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By Audu Haruna J.

There are so many simple ways through which each and every individual can take very good care of himself. In fact, there is no one to take good care of you, more than you. These easy procedures can vary, to some extent, between ladies and gentlemen, this is probably due to their biological and physical composition. Therefore, let us see these tactics for men, and for women.

● Care of the Genitals – For Men
Change your boxers frequently. Instead of sniffing it to know if it is still suitable for reuse simply have a ‘1 boxer a day’ policy. Let me further explain why you shouldn’t reuse boxers. You will recall the previous write up I did on understanding body odours. The pubic area has an abundance of apocrine glands that produce sweat rich in substances suitable for use by microorganisms. There is therefore more microorganism-sweat interaction in the pubic area (and armpits) than any other part of the body making them the most prone to bad smell. These microorganisms are also collected by your boxers. When you have your bath, you wash them off your genital area. But when you reuse the boxers of yesterday, rather than start afresh, you simply reintroduce those populations stuck on the boxers back into the genital area. Thus people who reuse boxers are more likely to have a smelly pubic area.

●Shave your pubic areas when due.
You would wonder why anyone will neglect his most prized organ to be overgrown by ‘bushes’. Not only will you sweat more, you simply create a good environment for microbial ‘wildlife’ to thrive (pardon my sarcasm). Shave the pubic hairs when they are dyed and do it properly. Some men don’t know how to shave down there. They only shave off the visible/frontal part alone. You should include the hairs on the scrotal sack, that hidden crevice where the scrotum meets your thigh, and the stretch all the way to the anus. These hidden places are even the reservoirs of genital smells. A person may shave regularly but these parts he hasn’t touched in nearly a year. Please be thorough. This may not be related, but your pregnant wife in the last trimester may need your help with shaving because the bulging stomach may make it difficult for her to do it herself unless you don’t mind someone else doing it for her in the labour ward.

●Try to keep the genital area dry, don’t leave it damp. Dry yourself properly after having your bath before wearing your boxers (men know how impatient they can be about this especially when late for work). Due to the impact of water activity on microbial growth, a moist genital area makes life conducive for bacteria and fungi to thrive. The most common infection that results from a damp genital area is Tinea cruris (Jock itch) which causes an itchy, smelly and sometimes reddish ring-shaped rash on the genitals. If you notice this increases your hygiene in the genital area, avoid undies unless it becomes necessary (for instance go boxer less while at home) and seek medical assistance for an antifungal prescription.

So, if you don’t shave regularly and properly, don’t change your boxers frequently, and still keep a damp genital area, I can not begin to imagine how you smell down there. You can do better! May I add that it will be cruel for someone like you to demand oral sex from your wife!

●Avoid Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) as much as you can. Abstain from random sexcapades and stick to your wife. Use condoms if you insist (at least to protect your innocent wife at home). However, know that condoms do not protect you from all STIs.

For Women

It is important that as a woman you have a female who is a health professional with whom you can easily discuss changes in your body and get the right advice. This could be a friend, relative, acquaintance or even a social media personality you follow. You need the right information as there is a lot of misinformation out there.

● You need twice as much, all that has been said above about men. Biologically you are more ‘delicate’ and need more ‘maintenance’ than men. If men are Nokia -cheap and rugged, women are like Samsung – expensive and fragile, to be handled with care.

●The vagina is self-cleansing. You don’t need yoni pearls and those other ‘vagina cleansers’ out there whatever the claim of miracles. If you notice ‘abnormal’ changes in the smell and discharge from your genitals consult your Doctor.

●White and 100% cotton underwear is what is recommended, for proper aeration of the genitals and to reduce the chance of trapping microbes. Nylon, acetate and other kinds of underwear made from synthetic (man-made) materials make you prone to irritation. They may be sexier but not necessarily ideal.

●Insertions, especially when done for masturbation (making it frequent) makes you prone to infection.

●Use mild soaps only to wash the (outer) genital area to avoid irritation.

●Do not abuse antibiotics as this may upset the balance of beneficial bacteria (LAB) in your vagina allowing for pathogens to colonise the area.

●Follow female health professionals on social media for more health tips (you may tag and appreciate some you know doing a wonderful job).

‘Dirty’ and ‘woman’ are two words that should never go together for it will be a sight for sore eyes.

