The Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) has said it has withdrawn from the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) over the recognition of the Dala Chamber of Commerce, accusing the national body of violating its constitution.
KACCIMA President, Ambassador Usman Hassan Darma stated this, adding that the chamber took the decision because NACCIMA failed to follow due process before recognising the Dala Chamber.
Darma said KACCIMA was not opposed to the establishment of additional chambers in Kano State but insisted that constitutional procedures must be followed.
“We are not against having more chambers in Kano, but there must be a process. If the process is not followed, we believe NACCIMA is undermining us,” he said.
He said Article 5 of NACCIMA’s Memorandum of Association provides a procedure for admitting new chambers, including committee consideration, council deliberation and ratification at the annual general meeting.
“Dala Chamber has never followed that process. We believe the provisions of Article 5 have been violated,” he added.
Darma also alleged that KACCIMA had been sidelined despite being one of Nigeria’s oldest chambers of commerce. “We are adding value to NACCIMA, not the other way round,” he said.
He further alleged that more than N1.7 billion had been generated from certificates of origin without KACCIMA receiving its share, despite Kano’s significant export activities.
“We have not received one penny despite Kano being one of the country’s major export centres,” he fumed.
Responding, NACCIMA National Vice President, Dr. Ahmad Rabiu, rejected the allegations and maintained that the recognition of Dala Chamber complied with the association’s internal procedures.
He explained that NACCIMA president granted pre-emptive approval before the chamber was presented for ratification.
“The president of NACCIMA gave pre-emptive approval, and the chamber was later presented for full ratification,” he said.
According to him, Kano’s commercial strength justified the establishment of more chambers.
“Kano deserves more than 10 chambers of commerce because of its population and volume of business activities. KACCIMA remains the premier chamber and no new chamber can displace it,” Rabiu said.
He dismissed claims that he used his office to facilitate the registration of the Dala Chamber.
“I am not promoting any particular chamber. I am promoting a system where Kano’s business community is adequately served by more chambers of commerce,” he said.
Rabiu said members could belong to multiple chambers but could not simultaneously hold executive positions in more than one chamber.
He urged KACCIMA to utilise NACCIMA’s internal dispute resolution mechanism rather than withdraw from the association.
“There are internal processes for resolving disagreements and those processes should be allowed to run their course,” he added.
However, Darma maintained that KACCIMA’s decision was aimed at protecting the interests of the business community in Kano.
“We are doing this to protect the integrity of Kano and the business community. We will do everything possible to protect the interests of our people,” he said.