Local

By Muhammad Aminu

Kano State Police Command has intercepted five hundred packets of drugs suspected to be tramadol tablets imported into the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer SP Abdullahi Kiyawa disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano, Monday, 1st August, 2022.

He said Abba Musa, 30, and Suleiman Danwawu, 29, all of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters have been apprehended in connection with the intercepted consignment.

According to him, the police “intercepted one Abba Musa, ‘m’, 30 years old, of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters Kano, driven an unregistered white coloured Honda Accord 2016 Model Motor Vehicle containing Five Hundred Packets of suspected Tramadol Tablets, valued Twenty Five Million Naira (N25,000,000:00) packed inside the Motor Vehicle boot.

“On investigation, the suspect confessed that the Motor Vehicle belonged to his friend, Sulaiman Danwawu, ‘m’, 29 years old, of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters Kano, and that Sulaiman directed him to hand over the Motor Vehicle to someone at ‘Yan Kaba Quarters Kano.

“Sulaiman was subsequently arrested. Sulaiman confessed that, the vehicle belonged to him, and that he transported the Tramadol Tablets from Onitsha, Anambra State with the intent to sell them in Kano.”

SP Kiyawa noted that the suspects have been moved to the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Narcotics Section for discreet investigation prior to subsequent necessary action.

By Hamisu Hassan

Terminus Modern Market Jos was closed down in 2002 after a mysterious inferno that engulfed the market in the middle of the night and destroyed more than 270 shops and warehouses with goods estimated in billions of Nairas. The market was a source of livelihoods to business operators, traders and companies within and outside the State. It was also a source of huge revenues to the Plateau State Government.

Recently, there’s memorandum of understanding between Ja’iz Bank and Plateau State Government to rebuild the market for the state at no cost to the State Government. It is very clear after exactly 20 years of closing the market, Plateau State Government either have no intention to rebuild it or have no resources to rebuild the market again. It’s unfortunate, saboteurs and haters have started appearing from obvious quarters to halt the government actions against rebuilding the market. To them, the market should not be repaired by Jaiz. This is ridiculous and amazing at the same time. But some questions which always come to my mind are, is the government really ready to strike the deal? Also, is the governor afraid of some powerful forces, to the extent that they have to agree before the work sees the light of the day?

Plateau State is one of the parasitic states in Nigeria that depends heavily on monthly federal interventions. It has no sources of revenue and no magic to earn more apart from the federal allocation. The pungent, acrid taste of any Plateau State Governor is either to pay wages at the end of the month and forgo infrastructures or engaged in infrastructures and forgo salaries. That’s why the state of development in the state in terms of infrastructures is stagnant and static for good 20 years.

I recently have one on one chat with one of the governorship flag bearer’s of a certain party of the state. I asked him his plans about building infrastructures in the state. He bared his mind and told me that unless Plateau State devices ways of generating more revenues, no magic can be done to have infrastructures in the state. 

The Governorship contender said that the State is already heavily indebted to the tune of ₦100 billion Naira. The  loans obtained for building Secretariat Junction flyover isn’t settled yet. When the American Junction flyover would be completed, Plateau State would be indebted to the tune of ₦170 billion Naira. Which obviously means the windows for giving loans to Plateau State would be closed. My investigation discovered that the domestic profile of Plateau State 2018 was ₦122 billion Naira.

The reality in the face of Plateau State is very glaring. Plateau has to accept the reality and bow out of the ethnic and religious sentiments that held her neck for decades or lag behind the wheels of misfortunes. It is sad to see this giant state with abundant idle resources and opportunities, such as those of tourism, mineral resources, underground water, business environments, most serene and favorable weather conditions, sufficient rainfall for agricultural and more, but these have become clogs behind its wheels.

Note: It’s my fear that Plateau State Government is fun of playing political fantasy of setting interest in the state during every election to gain more votes but it has no real intention of rebuilding the market in oder not to go out of favors for some myopic interests. But the truth is, the market is a milking cow for the revenue bloc of the state. Being pragmatic in decision making will not augur well for anyone at the helm of affairs. As they said, a stitch in time, saves nine.