Audu Haruna J. is a lecturer from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Kaduna State University, Nigeria. He can be reached via:
harun1789@yahoo.com

By Aminu Adamu Naganye

Kano State Fire Service said fire incidences have killed 14 people and destroyed properties worth over 17 million Naira in the month of May in the State.

This is contained in a statement of monthly of activities of the service made available to journalists in Kano Wednesday by the Service Public Relations Officer, PFS Saminu Abdullahi.

The statement added that 112 people were rescued at different locations by the officers of the Service.

PFS Abdullahi further revealed that People’s properties worth over 52 million naira were saved.

The statement reads in part: “State Fire Service received emergency calls from our twenty seven 27 fire stations across the State in the month under review. We received 59 fire calls, 74 rescue calls and 19 false alarms.

“Estimated properties destroyed by the fire :#17,730,000.00k; estimated properties saved# 52,080,000.00k; the total number of deaths in the month of May we registered 14 lives were lost.

“The number of people that we successfully saved from different incidences 112 people.”

Meanwhile, PFS Abdullahi further said 20 animals were burnt to death while three people were hospitalised in Unguwar Gyartai community of Kunchi Local Government Area of Kano State on Tuesday.

The PRO noted that 20 other people were rescued while eight local food storage (silos) were burnt to ashes in the inferno.

He said Firemen from nearby Bichi Fire Station were mobilised were they saved numerous animals and houses adjacent to the scene of the fire incident.

“Twenty (20) sheep’s and goats burnt to death, and one (1) sheep, one (1) goat were rescued…eight (8) local food storage (Rumbu) well alight.

“While fire escalated to one ground floor of about 200 X 200ft used as a dwelling house with four (4) rooms involved.”

“With good effort of our men, the fire became under control, and successfully saved Twenty (20) rooms, Two (2) local food storage, and forty (40) domestic animals from the fire and control the spreading of fire to the near by structures.”

PFS Abdullahi therefore called on the general public to always abide by the fire safety guidelines to save lives and properties.

By Muhammad Aminu

A Nigerian based agro-allied company, Silvex International, in partnership with a UK and US based Kingston Organic and Regen Farm have trained 220 farmers from Kano and Jigawa States on climate smart agriculture in Ajingi Local Government Area of Kano State.

At least 30 field officers were equally trained in the programme.

This was made known in a statement by the Vice President-Nigeria Operations, Kingston Organic PLC, Sunusi Bature.

Bature said that the programme is part of the Silvex’s preparation for the full scale implementation of this new innovation of producing organic foods in Nigeria.

The training conducted in Ajingi Local Government with 220 farmers and 30 field coordinators from Kano and Jigawa States focused basic concept of the regenerative agriculture, digital platform for farmers and contract farming.

The statement reads: “The farmers were sensitized on the techniques involved in producing organic food items with a priority given to hibiscus, sesame seed and groundnut. The participants are expected to step down the training to other farmers across the two states of Kano and Jigawa.”

“Silvex International Limited with the support from the British FCDO LINKS Project has already enrolled thirty thousand (30,000) farmers in its digital platform for the regenerative and climate smart agriculture in Kano and Jigawa states and it’s expected to onboard up to one hundred thousand farmers by the end of 2022.”

“The digital platform gives access to real time and verifiable data on the farmers and their activities at the farm, which include farm size, socio-economic profile, weather condition, date of planting, projected date of harvest and expected yield.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

An investigation by the United Kingdom media regulatory agency, Ofcom, has shown that women are more prone to online attacks than men. 

According to the study, women are wearier of their online presence and prone to discriminatory, hateful and trolling content. They also feel less able to have a voice and share opinions online than their male counterpart. 

Ofcom then calls for technology firms that build sites and apps used by millions of people in the UK to act and make online space safer for women and girls.

Also, according to the study, women from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be affected by their painful online experiences. 

“The message from women who go online is loud and clear. They are less confident about their personal online safety, and feel the negative effects of harmful content like trolling more deeply.

“We urge tech companies to take women’s online safety concerns seriously and place people’s safety at the heart of their services. That includes listening to feedback from users when they design their services and the algorithms that serve up content,” says Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive.

By Aisha Musa Auyo

Allah created marriage for lifelong pleasure and happiness. Therefore, beyond any other human relationship, marriage has the potential to make us happier. But there is a price to this happiness, which is CHARACTER. 

Marriage tests our character in every way. It tests our patience, work ethic, willingness to forgive, sensitivity to others, tolerance for those different from us, cooperation ability, endurance, and humility. Marriage is simply the biggest character test in life.

