How I established N30 restaurant in Kano’

Prior to the pronouncement by the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono that with thirty naira (N30), one can feed himself in Kano state, Alhaji Haruna Engineer was a radio and television repairer conducting his business along Layin Kuka in Sani Mai-Nagge quarters, Gwale local government area of Kano state.

But few days after the minister’s controversial pronouncement that generated serious debate among Nigerians, the popular technician decided to establish a restaurant where a plate of food would be sold at the cost of N30 only.

Engineer told Chronicle that the idea of establishing the N30 restaurant was conceived by his wife, Malama Sadiya Sa’id, who told him that in their family house they sold N20 worth of food to people.

He said, “the whole thing started like a joke between my wife and I. We were discussing about the minister’s pronouncement after listening to comments by the people on the issue over the radio. Then my wife said the minister was right because in their family house they sold a plate of rice and beans for N20.

“She did not stop at that, she further advised me that if I can get some money we can try it as a business. Initially, I did not believe her until after she made some calculations and came up with an idea on how we can prepare a plate of rice and beans or Garri with grounded groundnut cake at the cost of less than N30. It was at this point that I believed her and agreed to start the business as trial.”

He recalled that they started with a capital of N450 which they bought a measure of Garri at the cost N250, vegetable oil N50 and grounded groundnut cake (Kuli-Kuli) N100, Ginger N20, Maggi N20 and Salt N10, making a total of N450, adding that at the end of the day they realized N700, therefore making a gain of N250.

He said later they introduced rice and beans which they also sold a plate at N30, saying although the profit was not much but at least they were making some gains out of the business and at the time helping many people from the less privileged families.

He said: “Presently, we are preparing 10 measures of rice, five measures of beans and 10 measures of Garri every day. We usually start selling at 11am and close by 8pm daily. As at now we have a capital of more than N300,000 because some people have donated some cash to me after I started the business.

“I have also acquired a certificate from Kano state government for the formalization of my restaurant, which I named N30 Restaurant and I am planning to open branches in all the 44 local government areas of the state. But for now, I have decided to open branches in Mandawari, Kasuwar Sharada and Janguza before I move to other local government areas.”

Tahir Nura Muhammad came all the way from Dorayi quarters to buy a N30 worth of plate of rice and beans from Malam Haruna. He told Chronicle that he bought four plates of rice and beans as well as a plate of Wasa-Wasa.

“It cost me only N120 for the four plates. When I heard about the man, I could not believe it until when I came here and saw for myself. It is a plate of rice and beans plus sachet water at the cost of N30,” he confirmed.

Malam Ibrahim Idris, popularly known as Baba Tangul, who bought three plates of Wasa-Wasa from the N30 Restaurant, also told Chronicle that he had been buying food from the restaurant since it was opened a month back.

He said, “I bought three plates; one for me and the others for my friends. This is a good initiative because it will help many people in this community. I can tell you that since the time this man opened this restaurant, many families have stopped cooking in their respective homes. They rather send their children to buy food here.

“I think government should come to the aid of this man because he is really helping less privileged families not only in this community but in the neighbouring communities. Government should assist the man with capital so that he can expand the business to help more people.”

Abba Iliyasu Yankifi is another customer that came to the restaurant to feed himself and he expressed happiness for the initiative, noting that it would greatly help people. He said before the establishment of the restaurant, he used to spend no less than N150 to buy a plate of rice and beans, but now with N30 he could get one.

“I am happy with this development because with N100, one can feed his three children. To be honest with you, if government and in fact wealthy individuals can come in and assist the man to expand this business it would have great impact on the lives of many people.”

Hajiya Halima Hassan, Malam Haruna’s mother, told our reporter that she was short of words to explain her gratitude to God for making her son to come up with an initiative that is greatly helping the less privileged.

“I am very happy with this initiative. It is something worth celebrating. I hope government will assist my son to fulfil his dream of expanding the business to the 44 local government areas. Although, he is not gaining much from the business, but the smile he is putting on the faces of many people through the business is something worth cerebrating,” she concluded.