Tajo Uthman, Kano commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, has implored the federal government to provide compensation to the state over the cancellation of the annual durbar celebration.
Durbar is a festival held during Eid-el-Kabir and Eid-el-Fitri celebrations. It begins with prayers, followed by a parade of the emir and his entourage on horses.
Speaking on Sunday during the Sallah visit of Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, to Abba Yusuf, governor of the state, at the government house in Kano, Uthman said the durbar cancellation has led to significant economic losses.
“We thank Almighty God for sparing our lives and keeping us in good health to be here today to celebrate with the Emir of Kano, which is our very own tradition,” Uthman said.
“Since the coming of the white men, it has been the tradition for the Emir to pay Sallah homage to the governor in this house.
“As you know, we have about five major Sallah celebrations, and they are now part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage list.”
Uthman said the event, which draws both local and international tourists, has been a source of revenue to the state.
He noted that the repeated ban of the durbar has affected the state’s annual budget and has also led to huge financial setbacks.
“Because of this global recognition, people from around the world come to witness the celebrations. When they come, the money they spend becomes internally generated revenue for both the state and the local government,” he added.
“But with the cancellation of the durbar, Kano state and other northern states have been losing that revenue. That is why I’m calling for reparation to cover the gap in our budgets and offset the economic loss caused by the cancellation.
“The Durbar is a major source of revenue, and we must begin to apply to the federal government for compensation so we can recover from these losses.”
On March 28, the Kano police command announced the ban on all durbar activities during the 2025 Eid-el-Fitr festivities due to “security concerns” and the need for public order.
Ibrahim Bakori, Kano police commissioner, said the decision was based on intelligence reports which indicated potential threats linked to the event.
In 2024, the command also prohibited all durbar activities during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in bid “to ensure the safety of lives and properties”.