These tests integrate into our demeanour and give us a certain level of understanding, patience and maturity, and willingness to forgive. Moreover, it opens our eyes to the reality of life that unconditional love is exclusively for parents and children.

One needs to work more on his character, temperament, and personality to be able to live peacefully with others. Emotional intelligence plays a greater role in the relationship than anything else.

For most new couples, marriage was like a trip to the proverbial woodshed for the first several years. They were selfish, insensitive, angry and chauvinistic. After the first few years, many spouses were convinced that they had made a mistake in marrying their mate and that they were the cause of their misery.

But after lots of patience and endurance, when they look back at those times, they will realise that all the negatives that happened are crucial in forming their character. Many couples admit that they almost didn’t make it. They almost give up, but such circumstances forced them to decide to change and become more like Allah wants them to be… (patient, prayerful, selfless, understanding, and forgiving).

As a partner, know that your marriage will take a significant step forward every time you make a positive character change. Your spouse also will make positive character choices that will benefit your relationship, and you will have a great marriage, inshaAllah. It won’t be perfect, but you will be happier, contented, and at peace than ever before and will be glad to be committed to the lifelong journey.

Know that before marriage makes you happy, it will make you grow.

Aisha Musa Auyo is a Doctorate researcher in Educational Psychology. A mother of three, Aisha is a homemaker, caterer and parenting/relationship coach.

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Occasioned by the continuous attacks being carried out by the terrorists across various lengths and breadths of the world (especially in Middle East and Africa), which poses significant threat to the international peace and security and continuous harmony, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) lately converged in Marrakesh, Morocco and brainstormed on the roadmap for stemming the rising tides of terrorism.

The parley, held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 was co-chaired by the Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and the United State Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.

As a result of threat due to ever-increasing expansion of terrorists and their nefarious activities, the US deemed it necessary to announce on September 10, 2014, the formation of a broad international coalition to defeat the ISIS. Members of the coalition comprised 85 states and other host of international organizations who joined to offer their quotas of contribution towards dousing the tensions.

Among other mandates, the coalition is also aimed at protecting member states against any form of terror attacks and equally provide humanitarian supports to unavoidably affected nations.

This time around, the meeting which was held for the first time in the African continent, officials from member states and a handful of organizations, including the Arab League, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, and Interpol attended the ministerial roundtable discussion for a move against ISIS.

For Nigeria, the powerful delegation included State Minister of Foreign Affairs…. and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd)

It can be recalled that in early February 2022, NSA Monguno was in London where he engaged with his United Kingdom counterpart on security, Stephen Lovegrove in a dialogue bordering on a range of issues including Counter-Terrorism, Civilian Policing and Human Rights.

At the event, participants reaffirmed their shared determination to continue the fight against Daesh/ISIS through both military and civilian-led efforts contributing to the enduring defeat of the terrorist group.

They emphasized the protection of civilians as a priority and affirmed that international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions, must be upheld under all circumstances.

As noted in UN Security Council Resolution 2170, “terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States.

Meanwhile, Africa’s issues were not to be underscored at the parley as underlying causes of insecurity in the continent were also stressed at the event. The Coalition reiterated that any lasting solution to halting the spread of ISIS in Africa would rely primarily on national authorities, as well as sub-regional and regional efforts and initiatives that acknowledge and address the political and economic drivers of conflict.

In addition, the Ministers noted with concern the proliferation of non-State actors, including separatist movements, and the deployment in Africa of private military companies that generate destabilization and further vulnerability of African states and that ultimately favors Daesh/ISIS and other terrorist and violent extremist organizations.

The Ministers also recalled that the Defeat Daesh/ISIS Coalition will continue to be a civilian-driven effort by, with, and through African members, in line with the principles of national ownership, and in accordance with the specific needs of African member states.

Again, the Ministers reiterated the importance of allocating adequate resources to sustain Coalition and legitimate partner forces’ efforts. Civilian-led efforts, including prevention, stabilization, countering terrorist financing, counter narratives and foreign terrorist fighter prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration are increasingly necessary to achieve the lasting defeat of Daesh/ISIS.

Therefore, Nigeria’s participation in the 2022 Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS was an opportunity to compare notes and share knowledge, as well as expand network on strategies to minimise or eradicate national, sub-regional and regional threats posed by the activities of terrorist groups and violent extremists.

