In a powerful display of unity, more than 4,000 old students of Federal Government Colleges have appended their signatures to a formal petition rejecting a controversial land swap deal at the Federal Government College (FGC) Kano, setting the stage for a coordinated awareness walk across three Nigerian cities.
The petition, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education, has become the rallying point for alumni from all 104 Federal Unity Colleges, who are demanding an immediate halt to what they describe as an “opaque and dangerous” public-private partnership arrangement.
According to documents obtained by our correspondent, the proposed deal would swap approximately 30 hectares of FGC Kano’s land—valued by alumni at over N36 billion—for N8.5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, including classrooms, hostels, and a health centre.
The petition, which has now crossed the 4,000-signature threshold, accuses the government of failing to carry out due diligence or consult key stakeholders before approving the agreement with Pluck Global Construction Company.
“These signatures represent the collective voice of thousands of Nigerians who believe that our Unity Schools are not bargaining chips,” said Shoyinka Shodunke, Global President of the FGC Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA). “We have invested our hearts, our resources, and our futures into these institutions. To see even an inch of our land swapped without our consent is an affront to everything we stand for.”
Shodunke, speaking exclusively to our reporter, revealed that alumni have already established a foundation and plan to launch a N5 billion development fund in June 2026 as a credible alternative to the government’s proposal.
“We are not just opposing; we are offering solutions,” he said. “But the government must first respect our voice. Over 4,000 signatures is not a small number. It is a movement.”
The petition details several grievances: lack of transparency in the bidding process, failure to consult the school’s board of governors or alumni associations, and the potential security risks of introducing a mixed-use commercial and residential estate adjacent to a secondary school.
Armed with the petition, alumni have concluded plans to embark on an awareness walk on Saturday, May 9, in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. Organisers expect thousands to turn out in each city, carrying copies of the petition and demanding an audience with government officials.
In Lagos, protesters will gather at the Eko Atlantic city before marching to the Muri Okunola Park VI. In Abuja, the walk will culminate at the Eagle Square , where the petition will be formally submitted. In Kano, alumni will assemble near the school premises before heading to the Korota Park/Jubilee Line.
