The previous government of Niger state led by former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu sold the tourists sites of zuma rock, Gurara Water Falls and Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre to cronies and family members, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, has said.

The commissioner stated this yesterday in an interview with our correspondent in Minna, insisting that all the land around Zuma rock had been sold to government cronies before the inception of the APC-led administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
He said the tourists sites were leased out for life to beneficiaries on faulty agreement of operate-and-own permanently instead of the legal operate-and-transfer agreement known to law.
He said government had, however, started the process of revoking all the transactions concerning the tourist sites with a view to acquiring them back to the state in the overriding interest of the public.

He said: “It is pathetic to say that the land around Zuma rock has been acquired by the previous government officials and cronies. The only thing that is left there is the rock and it is very bad. The Gurara Water Falls that is supposed to be generating income to government has also been sold out by the former governor, Babangida Aliyu. As you know, many tourists visit the fall from across the country and Abuja at weekends. If we develop such tourist attraction, it will generate revenue for the state. But the Gurara falls has been leased out permanently for life.

The system we met on ground was to develop and own instead of develop and transfer. You cannot take the commonwealth of the state and give to one family or one person. The popular Ladi Kwali pottery centre has been sold also.”
He said the transactions were contrary to Land Use Decree, adding that government would ensure adequate security at all tourists’ sites in the state for protection of tourists.