It can be remembered that, at the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria and the United States co-chaired a virtual meeting of the same event in November 2020, where Nigeria’s position on the global coalition was firmly emphasized.

Nigeria, through the Counter-Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), highlighted, among other issues, that the challenges of global terrorism had negatively impacted virtually every facet of human endeavour, including national security, the economy, polity, environment and the lives and livelihoods of people, as apparent in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and parts of the North-East of the country.

Thus, the need to suppress the activities of criminal elements is a function of multinational societies as whole and other security apparatus.

The U.S. emphasizes that there is a role for every country to play in degrading and defeating ISIS. To that effect, some partners are contributing to the military effort, by providing arms, equipment, training, or advice. These partners include countries in Europe and in the Middle East region that are contributing to the air campaign against ISIS targets.

International contributions, however, are not solely or even primarily military contributions. The effort to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIS will require reinforcing multiple lines of effort, including preventing the flow of funds and fighters to ISIS, and exposing its true nature.

At the birth of the Coalition, five mutually reinforcing lines of effort to degrade and defeat ISIS were put forth at an early September 2014 meeting with NATO counterparts.

These lines of effort include; Providing military support to the partners; Impeding the flow of foreign fighters; Stopping financing and funding; Addressing humanitarian crises in the region; and Exposing true nature of the terrorists’ syndicates.

Nevertheless, with this Nigeria’s strong statement at the just concluded ministerial meetings, it apparently solidifies the country’s effort and commitment to maintaining national, regional and sub-regional peace and security in Africa.

 Mukhtar wrote from Kano via ymukhtar944@gmail.com

By Muhammad Sabiu

A Nigeria Customs Service post in Mil Takwas hamlet, a few kilometres from Katsina town, was ambushed by a group of gunmen known locally as bandits.

The attack took place around 1 a.m. on Monday, according to multiple sources and the Nigerian Customs Service in Katsina.

The criminals approached the checkpoint on motorcycles, according to Shamsu Magama, a resident of Magama Jibia.

They arrived from the Bugaje village forest and halted a commercial vehicle on its way to Jibia. On the spot, the driver was murdered. He claimed that after that, they rode their motorcycles towards Mil Takwas.

Another community member claimed that the customs officers were attacked because the bandits figured that if they went to the hamlet without chasing the Customs officials away, they would be able to repel the onslaught.

He claimed that four customs vehicles had been set ablaze.

Katsina is one of the northwestern states brutally hit by the criminal activities of the bandits operating in the region.

By Sulaiman Maijama’a

This is a complex piece to write. How can anyone following my writings from the start of the Bala Mohammed’s led-administration not submit that I have been a hailer of this government? In 2020, to celebrate Gov. Bala’s first anniversary in office, I dedicated a fifteen-paragraph piece titled, “Gov. Bala @365 day: Journey so far”, in which I dwelled much on the governor’s giant strides, despite inheriting a failed government.

In his second year, it was a thirty-five-paragraph piece I wrote titled, “Two years under review: Bauchi State wears a new face”. These are apart from the weekly piece I used to write, which, if aggregated, would produce a voluminous book—all in an attempt to unveil the achievements and areas of strength of this government. 

This year as the governor marks his three years in office, it should be a time for sober reflection and critical thinking on the underperformed areas, or to put it more appropriately, areas more need to be done.

I feel I will not be fair to the governor if I don’t help him embark on self-assessment and self-criticism to increase his speed.

“Verily, political power is a vicegerency from Allah and a stewardship from God’s Apostle”, says Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdulkarim (as quoted in “Principles of Leadership”). Caliph Muhammad Bello is quoted in “Usul al-Siyasa” to have said, “be informed, my brother, that one of the most serious misfortunes that may befall a servant of Allah is to be a leader for the consequences of having to render a full account of the office.” On this note, leaders at all levels need to be reminded of the responsibilities they are saddled with.

There is no iota of doubt that, under the leadership of Senator Bala Muhammad, Bauchi State has become the Ameerah among its sisters in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development. Bala Mohammed has actualised a gleaming new city. Suppose one is to aggregate the number of infrastructural projects so far executed in the state and divide them by the number of days within three years (1095 days). In that case, they will discover that no single day passed on without a project since Bala Mohammed assumed responsibility as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State.

