Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved the recruitment of 4,315 former Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) volunteer teachers into the state’s permanent and pensionable teaching service.
The governor stated that the move aligns with his administration’s consistent commitment to revitalising and reforming the education sector.
The governor recalled that the state had earlier recruited 5,500 teachers in 2023, 5,632 in 2024, and 4,000 in May 2025, all of whom were absorbed from the BESDA voluntary teaching scheme.
To further strengthen the system, Yusuf also announced the recruitment of an additional 2,616 teachers. He flagged off a ₦200 million vehicle loan scheme and approved the distribution of 444 motorcycles and 300 computers to enhance school monitoring and evaluation.
In addition, the governor directed the reopening of the Shehu Minjibir Boarding Primary School with 180 pupils and the upgrade of another school in Ungogo Local Government Area into a boarding facility. He further approved the engagement of 17,000 watchmen across schools in the state.
Local communities in the Faskari local government area of Katsina State have entered into negotiations with armed groups, raising fears of a repeat of a sequence whereby the collapse of peace agreements led to renewed violence.
Reports have it that bandit representatives, including figures accused of leading raids and abductions, sat with community leaders at a gathering in Hayin Gada.
The bandits reportedly agreed to stop attacks on villages, allow farmers safe passage, and release abducted persons in exchange for freedom of movement and market access for Fulani and the development of their areas.
In attendance were the notorious kigpin Alero, who spoke on behalf of several armed groups. He said the initiative was “not the first of its kind”, but the turnout was unprecedented.
Also present was Kwashe Garwa, whose name is 19 on Nigeria’s most-wanted terrorists list. Videos shared on multiple local media show Mr Garwa, with ammunition strapped around his waist, condemning the stereotyping of Fulani herders as criminals.
Garwa stated, “In Nigeria, whenever there is a discussion, they call Fulani herders bandits and terrorists. But tell me, which tribe in the world does not have criminals among them? You, Hausawa, who say we are bandits, don’t you also have bandits among you? Yet, no one stereotypes you with such a name.”
Garwa further asserted that killings and kidnappings would not stop until “injustice” against the Fulani was addressed. “There will be no peace if security agencies do not also stop killing our people,” he added.
Reports indicate that similar peace agreements were reached in Jibia and other frontline areas, with residents negotiating directly with bandit leaders for safe passage, a cessation of raids, and the reopening of markets.
Acknowledging the arrangements, Governor Dikko Radda said at the launch of an EU-funded conflict prevention project last week that negotiations were ongoing in several frontline local government areas and credited them with restoring calm in those areas.
In a deliberate move to cushion the impact of economic hardship and create sustainable opportunities for women, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, who represents Yobe South Senatorial District, has empowered six women with financial support of ₦1 million each.
The initiative, which was unveiled in Potiskum on Friday, is part of the senator’s ongoing interventions aimed at addressing poverty, improving livelihoods, and encouraging women to actively participate in business and community development.
According to Yusuf Zaki, a close aide of the senator who represented him at the event, the programme was carefully designed to give women in the constituency the financial muscle to either start or expand their businesses.
He explained that Senator Bomai recognises the enormous contributions that women make to household welfare and the local economy, and has therefore prioritised their empowerment.
“Senator Bomai believes that empowering women is one of the most effective ways of reducing poverty and improving livelihoods in our communities. The ₦1 million given to each of the beneficiaries will enable them to invest in viable ventures that can sustain their families and, by extension, contribute meaningfully to the growth of the local economy,” Zaki stated while addressing journalists.
He also noted that this intervention is not an isolated gesture, but part of a broader empowerment agenda that the senator has consistently pursued since assuming office.
According to him, the lawmaker has previously supported educational programmes for indigent students, invested in healthcare projects, and initiated youth empowerment schemes to tackle unemployment in Yobe South.
Zaki added that the women’s empowerment programme was deliberately crafted to focus on those who have shown entrepreneurial drive but lacked access to capital due to the harsh economic realities and limited opportunities in rural communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Aisha Mohammed, who operates a small tailoring business, spoke emotionally about how the support has given her a renewed sense of hope.
She said she had struggled for years to keep her shop running with outdated sewing machines and insufficient materials.
