Reminiscences with Alhaji Nasiru Ahli Isma’il
Alhaji Nasiru Ahli Isma’il is a renowned businessman in Kano State. He first ventured into block-making business, later to estate valuing, and finally, printing. He is the owner of Mainasara and Sons Group of Companies. In this interview, the 98-year-old Isma’il explained how he started business and how the Maitastsine crisis ended. From Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Richard P. Ngbokai, Tijjani Ibrahim, Barkaya Aliyu & Husna Bello, Kano
You are a renowned businessman; how did you start?
Before I ventured into block making, I was buying and selling plots of land and other landed properties, as well as renting and auctioneering. I still have my auctioneering license, which I collected from Ports Authority. It is still there in my office.
By the grace of God, I became famous in the area of blockmaking within a very short period of time because I was devoted to it. Initially, we were making our blocks manually, with mould and rammer, but I was not happy doing it that way. So during the Audu Bako regime, when Aminu Dantata was the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, I applied for a loan of 1,000pounds to purchase a blockmaking machine. My application was granted and I was given an invoice. Incidentally, Aminu Dantata had imported a blockmaking machine for his project of airport construction in Zaria. He was the one who constructed the first Zaria airport. When the machine came, his engineers said they would not use it because it would consume too much fuel. When I heard about it, I met him and asked him to sell it to me. He agreed at the cost of 1,000pounds. He collected the invoice and dashed me 100 pounds. Being the commissioner and having larger companies gave him the advantage to collect the loan easily.
Allah, in his infinite mercy, assisted me on my block business. One day, I invited Aminu Dantata, Umar Gumel, Magajin Garin Kazaure and Madaki Gauyama of Hadejia and we commissioned the Nasara Block Industry at Sabon Gari. I was the founding father of Mainasara Blocks. Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory advised me to register my company. He even suggested that it should bear Malam Mainasara, but I preferred to name it Mainasara and Sons Limited, I still have my certificate of registration. At that time we sold 4½”, 6” and 9” at the rate of 1½ kobo, 2½ kobo and 3 kobo, respectively.
We usually collected sand and cement on credit and paid back after sales. That was how we did it up to the time we got the machine from Dantata. Alhaji Sani Zango of Kofar Mata (may Allah have mercy on him) used to buy all his blocks from me. Sometimes we would exchange sand for blocks in the form of trade by barter.
We became very close friends with the then Governor Audu Bako. We respected each other. Sometimes he would leave his office to visit me in my office at Club Road. One day, as he came he met some engineers assembling our block machine, so he connected me to his son-in-law, Sale Jambo, with whom we went to Italy to purchase another blockmoulding machine that could produce 10 to 20 at a go. I bought a house along Middle Road, Sabon Gari. That’s where we are.
To what extent would you say the machine you imported from Italy boosted your block business?
When we returned from Italy with that machine, it boosted our production, to the extent that, by the grace of God, in the whole of Kano, there was no one more famous than Mainasara Blocks. Apart from Mainasara, there was Mahmoon, then an Igbo man whose name I cannot recall now.
During the civil unrest, I was given about 24 houses belonging to Igbo people to take care of. I would collect their rents monthly, take my commission and hand their own to their caretakers. That was how it went till the time they felt it was safe for them to return to Kano and collect back their properties. Those who were into printing among them came back and continued with their businesses.
That of blocks was already mine because I purchased it. Among the printers, there was one along Church Road, close to where bicycles were sold at that time.
How did you get into printing
business?
Some of the Igbo people who ran away during the civil war had printing presses. I was tasked to look after their shops, and the owner of that printing press did not return I used to pay N20 as rent to use the press. Before then I was not into anything like printing. When I got that one, Audu Bichi, the former governor’s printing secretary, guided me on how to do it. That was how I ventured into the printing business.
When I realised that it was a good business, I applied for a loan from the National Industrial Development Bank (NIDB). I collected that loan and purchased machinery and papers for printing. At that time, materials were scarce in Lagos. You had to deposit your money to book for it. Fortunately, I made some very good friends. One of them was the then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, one Abdulkadir from Jama’are in Bauchi State. He helped me to get a letter of credit without spending a kobo. I was given a licence by the government like any other person. I was given a store to stock my consignment, such that whosoever came to buy my goods would pay them and receive his goods, up to the time they had sales equal to my credit. Whatever was left afterwards was my profit. Luckily, at the time I collected my letter of credit there were no papers in Lagos and I imported complete three ships. As a result of that paper scarcity, customers began trooping in to buy from me. I was selling and at the same time using some for my printing works. I made a great fortune, and that was how I became an importer of papers. There was a
store you would marvel at if you saw the size, but with that money I collected the store and filled it with materials for exercise books and other printing materials.
The money I collected was not more than N500, 000, but I was able to purchase materials for exercise books and a four-colour printer, I am still using it in my press. Whatever colour you want we can print it for you, and I was known for it.
What were you printing when you started?
