira down the drain.”
Operatives of the police command in Kano have thwarted attempts by other youths to break into a grocery store.
The suspects reportedly attempted to force their way into the two-storey building housing Sadaraki stores on Zoo road.
The suspects had destroyed some windows of the building before the police intervened.
On Tuesday, a group in Kano led by Anas Adamu, said the protest in the state is organised by 13 civil society organisations (CSOs) operating under the Northern Chapter of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM).
He warned protesters not to carry weapons, harass people or loot property during the processions.
In Yobe, irate protesters have reportedly set mass transit buses ablaze.
