Local

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered an urgent investigation into reports of salary deductions, underpayment, and non-payment affecting civil servants. Describing the issue as a violation of workers’ rights, he vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

In a statement on Thursday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed the inauguration of a seven-member committee to audit the state’s payroll from October 2024 to February 2025. 

The committee, chaired by Commissioner for Rural & Community Development, Hon. Abdulkadir Abdussalam, has seven days to submit its findings.

Governor Yusuf assured civil servants of his administration’s commitment to transparency and timely salary payments, warning that anyone found guilty of payroll fraud would face legal action.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, inaugurated the committee on behalf of the governor.

By Uzair Adam 

Kano State Government has approved Friday, 28th February 2025, as the official date for the second-term vacation for all day and boarding public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.  

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, the Director of Public Enlightenment at the State Ministry of Education.  

According to the statement, “Parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, 28th February 2025.”  

It further clarified that “boarding school pupils and students are to resume on Sunday, 6th April 2025, while day students are to resume on Monday, 7th April 2025.”  

The statement also quoted the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urging parents and guardians to comply with the resumption dates.  

“I urge all parents and guardians to adhere strictly to the resumption dates, as any student who fails to comply will face appropriate disciplinary action,” said Makoda.  

The commissioner appreciated the cooperation and support given to the ministry and wished the students and pupils a successful and hitch-free Ramadan holiday.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A 400-level student of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Saidu Abdulkadir, 25, was fatally shot by a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.

The incident occurred around 11:06 a.m. when Abdulkadir, a Department of Agricultural Extension student, and motorcycle rider Abubakar Yusuf, 40, were stopped by CJTF personnel.

After allegedly failing to comply, one operative opened fire, injuring both.

Abdulkadir later died at Orthopedic Hospital, Katsina, while Yusuf is receiving treatment.

The Katsina State Police Command has launched an investigation and reinforced security in the area.

By Uzair Adam

A 65-year-old woman, Talatu Ali, has been abducted from the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Daily Reality gathered that the incident happened while she was waiting for a medical consultation at the facility.

Talatu was brought to the hospital on February 19, 2025, by her son, Nasiru Aliyu, and her cousin, Aliyu Garba.

However, while on the queue for consultation, they suddenly realized she was no longer there.

Efforts to locate her within the hospital premises were unsuccessful, leading the family to report the matter at the Dawanau Divisional Police Headquarters.

Two days later, on February 21, at around 7:00 a.m., Aliyu received a phone call from an unknown number informing him that the woman was in their custody.

The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the incident.

Although Kano has remained relatively peaceful compared to other states in the North West, cases of abductions continue to be recorded in various parts of the country despite ongoing efforts to curb the menace.

By Uzair Adam  

On Sunday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, distributed 61 cars and 1,137 motorcycles to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.  

The distribution, held at Meena Event Centre on Lugard Road near the Kano State Government House, was attended by key party stakeholders, including the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.  

The vehicles and motorcycles were allocated to party chairmen in the 44 local government areas and 484 wards of the state as part of efforts to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure.  

Speaking at the event, the Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, lauded Barau for consistently supporting the party since the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) took over the state in 2023. 

He emphasized that ahead of the 2027 elections, aspirants would be assessed based on their contributions to the party’s development.  

Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, expressed confidence in the APC’s resurgence, predicting that the NNPP would be defeated before 1 p.m. on election day in 2027.  

In his remarks, APC National Chairman Dr Ganduje commended Barau for the initiative, describing it as a step towards consolidating the party and improving the livelihoods of its members. 

He also highlighted the increasing defections from the NNPP to the APC, suggesting that the opposition party’s influence in Kano was waning.  

Senator Barau, while addressing the gathering, described the empowerment initiative as just the beginning of a broader program targeting various sectors, including youths, students, farmers, women, traders, and clerics. 

He reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the initiative and urged continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.  

He noted that Tinubu’s policies were beginning to yield positive results, citing the gradual reduction in fuel prices, stabilization of the Naira, and improvements in food prices.  

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We will empower all spheres of society. Let’s continue to support Mr. President for the success of his programs,” Barau said.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Four people, including three children, were burnt to death, while 10 others sustained injuries when a commercial Hummer bus caught fire in Gwaram, Jigawa State, on February 22, 2025. The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m., near the Government Girls Unity Secondary School.

The bus, a white Hummer with registration number ZAK 382 XA, was driven by 40-year-old Dalha Saleh from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State. The vehicle was carrying 44 passengers—25 adults and 19 children—from Zaki LGA in Bauchi State to Rabadi Village when the fire broke out.

Sources indicate that the fire originated from the bus’s exhaust system after a mattress tied to the back of the vehicle caught fire due to sparks from the exhaust.