Hamisu Hassan is socio political and economic analyst from Jos South, Plateau State. He can be reached via hamisuhassan@yahoo.com

By Muhammad Aminu 

Kano State Government has elevated 132 civil servants in the state’s civil service for July 2022. 

Kano State Civil Service Commission Chairman Uba Idris Karaye disclosed this during a monthly commission meeting for senior staff promotion exercise held at the conference hall of the commission. 

According to Karaye, 53 promoted workers are between the grade level 08-09; 75 others are from grade level 10 – 14 while others are 15 to above respectively. 

Karaye, represented by the Permanent Commissioner ll, Saleh Adamu Kwaru, urged promoted employees to reciprocate the kind gesture by being committed and hard-working in discharging their duties for maximum results.

He, however, explained that the commission had approved the sack of three civil servants for gross misconduct that contravened civil service rule.

He similarly said the commission approved the transfer of service for seven staff to different MDAs.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Balarabe Hassan Karaye, commended members of the commission for their zeal and urged them to be upright and be guided by the scheme of service before taking any decision for effective and efficient service delivery in the state.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Report from Daily Nigerian has alleged that Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is planning to bring an atrocious leader of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Kolo Yusuf, as the state’s police commissioner.

He is said to be deployed to Kano to help the APC rig 2023 elections.

Barrister Audu Bulama Bukarti has affirmed this allegation in his tweet and recalling how Mr Kolo tortured and killed his client.

The Daily Nigerian newspaper went on to claiming that Dr Ganduje and Mr Kolo will meet this weekend to finalize the deal.

Recall that SARS was infamous for rights violations, torture, arbitrary murders, and suspicious incarceration up until its termination in October 2020 following widespread demonstrations, popularly known as the #EndSars protests.

Mr. Yusuf, who currently oversees Special Tactical Command, previously oversaw SARS in Kano, where he was charged with torturing individuals and perpetrating arbitrary deaths and detentions.

Similarly, another source who claimed for anonymity confirmed to journalists that the Kano governor had been assured that all would go well as all indications showed that the IGP had agreed to execute the plan.

In the 2019 election, the APC was alleged to have rigged the governorship election which saw Ganduje come back to power, after controversially defeating Abba Gida-Gida in an lection that would never be forgotten by Kwankwasiyya adherents.

By Tijjani Ahmad

Before banning the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as “Achaba”, most of us couldn’t imagine life in Kano without them. At that time, most Kano metropolis residents relied on Achaba as a means of local transport. 

The business of commercial motorcycles was booming and popular during that time, known for its lucrative nature, employment generation and ease of use to residents. 

Suddenly, the then governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, announced the ban on 22 January 2013. The government explained that many crimes, particularly attacks on security operatives in the Northern Nigerian state, were carried out by men on motorcycles.

Even though there was no specific arrangement for the alternative means from the government’s side, the ban was effective and gave birth to the rise of the tricycle popularly known as “A-Daidaita Sahu”.

A Daidata Sahu was not new in Kano because it was first implemented by the then Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, in 2005 but was not popular because of Achaba. 

However, immediately after Achaba, investors started diverting their investment to A Daidaita Sahu. And residents accepted it since there were no alternative means of transport. It was reported that most of the Achaba riders also followed their investors and started trooping the streets of Kano.

For almost a decade, A Daidata Sahu has been found wanting in many offences, from criminal to civil. On that account, the government took many decisions to regulate the operation of commercial vehicles generally in Kano.

Unfortunately, the purpose of these decisions has been defeated by concentrating on the monetary aspect of most of the policies meant to curb insecurity and regulate motorists’ activities within the state.

Now, Kano State Government placed another ban on A Dadaita Sahu – restricting its operations at night, from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. The question is, how sure are we this will solve the problem of insecurity?

Kano, one of the largest cities in Africa – known for commerce, agriculture and industrialisation, is becoming more sophisticated as its population grows, new businesses emerge and naturally expand. Therefore, whatever policy we bring, we should consider the consequences on the populace, businesses and the environment. 