I began by printing the complete Qur’an, believed to be the manuscript of Malam Baballe of Tudun Yan’tandu (may Allah have mercy on him). It belonged to the late Sanusi Dantata (may Allah have mercy on him too). I met him and sought for his consent to print it, and he granted me the permission. That’s what we have been doing. But the paper for printing the Qur’an is so expensive now that we cannot afford it any more. Had it been we still have the papers we would not stop printing it because in Kano here, there is no copy of the Qur’an that is like the one written by Malam Baballe.
I started going to Lagos by myself to buy textile materials imported from India for sale in Kano, from where I earned my means of livelihood and took care of my family. After that, I ventured into building construction and got myself registered and started getting some contracts from the government and other prominent private individuals. The Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and many others patronized our services. At a point, I ran bankrupt and quit construction business.
In the then Bank of the North there were not many northerners. And we northerners were not exposed per se, and we did not know our rights. If you know your rights no one can trample upon you, I wasn’t alone; all their customers were seriously maltreated, putting undue pressure on us.
I bought a warehouse in Apapa, Lagos, at N600,000 , and suddenly, there was rumour that the Lagos State Government would confiscate properties belonging to non-indigenes, so I became very petrified and prayed to God to get someone that could buy my machines at good price. In that condition I was able to refurbish the store. I bought it from the UAC. One thing with the UAC was that if they wanted to sell their properties they would consider their workers first. The idea was to empower those workers.
I bought the store from UAC’s accountant-general at the rate of N600,000. When that rumour was stocking I was very disturbed and I went to the Emir of Kano, who was a friend to the chairman of UAC in Nigeria and told him that there was a store in Apapa which the UAC wanted to sell and I needed it. He laughed (may God grant him rest), wrote a letter and gave me, I went to Aliyu Gusau, who was my friend, and told him everything. Aliyu Gusau called the managing director of the property, known as Alagwaye and told him that “one of our friends wants the store you want to sell, send your representative to come and negotiate the value of the property with him.’’ As simple as that, they called the man. Earnest Shonekan and Aliyu Mohammad were there and they brought the invoice and asked if I were willing to give him something and I agreed. He gave the offer of N600,000 and it was approved, I gave him N300,000 cash and gave their managing director N100,000, and from there I took ownership of the warehouse. I spent about N200,000 to refurbish it and N400,000 on renovations. But I collected rent on that property, not less than N2 million.
When they started the rumour that northerners were going to be evicted from Lagos, I started praying to God to help me sell it at good value and God heard my prayers and I sold the warehouse at N23 million. They were to pay me cash, but I said they should pay into my account. After the payment was made, I settled the estate valuer. I settled part of my debt with the IDB and kept praying until God made a way for me through one contract and I settled the remaining part of the debt. I also had some debt in the Bank of the North. When Obasanjo took away the headquarters of the bank from Kano to Lagos, it crumbled.
I sold my property in Abuja and paid the debt in defiance to many pieces of advice from friends and family. I sold my property at Asokoro. Now the value of that property should be more than N1 billion. It was a very big house at Asokoro. From there I regained my freedom from debts and nobody disturbs me again. That very property was initially a farm house before I turned it to a residential building and fenced it. When I got broke I went to the Ministry of Urban Planning and Development and told them that I wanted to sell part of my land. They said they would plan it like a GRA, which they did and mapped out about 50 plots, which I sold to meet my needs. From there I got some amount and started a business. I have sold off all of the plots and I am okay. Today, as I am speaking to you I have properties that I rented.
What is the secret behind these successes?
Trust in God, believe in him and His messenger, Prophet Muhammad and his scripture, the holy Quran and your life will be better. If you believe and trust in God and his messenger and you don’t cheat or take advantage of anyone unduly, you will succeed. It is quite unfortunate that things have fallen apart now, such that the society is not at peace. Even in the families, children don’t listen to their parents. Over something you do not know, your child will cause you a big trouble. And somebody will just come to your house and take advantage of you, simply because of what your child has done. That is why I always advise parents to watch what their children do closely and scold them when they go wrong.
Up till today, my attention is on printing, I am just waiting for a big opportunity to go deep into it. Whatever you want to do, just have
a good purpose with a clean mind. Don’t cheat the people you are working with and you will prosper; the people working under you will also prosper.
Isyaku Umar Tofa was my boy. I groomed him into business and God has blessed him. He is doing excellently in his business. Up till date he respects me like his father and I respect him too. We met through my friend, the late Audu Bako, the former governor of Kano State.
During your time, northerners had a negative attitude towards western education; did you attend any western school before you ventured into business?
I didn’t go to a western school, but I have a school. If you go to my school now, you would find over 1,000 people. My parents and grandparents were Islamic teachers and scholars. We grew up going to Shehu Malam Tijjani Usmanu Barebari school (Islamic school). We never missed our daily prayers, and you also should be very careful with yours. Believe in God and He will be your guide. You may spend 50 years in sins and disbelief, but the moment you ask God for forgiveness, what you did in the past will be forgiven.
Can you remember some of the people you grew up with?
I had a lot of friends while growing up, but I cannot recall any of their names because it was a long time ago. Unfortunately, most of them have died. I think it is only me and Alhaji Aminu Dantata that are still alive. May Allah forgive their sins and grant them Aljannah Alfirdaus. I always pray to God to protect my family and bless people who have a close relationship with me, Don’t ever look down on those who love you. And we have all been warned not to look down on the poor. Give them what is due for them and respect them before God. If you find yourself in the position you are today, tomorrow might not be the same.