“This money is a lifeline for me. With ₦1 million, I can now buy better sewing machines, employ two apprentices and expand my shop to cater for more customers. It is not just about money; it is about the dignity and confidence it gives me to keep going. I am grateful to Senator Bomai for remembering women like us who are struggling to survive,” she told our correspondent.
Another beneficiary, revealed that she intends to invest in poultry farming, which has long been her dream but was hampered by lack of capital.
According to her, poultry has the potential to provide steady income and create employment opportunities for others in her community.
“With this support, I can start on a solid foundation by setting up proper structures and buying enough birds and feed. It is a dream come true because women in rural communities like ours hardly get access to bank loans or financial institutions. This is why we are so grateful to the senator for giving us a chance to stand on our feet,” she said.
Community leaders in Yobe South have also applauded the initiative, describing it as a commendable step towards poverty reduction and local economic revitalisation.
Alhaji Idi Jugujugu, a respected elder in Potiskum, said the programme goes beyond financial empowerment, as it also builds confidence in women and encourages them to see themselves as active contributors to development.
“This is not just about giving money, it is about building confidence in women and showing them that they can also be economic pillars in their families and communities. If more leaders would replicate such interventions, many families would escape poverty and our society would be stronger,” he stressed.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, congratulates Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, the State Commander-General of Hisbah, on receiving an honorary doctoral degree from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto. The award was conferred during the university’s 42nd convocation on September 6, 2025.
Governor Yusuf praised Sheikh Daurawa for his contributions to Islamic scholarship and his efforts in promoting morality and societal values in Kano. He emphasised that the recognition reflects the recipient’s dedication to eradicating immorality and fostering justice, bringing pride to Kano State.
The governor also assured ongoing support for Daurawa’s endeavours in serving humanity and Islam. He prayed for divine guidance and blessings to continue serving the community.
The congratulatory message was conveyed during a meeting at the Kano Government House, as announced by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
Basic education in public schools in Kano State is approaching its graveyard, where it will be laid to rest sooner than expected. This is why a larger portion of the population manages to enrol their children in private schools. Only those who are economically gasping for breath can barely afford to send their kids to the rotten public school system.
It has reached a stage where teachers and principals of public schools also send their children to private schools. Just as medical doctors who own private hospitals, many academics who earn a salary from the Ministry of Education also own private schools. The recent whistleblowing, led by Dan Bello, to expose the dysfunction of our public schools, is not surprising to those who have invested heavily in the state of our public schools.
However, Dan Bello is only addressing one aspect of the problem, which is infrastructural decay. There are many other problems, including incompetent teachers, a lack of proper supervision, and the anti-intellectual behaviour of teachers who attend school at their convenience. You will hear a school teacher who is supposed to be in school from 7:30 am to 2 pm every working day say that he only comes to school twice a week.
Whatever Dan Bello’s intention is in exposing the situation, I believe it’s for the betterment of the state, especially since the governor has started responding to the problem.
We acknowledge how the previous administration abandoned public schools, sold their land to develop houses and build corner shops, and shut down many. However, this is not the time for blame games; it’s time to revive the state of our education. And that’s one of the reasons why the state indigenes voted them out and gave this administration the chance to govern.
As I extracted this from the Facebook page of the Director-General of the Kano Bureau of Statistics, he wrote: “The attached chart presents estimated statistics on the total number of public primary and secondary schools in Kano, excluding new ones currently under construction. There are approximately 9,136 public primary and secondary schools across the state.
Based on assessments, if 70 per cent of these schools are dilapidated and require renovation, that would mean about 6,395 schools need repair. At a rate of 100 schools renovated per month, it would take approximately 64 months, or 5 years and 4 months, to fully address the problem. So, it is unrealistic to expect that all dilapidated schools can be fixed within such a short timeframe of two years.”
This chilled my blood and set me thinking about the quickest and most realistic way to revive our education. I arrived at the following conclusions:
Since it will take us approximately 5 years to address the infrastructural decay alone, how many years would it take us to address the human capital problem? To improve the situation, I propose the following:
1. The government should establish six mega schools (3 secondary schools and three primary schools) that are fully equipped. This can be developed within a one-year calendar (the NWU senate building was built in less than a year, so it’s feasible). Each school should accommodate at least 1,000 students and make it the standard, as Day Science, Dawakin Tofa, and Dawakin Kudu used to be. These schools have produced some of the best medical doctors, engineers, and teachers, who have made us proud, even on the international stage.