Despite these, it seems like proactive measures are not what we are interested in; we are instead scratching the surface. That’s why it is always quick banning, restrictions, curfew and many more reactive moves. 

If we are indeed serious, we don’t need to borrow money and install CCTV in the name of curving insecurity. All we have to do is regulate the activities of commercial vehicles within the state and block the leakages of revenue generated from their activities. This will go a long way in checking the crimes and improving the overall revenue of the state.

Three years ago, my friend, a key player in the industry, asked my opinion on whether the government should ban it due to insecurity.

I said this could be done through an effective and efficient database where all the players within the industry, from owners, riders, sellers and service providers, and warehouses. The data must be linked with BVN and NIN. To be part of the industry, you must comply with the requirements. 

By doing so, no motorcycle or any player within the industry should be seen on the street or within the city without registration. Furthermore, each person’s number or tracking ID should be placed on the bike and should correspond with what is in the database. So that whenever any player perpetrates a crime, all you have to do is to know the tracking number. 

This can be used to know the owner and the rider of the motorcycle used to commit that crime. My friend is trying to implement this within their company. Where all their riders can be tracked in real-time using GPD enable tracker. Thus, this is all we need: regulation, not reactive measures such as banning.

Tijjani Ahmad wrote from Kano via ahmatee123@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Aminu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Kano office has pasted names of governorship candidates that will participate in the forthcoming 2023 general election without the candidate of the court-backed faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The electoral umpire pasted Sadiq Wali and Yusuf Bello Danbatta as gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates of the PDP in Kano.

It can be recalled that intra-party conflicts and litigations following parallel leadership structures troubled the PDP, which led to factional primary elections in Kano.

However, a federal high court gave a favourable judgement in favour of Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi-led faction that produced Mohammed Abacha as the governorship candidate of the party.

The other faction of the party, led by Sen. Bello Hayatu Gawarzo, who is the North-West vice chairman of the party, produced Sadiq Wali as the governorship candidate of its faction in a parallel primary.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kano, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, had earlier told journalists in Kano that INEC recognized Mohammed Abacha as the rightful candidate having produced by the faction that was recognized by the court of law.

Reacting to the development that creates confusion in the PDP in the state, INEC Public Relations Officer in Kano, Ahmad Adam Maulud, said the commission at the Kano office submitted the results of the primaries it had monitored to the headquarters of the electoral umpire in Abuja, but they were sent the list they pasted on Friday.

“Whoever wishes to seek any clarification should contact the national body of his or her party for any information,” Maulud said.

Nigerians studying overseas are being urged to return home and help their country to recover, according to Titilayo Solarin, a permanent secretary of the Lagos Education District I.

On Thursday, Ms. Solarin issued the notice during a one-day conference. Oluwatoyin Akindele, a district director who was Ms. Solarin’s representative, said that Nigerian students who had the opportunity to study abroad must return to their own country.

She was quoted to have stated: “The best still for all Nigerians studying abroad is to come and give back to their own country. After studying abroad, we need to develop our own country. Those countries over there, if they were not developed, no one would desire to go over there to study.

“We should get to the point where we, as citizens of Nigeria, should learn how to take good care of our own country and build it up so that our country will be one we will be proud of.”

“Who will build our own country if they (our children) remain over there? Who will take care of Nigeria if our children remain over there?,” She enquired.

By Aisar Fagge

Population explosion can be a boost or a doom. If resources are not well managed in a country with rapid population growth, illiteracy, divisive politics, unemployment, hunger, crime, insecurity, poor standard of living will be the topics of discussion.

Dr. Musa Muhammad Bello, a community physician consultant and also a lecturer with Bayero University, Kano, mentioned this during a maiden monthly seminar organized by the Community Health Organization (CHR) in collaboration with Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Disease and Social Vices (YOSPIS), held on Wednesday, 20th July, 2022 at CHR’s conference room, Kano.

In his paper titled: “Rising Population and Demographic Transition: Effect on Health and Sustainable Development” Dr Bello said “If Nigeria’s population continue growing at this pace, by 2050, it will double to over 400 million. Nigeria will become the 4th largest country on Earth.”