The victims, all from Saldigal Village, Bauchi State, have been identified as Ziwaira Hassan, Fatima Hassan, Iyatale Hassan, and Halima Muhammad (10 years old). Ten other passengers were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital with varying degrees of burns. The remaining passengers escaped unharmed.

The charred remains of the victims will be released to their families for burial after medical examination.

In related news, the issue of reckless overloading of commercial vehicles continues to be a serious safety concern in the region. Buses and vans meant for passengers are often stuffed with goods meant for trailers, creating dangerous hazards on the roads. Despite numerous security and road safety checkpoints, many of these vehicles pass unchecked due to bribery, exacerbating the risks of road accidents.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police, and other security agencies have been criticized for their failure to effectively enforce regulations. The lack of proper oversight contributes to the deterioration of road infrastructure and increases the likelihood of deadly accidents. It also opens the door for criminal activities, such as terrorists smuggling weapons and fuel under the guise of commercial transport.

There is an urgent need for stronger enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, weight limits, and more thorough inspections at checkpoints to prevent further tragedies. The government must take decisive action to ensure that safety standards are upheld and that security personnel are empowered to carry out their duties without compromise.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Kano State Government has inaugurated a High-Powered Committee to profile and regulate Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and donor organizations operating within the state. The move aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the state’s development priorities.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruk Ibrahim, emphasized the crucial role of NGOs in sectors such as health, education, and governance. However, he noted growing concerns about unregulated activities, necessitating a structured oversight framework.

The committee has been mandated to profile all NGOs and donor organizations, investigate their funding sources, assess their activities, and recommend a regulatory framework. It has also been granted the authority to suspend or shut down any organization found engaging in suspicious or unauthorized activities. Additionally, it can escalate cases to security agencies for further investigation and prosecution if necessary.

The committee is chaired by Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, with Mallam Tijjani Auwal, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, serving as Vice Chairman. Other members include key government officials, security agencies, civil society representatives, and religious groups.

In his remarks, Waiya assured that the committee would carry out its mandate with diligence and fairness to ensure NGOs operate within legal and ethical boundaries while contributing to Kano’s development agenda.

The committee is expected to work closely with stakeholders to enhance transparency and accountability in the operations of NGOs and donor organizations in the state.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Popular Kannywood actor Mustapha Badamasi Nabraska has defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Barau Jibril, representing Kano North, announced the defection on social media, revealing that Nabraska visited his residence in Abuja, where he symbolically discarded his red cap—an emblem of the Kwankwasiyya Movement. Senator Ibrahim Lamido (Sokoto East) and Political Adviser Hon. Yusuf Tumfafi were also present to receive him.

Nabraska, known for his shifting political allegiances, previously worked under the APC-led government of former Kano governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. However, after the NNPP’s victory in the 2023 Kano governorship election, he switched sides, only to return to APC now.

The actor’s latest move has drawn mixed reactions. Many social media users mock his frequent party changes, suggesting they are motivated by personal gain rather than ideology.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A delegation led by Hon. Ibrahim Namadi, the state’s Commissioner of Transportation, recently embarked on a fact-finding mission to Lagos State. This initiative, endorsed by His Excellency Gov. Abba K. Yusuf, aims to learn from Lagos’s notable achievements in transportation.

The delegation comprised several key officials, including Hon. Aliyu Isa (Permanent Secretary), Bashir Ado Gaya (Director of Admin and General Services, Ministry of Transportation), Dr. Nura Ibrahim Hassan (Technical Advisor for Transport Policy and Planning), and Najeeb Mahmoud Abdussalam (Transport Specialist Consultant).

The team toured prominent facilities, including the Ikeja Bus Terminal, the Red Line Ikeja Station, and the Blue Line, to gain insights into their operations and management.

During the visit, Hon. Namadi praised Lagos State for its exemplary transportation system and expressed a strong desire to replicate similar successes in Kano, particularly through the establishment of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Hon. Namadi emphasised the importance of collaboration and pledged to work closely with the Lagos State government and the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LAMATA) to achieve this ambitious goal.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appointed Umar Farouk Ibrahim as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The appointment was announced in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Saturday.

Ibrahim, a seasoned administrator with over three decades of public service experience, will officially assume office on Monday, February 10, 2025. His selection is expected to strengthen the administrative framework of the current government and enhance policy implementation.

Throughout his career, Ibrahim has held key leadership positions, including serving as Permanent Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Political Affairs from 2001 to 2015. He also briefly acted as SSG in 2013 and 2014, reflecting the trust placed in him by past administrations.

Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, earned in 1985. He has also obtained several professional certificates that have further enriched his expertise in governance and administration.

Governor Yusuf expressed confidence in Ibrahim’s ability to contribute to the state’s development agenda, emphasizing the importance of experienced leadership in achieving sustainable progress.