However, beyond physical projects, have other sectors not been forgotten? Has education received the priority it is worth?  Someone will say that His Excellency has built new model schools and upgraded and renovated many. Yes, sure, I cited them many times as achievements. But beyond the surface, what about the teachers’ welfare, salaries, and allowances? To the best of my knowledge, since His Excellency came in, no single teacher in Bauchi State has been promoted. More importantly, we do not have a single strategic policy for improving the standard of education. These can defeat the aim of the polished model schools.

Let me remind His Excellency that during the previous administration of Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, he used to have a Special Adviser on Students’ Affairs, the position Governor Bala is yet to appoint, despite its importance. It seems ironic that governor Bala has SA for unmarried women but does not have one for students. Maybe the absence of this position is the reason for the tribulation befalling the indigene students of Bauchi State because they do not have anyone, appointed apart from a commissioner, to stand for them and to speak their voices.

Governor Bala is passionate about quality education because appointing Dr Aliyu Tilde as Commissioner for Education indicates that. But I don’t know the wisdom behind the termination of the sponsorship of 200 students of Malikiyya College of Health whose sponsorship was offered by the previous administration. Some of them had to give up schooling for a lack of financial capacity.

In the same vein, international scholarship, which is obtainable in sister stateslike Kano (where super-intelligent students are sponsored to study abroad), has been terminated. The local scholarship was paid only once and partially disbursed to only a few students whose institutions are in Bauchi State. Similarly, I don’t know if His Excellency is aware that the medical bond given to medical students as stipends by the previous administration has been disrupted, despite the challenges of the health sector. As the saying goes, “Health is wealth” and “education is the backbone of every development”. These students are an asset to our society. Thus, however much is invested in them will eventually payback. His Excellency needs to ponder on this.

On the issue of salaries, there still exists a problem. Not only that, people worry why despite death, retirement and a record of no employment, there has been an exponential rise in the Bauchi State wage bill from N4.5 billion to N7billion?  I’m not unaware of the fact that to address the challenges on the issue, the governor, on Thursday, September 10th, 2020, hosted a Media Parley with civil servants, labour leaders, government officials, elder statesmen, stakeholders and the media where massive corruption in the system was exposed. But recommendations were made by the financial consulting firm, DYNATECH Solutions Limited, contracted by the state government, but nothing seems to be improving. Some civil servants still spend months without a salary. They are suffocating.

Some people tell the governor that no government is without fault; every government comes with its shortcoming. Frankly, in Bauchi State, it comes with any flaws but not issues of salaries because Bauchi is a civil servants state. We like His Excellency, but we fear his opponents will use this to their advantage and campaign against him.

On the other hand, business people in the state have also been registering their discontent. His Excellency may have forgotten that during his campaign at Central Market, Bauchi, he promised that, if elected, he would inject into the annual budget,  Five Hundred Million Naira (500 000 000) earmarked as a loan to business people in the state. I believe this will be a good initiative and will help improve business. But, alas, three years have gone, and it is yet to be actualised. 

Similarly, His Excellency should begin to see to the welfare of his people, especially politicians who had made sacrifices to ensure that he comes on board. Honestly, many of them are not better than those in opposition party, despite their contributions and closeness to this government. These people may not summon the courage to tell the governor, but they open up when you speak to them off the record. Therefore, you cannot accuse them of anticipating a payoff from the government they brought in. Let me borrow Mahmud Jega’s words: to accuse a politician of expecting something in return from the government they supported and brought in is like accusing a person who attends prayers of expecting to be rewarded in the hereafter.

There are many ways these people can be helped. Why not learn from Jigawa State by giving them small-small contracts? Say, Mr. “A” bring the furniture to SSG’s office, give him N500 000;  Mr. “B” provide fuel for official cars in the governor’s office, 1 000 000; Mr. “C” bring chemicals for washing toilets in the government house;  produce chairs in primary schools;  build bathroom among others. Don’t give them a contract above N5 Million. They will still appreciate and be contented. With this, money will be circulating among people, thereby increasing the welfare of all and sundry. Being a staunch supporter of this government, I don’t want to believe that the contract is for “family and friends”, a slogan this administration is taunted with. 

Finally, I commiserate with the governor on his defeat in the recent PDP Presidential Primary Election. Keep the dream alive; the future holds a lot. We still need him as the executive governor of our dear state. One year is enough for him to remedy the observations mentioned above, which I raised out of concern.

My best wishes.

Maijama’a, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.