Apart from the late Audu Bako, who you said was your good friend, we also saw many pictures of the former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd) in your sitting room, what is your relationship with him?
General Babangida is my close friend. We still talk from time to time. I have never seen any president who is in love with Kano State like Babangida. We were not brought up together, but I believe he was sent to me by God. We met through mutual friends before he became president. And up to this time that I am speaking to you, we are still friends.
Where were you when the Maitatsine crisis began?
I was in Daurawa when the crisis of Muhammadu Marwa Maitatsine started. That man destroyed many lives. God saved us from him. My son, Umar, my daughter, Rabi, and others, were some of the people he took from me. My daughter, Rabi was born there. She spent her first 40 days as a baby inside Maitatsine’s house. He killed two of my children and one of my housekeepers. That was destined to happen. I can vividly remember that when Babangida was sent to Kano to fight Maitatsine, he sent some soldiers to clear the road for him. He came and met me in my current home. He came with Hamza Abdullahi and General Akilu (rtd) during the condolence. After the Asr prayer, his people finished their job and cleared Maitatsine’s people. God gave us the power to defeat them. My backyard was filled with poisonous burned arrows.
One of the three people I stayed with said he was not going to stay the night with us because he was really scared. But the fight was over.
Few Indians who worked for the Ministry of Housing came to Kano and requested to see me. They were very close to Goron Dutse on their way to my house when suddenly, they started seeing people coming from Mandawari to Goron Dutse. They also saw Maitatsine’s people matching towards them because he (Maitatsine) had ordered his people not to beat or stone any person. So the Indians came to me and condoled me and told me they saw a lot of people walking on the road. I was told they were Maitatsine’s people. At that time he had already been shot and he was seriously bleeding. They were about to leave the city when he fell on the ground and his disciples took him up and continued with their journey until they reached Rimingado town. They stayed there and laid his corpse and they prayed for him. One of his right hand man, who was called Turnuku, told the others that Malam was dead and everyone should go on his own. So everyone ran away.
How did your children fall into the hands of the Maitatsine group?
His people caught about 33 people at a time, moving them all like a herd. It was God’s will that they didn’t all die. It was a terrible experience.
During that incident, how many days did you spend here before you got back home?
I really cannot say, but I spent quite some days here before my family relocated. So I was here until everything died down. My wives lived in some houses behind before I finished building this place.
I can recall that while I was doing some work in this house, some members of Maitatsine were being arrested because they could be identified with some signs on some parts of their bodies, such as the neck, inside the armpit and other places. We have a duty to thank God because we saw things that were unimaginable.
you participate
Did politics?
in
No, politics is never in my mind. I don’t like it. But I liked the NEPU and NPC because Aminu Kano was a very close friend. He would come to my house and we would eat and joke. If he saw any cloth on me he liked, he would ask me to send it to him. But he never wore the clothes he asked me to give to him.
If you didn’t like politics, why did you get very close to a renowned politician like Aminu Kano?
We grew up together. He respected me and I also respected him. Our relationship was far from politics. He was rather my good friend.
As a successful businessman, what advice would you give to the younger generation?
Getting a job in this era is not as easy as someone may think. But there are many opportunities in business. If you are patient you would gradually excel in whatever business you choose.
In those days, there were various companies operating in Kano, but unfortunately, most of them have been shut down. How do you think such companies can be revived?
Well, until we find someone in government that is a true patriot, dedicated, honest and hardworking. If we can find people like Dangote, it would be amazing.
Unfortunately, people like him are not many.
You talked about the collapse of Bank of the North; what do you think was responsible for that?
Why would former President Olusegun Obasanjo move the bank from Kano to Lagos if he didn’t have a hidden agenda? That wasn’t fair in every respect. Maybe northerners at that time did not know their rights, or because they didn’t realise the consequences of his action.
Do you think northerners now know their rights?
Certainly, they have not come to their senses, maybe in the future. Most of the people in the region still don’t care about the future of the region or the younger generation. So we still have a long way to go.
What do you think should be done about this?
People should think for themselves. Presently, I am thinking of how to make profit.
What lesson do you expect our present leaders to learn from the administration ofAudu Bako?
Change can only be done from above. People at the top have to be good before those under them would follow; if not, everything will definitely fail.
Everything starts from home. If leaders at the higher level of government set an example, those at the lower level will certainly copy from them.
You witnessed how General Babangida defeated the Maitatsine group. What advice would you give to the present government on how to tackle Boko Haram?
This issue concerns people at the top. If it were up to us, they would have been completely wiped out. There should be a wake-up call in Maiduguri, Gusau and other places where thousands of innocent people are killed. People are taking laws into their hands. Our prayer is for God to give us a leader that is patriotic, honest and good; someone that would help us and our country to get out of this unfortunate situation. We need someone who will develop the country economically and otherwise.
Change can only be done from above. People at the top have to be good before those under them would follow; if not, everything will definitely fail.