Lebanon’s close ties with Kano for mutual benefit – Kwankwaso

From  Edoamaowo Udeme

Kano state government has expressed readiness to promote cooperation with the Lebanese government in the sectors of commerce and other areas of human and economic development.

This was made known by the director of press and public relations to the state government, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, in a press release issued at the weekend.

According to the statement, “The state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, while receiving the Consul, Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Khalil A. Muselman who visited him at the Government House, noted hat since the early 19th century, Lebanese businessmen have been playing important roles in the economy of the state and the nation as a whole and his administration will welcome more of their contribution in moving the state to the next level of development”.

 “Kano has huge human and material potentials for development and we will welcome support from your government and any other friendly countries toward improving the economy of our state and making life better for our citizens”, the governor added

 On his part, the Charge de Affairs in the Lebanese Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Khalil A. Muselman said his was in the state to commiserate with the people on the demise of the erstwhile Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and to congratulate the new Emir,  Malam Muhammad Sunusi II.

The envoy also congratulated the people of Kano, over what he described as “the great achievements brought to the state by the administration of Governor Kwankwaso” in the areas of education, rods and electricity among others, which he noted, are important of the economic development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“The bi-lateral relation between the two countries dates back to 1885 when Ilyas Khoury, immigrated to Nigeria on a business adventure; while in 1912, Seman Naoum became the first Lebanese to permanently settle in Kano city”.

“Since then, the population of the Lebanese community, especially in Kano, had significantly increased, with many of them graduating from ordinary traders in agricultural products and European good to being key players in the industrial sector, a move that significantly transformed the economy of the ancient commercial city of Northern Nigeria”, it added.