“There is a cause for alarm because, population increase or explosion can be a boom or a doom.”

“If the population is rapidly increasing and resources are not well managed then it will greatly affect the availability of these resources across all sectors – health, water, education, security, etc. It will stretch them to the extent that majority of the population will be suffering in misery – there will be poverty, hunger, starvation, malnutrition, there will be unemployment and poor living standard.”

“All sectors of life will suffer. Take for example Kano State government’s decision to ban tricycle movement from 10 pm to 6 am is an effect of population concentration. The rate of crime has increased. Phone snatchers are everywhere. Some of us here are their victims,” The speaker lamented.

Speaking about the preparation for 2023 census in Nigeria, Dr Bello said, “Census is very important. In fact, according to a United Nations Economic Council, the population census should be done in every country every ten years. But unfortunately in Nigeria, the last census we did was in 2006. So we are far behind.”

“Census gives you the exact number of people and ther demographic structure: gender, age, education, income, location, etc. and that will be a very good tool for planning development in the country. Lack of this statistics will negatively affect the government planning.”

“When it comes to health, you first look at it from disease possession. When there is a population explosion, there is increase risk of disease. People will interact with the environment, their daily activities will pollute the environment; air pollution, water pollution and so many other things. So there is likely going to have increase in disease that are transacted through air because of over crowding,” he concluded.

One of the discussants of the paper, Musa Abdullahi Sufi argued that “Nigeria is not over populated because of its available vast resources.” He urged the academics to do more research to engage policy makers. Another discussant, Zainab Nasir Ahmed countered that “Nigeria is over populated because the resources are in the hands of few people” while majority of the population wallow in squalor.

The seminar received both physical and virtual participants ranging from academics, health workers, journalists and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

By Muhammad Aminu

No fewer than seven cases of rape were reported with some involving minor in various parts of Kano State in the month of June alone.

This was revealed by the Gender-based Violence (GBV) monitoring team of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) during a press briefing on Thursday, 21st July, 2022 in Kano.

CITAD’s GBV project manager, Zainab Adamu said there are reported cases of various Gender-Based Violence on the increase in the State.

She said online harrassment, sexual abuse and harrassment have significantly increased in June when compared with reported cases in May.

“Rape cases were 7, Online Harassment 22, Sexual Blackmail 8, Sexual Harassment60, Sexual Abuse39, Wife Battering 3 while School Violence1, she noted.

She stated that the data collected for the month of June showed “In comparison with the data obtained in previous months, GBV cases are still on the increase. 140 cases were reported via our GBV App for the month.”

According to her, CITAD’s GBV App and Sustained awareness creation have increased people’s reporting of the GBV hence the need to have perpetrators brought to justice.

“The GBV Offenders database which the government adopted recently will go a long way in curbing the menace as offenders will rather desist from the act than to be publicly shamed.

“As much as we continue to monitor and report, we will like to appeal to parents, relatives and others to always report cases to the various agencies handling GBV cases. Keeping silent will not protect the victims who suffer. It encourages the perpetrators to take this silence as a stamp of acceptability, she added.

She reiterated CITAD’s call to Kano State Government to create Special court for GBV related cases and monitoring units in schools to help check GBV in schools to enable students particularly female students to be protected from abuse.

She appealed to all other stakeholders and the general public to lend their support and cooperation to combat Gender-Based violence both physically and virtually.

By Aisar Fagge and Uzair Adam Imam

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to come to the rescue of Darazo community in Bauchi State affected by a devastating flood a few days ago.

The Daily Reality gathered that the devastating flood disaster destroyed more than 200 houses, farmlands and other sources of livelihood.

The lawmakers made the call through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and other relevant agencies.

However, reports disclosed that this was coming Wednesday at the plenary after the adoption and passage of a motion moved by the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, Mansur Manu Soro.

Soro expressed deep concern over what happened in the community that the flood had displaced thousands of citizens.

Therefore, The House has called on the NEMA to provide support to the victims and to also engage the Bauchi State Government with a view to resettling those who were displaced by the flood disaster.