By Murtala Uba Mohammed, PhD

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” Harvey S. Firestone

One interesting thing with the practice of Western democracy which we copied is the periodic nature of  elections taking place after every couple of years (four years in our case in Nigeria). The year  2023 is a milestone because for the first time Nigeria is practicing an uninterrupted democratic rule for 24 years after long years of military rule. The year is important not only because it is an election year; other issues such as campaigning, bargaining and renewal of (traditional) promises are fundamental. This is what happened in ideal democracies. However, to the contrary, ours is characterised by party swapping and decamping, often termed in Nigeria’s Glo-English as cross carpeting. It is the time whereby any politician wanting to be elected, re-elected, who had not gotten what he wanted or felt threatened in his political party, decamps to another party. Nigeria’s democracy is not ideology-base and therefore political parties have neither manifesto nor specific mission, therefore, politicians find it easier to jump from one party to another, and whoever moved to a new party has the audacity to paint and cast his old party in dark. It is fascinating to note that none of the key politicians in the country (particularly in Kano State) could not be found wanting if party swinging case is to be opened up. Therefore in my opinion, it is a waste of time to discuss whether one political party is better or worst than others in Nigeria. They are birds of the same feather, as Hausa people say “ba wani nagari a kashi, duk ɗoyi ne”.

In spite all these challenges and disappointment, the electorate still have something to hold unto, light is always found at the end of the tunnel; and no matter how dark the night is, the dawn is inevitable (komai nisan dare gari zai waye). The beauty of democracy is that people have the “right” to change their leaders through popular votes. The election time is the best decision period people ought to utilize to gain best leaders/representation for their community. However, it is only when a community has estimates of its problems that they can think of its commensurate solutions.

Here, it is important to highlight some of these problems in order to prepare the people’s mind on issues to bargain in order to vote for any candidate in the next election.

Although, Kano which is the most populated state in Nigeria, a commercial nerve centre of northern region and equally a port of entry into the West African Saharan Hinterland is not with its perculiar problems. The first and the most problematic of all the issues is that of poverty.

Kano gave birth to the most richest person in Africa and the most richest black person on earth today, but a large segment of its population are perpetually and incredibly poor.

The recent multidimensional poverty index (MDPI) for the state according to multidimensional poverty network report was 43.4%, putting the state as the 9th poorest states in the country. Based on poverty headcounts 2019, the state had 55.1% of the population living below poverty line. Agriculture which as the mainstay of the economy has been largely relegated and therefore majority of the farming is mainly subsistence. The state is one of the most richest in terms of surface water wealth – with almost 23 dams, but only a small percentage of state’s irrigation potential is being explored. In effect, the rural economy remained largely untapped. This necessitated the rural folks to send their children to cities, disguising as Qur’anic disciples and using the Almajiri system as a camouflage, while in reality they are lured by the urban Eldorado treasure, which unknown to them is a mirage.

Majority of these children engage in begging under the scorching sun on the Metropolis’ street, harassing and disturbing the peace of the city’s visitors. It is this influx of beggars (from the state’s rural areas and neighbours) into the city that qualifies it to be unilaterally declared as the Beggars Medina, and also, this uncontrollable influx continues to aggravate the level of crime in the metropolis. No thanks to extensive presence of illegal/informal areas in the metropolis that host and serve as a breeding ground for criminals. Urban Kano is therefore a security risk city, considering the recent cases of phone snatching and use of weapons to force people to surrender their properties in many parts of the metropolis.

In spite all its commercial history, long tradition of industrialism and market potentials due to large population; commercial activities in the city is not appreciating in recent time as expected.

Polices of the federal and the state government and a sheer negligence, since the return to fourth republic, are reducing the city’s trading status from that of a leading wholesaler to a mere retailing economy.

The modern industries (built during colonial and early post colonial period) had already started collapsing due to the dwindling power supply coupled with stiff open competition with imported goods and poor management by those that inherited the industries. The traditional cottage industries that Kano is known for such as tannery, dyeing, blacksmith and weaving are fast disappearing and approaching  extinction. Although, recently the city is witnessing proliferation of plazas and departmental stores, it is also experiencing fragmentation of stores and evolution of small containers and cage-like stalls. These small containers and stores are just pointer to the low economic status of the traders and indication that retailing economy has taken over with higher preference by the city dwellers.

Another developmental challenge which the state faces is the notorious on-street trading. People turn road shoulders and pavements into trading shops in and around all metropolitan markets, the worst case is that along Murtala Mohammed Hospital in the Old City. The implication of this, among other issues, is its effect on worsening the traffic congestion, causes road accidents, distorts the aesthetic nature of the road and disturbs the refuse management.

Population explosion is another challenge facing the state. Base on the population resources nexus, increase in population always comes with a corresponding demand for resources including physical (such as land for agriculture, housing and trade) and financial (for infrastructure, health and education). Kano State is both most populated state and one with highest population growth in the country. Currently the city had over 15 million residing population and an annul growth of rate 3.2%. 

With the highlighted issues above, it is clear that all is not well with our dear state. In order to govern the state properly, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis (SWOT) are worth considering. The state’s strengths include population, size, history and resource endowment; the weaknesses are in certain traditional and cultural beliefs, literacy and the people’s addiction to everything informal. The opportunities include markets, being a metropolitan to its negbourhood, availability of labour; and its threats include competition with other state’s, Kaduna State under El-Rufa’i in particular who is trying to utilize any slight opportunity, capitalizing on low farsightedness of recent leadership, low power supply as well as climate and environmental changes.

Therefore, to set a new development agenda for the state this time, the voters have to make good use of their rights to bargain for the best leadership. The leadership should no longer be a status-core ante, where people are chosen for their party or their allegiance and alignment with certain candidates or groups. Candidates should only be chosen for their articulated ideology and good blue print for the state. The candidates also, should be chosen mainly if they can make an excellent use of the Kano Opportunities and Strength to built the state and its people, cancelled the weaknesses and avert the threats which shield our progress and are currently ascending the state off the developmental larder. To do that, a patriotic, conscious group and individuals have to rise and set a new agenda with respect to agriculture, by making it better through developing the farmers’ capacity, making it more attractive through increase in yield and marketability, and by making it more permanent through irrigation. Agricultural value chain should be well understood and every level should be made robust to improve people’s economy. Education for development should be made a priority and skills and its utilization (not necessarily through lengthy education) must be on the top agenda. Rural development and rural infrastructure provision must be our focus.

Epoch had gone when our villages should be proud with who will make our village better and not who is our son. Kano City and Mega settlement (including all the emirates headquarters)  planning need to be revisited, redefined and total compliance should be ensured. A new administration to come should be one that will ensure power supply to the state in order to revive the industries and revolutionize the society for better.

The media has a role to play here. The over twenty conventional media that Kano State have need to help in this case by changing their focus, borrowing leaf from best global practices. The focus should be behavioral change, public education and enlightenment (rather than propaganda) and specialized programs (distinct from imitation). Patriotism and state’s/nation’s pride as well as good attitude should be inculcated especially among younger generations who should be seen as the future for the state.

Murtala Mohammed can be reached via: murtalamuhammadu@gmail.com. Mutala teaches Geography at Bayero University, Kano

By Muhammad Aminu

The senatorial candidate for Kano Central district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulsalam Abdulkarim, popularly known as A. A. Zaura, has vowed to put an end to the domination of Kano politics by the duo of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau.

A.A. Zaura emerged as the candidate of the APC for Kano in the just concluded primary election.

The APC candidate made the vow while addressing jpurnalists in Kano in his campaign office.

He said joining forces between the two former governors would only hasten their end politically.

“Shekarau and Kwankwaso, who are joining forces in the forthcoming General Elections, should know that their times are up politically and they should go and rest”, he said.

According to Zaura, “Before the so-called two political giants – Shekarau and Kwankwaso – wake up from their slumber, I will defeat them on the day of our election and this is a promise.”

“Although I humbly respect the dou of Ibrahim Shekarau and Kwankwaso as my former bosses and two former Kano State Governors, but that is by the way, because it will not stop me from beating them hands down on the day of the election.”

Zaura, who had wanted to contest governor of Kano State rescinded and opted for senator, would square it up with the incumbent Senator and former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

“Before, I was facing the entire Kano but now I’m facing only 15 Local Government Areas, so the likes of Shekarau and Kwankwaso should know that their political era is over. They should go and rest.”

He said that his emergence as the candidate of the APC proved to his adversaries that their campaign of calumny against him did not work.

“Despite what they did to me, I’m extending my hands of cooperation to them. They should come and join the winning train because ours is the winning team God’s willing.

Commenting on the APC’s zoning of the president, Zaura said despite his loyalty to Tinubu, he would respect the ultimate decision of his party as a loyal party member.