2. Employ well-trained teachers and develop a system that can measure their performance. Why do public school teachers who earn at least ₦70,000 (considering the minimum wage) fail to teach their students effectively, while those in private schools who earn ₦30,000 or less perform far better? It’s a supervisory issue. In private schools, teachers are monitored and appraised. Let’s inculcate this culture in the newly established schools.
3. There’s no such thing as free education in those schools! Let parents/guardians pay. At least the school can earn an income for maintenance.
If this idea is fully implemented, by 2031, when we expect to have addressed the infrastructural decay as stated above, the state would have produced at least 5,000 high-quality graduates who can compete with their private counterparts.
Our beloved Kano State has now become a nightmare of unprecedented violence, lawlessness and phone-snatching all courtesy of thugs’ criminal activities. Once-peaceful communities now live under the shadow of fear as ruthless and armed gangsters unleash a reign of terror daily. These assailants, wielding deadly local weapons, have maimed, killed, and left countless families in mourning.
The attacks often strike without notice. Some places have now become theatres of war in the dead of night, forcing residents, young and old, to flee into the darkness with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Homes must be locked in broad daylight for fear of being a victim of some happy, menacing marauders.
The cruelty has engulfed so many metropolitan places of Kano State, with no concerted effort to stop the horrendous activities of those brutal thugs. We wonder when these horrible experiences will stop? Thugs have become a significant threat to the collective well-being of the people of Kano.
In the chaos, the gang of thugs attack with no mercy. Men are butchered as they defend their families; they have no scruples to attack even women and children as they attempt to escape. Residents speak of the horror of seeing loved ones hacked with machetes, swords and other local dangerous weapons. They destroyed properties, smashed buildings and cars parked outside houses and buildings.
As this wave of violence rages on, we call for urgent and decisive action from security agencies. Moreover, the Inspector General of Police is to dispatch a special intelligence unit to analyse the situation on the ground and subject it to a holistic review of the present strategy.
The people of Kano demand not only the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators but also the establishment of permanent security posts in the most vulnerable areas. Although some security posts were built in some places for that purpose, they are yet to be fully operational, leaving residents with only the building structures. Without swift intervention, Kano risks slipping further into lawlessness, and the fragile threads of peace may be torn beyond repair.
This is not merely an attack on individuals; it is an assault on our shared humanity and our future. We ask for definite action before the fires of thugs consume us all. We ask for an end to this bloodbath that has been threatening the peace and stability of Kano and its people.
Abbas Datti writes from Kano via comradeabbasdatti@gmail.com.
The Chief Magistrate Court No. 15 in Kano has ordered police to investigate Daily Nigerian publisher, Jafar Jafar, and a staff of the newspaper, Audu Umar, over allegations of criminal defamation against the Director General of Protocol, Government House, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo.
Rogo filed the case, accusing the duo of maliciously describing him as a “thieving aide” to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in two reports published on August 22 and 25, 2025. He argued that the stories, carried by Daily Nigerian, were deliberately crafted to tarnish his reputation and portray him as corrupt.
One of the reports, titled “Gov. Yusuf Defends Thieving Aide, Says Protocol Directorate Under Ganduje Spent N20 Billion in 3 Months”, and another alleging that anti-graft agencies traced ₦6.5 billion to his office, were cited as damaging to his image.
The complaint, filed under Sections 106 and 107 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019, and Sections 114 and 393 of the Penal Code, seeks prosecution for defamation and breach of public peace.
Chief Magistrate Abdul’aziz M. Habib subsequently directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone One, to launch a full-scale investigation.
Meanwhile, Rogo has also filed a civil suit at the Kano State High Court demanding damages for defamation.
The Kano State Government has refuted reports alleging the diversion of N6.5 billion from the state treasury, dismissing them as “false narratives orchestrated by the opposition to tarnish the image of the administration.”
The rebuttal follows a report by Daily Nigerian on August 22, 2025, which claimed that the Director-General of the Government House Protocol Directorate, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, was linked to an alleged diversion of public funds already before the High Court.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General of Media and Publicity at the Government House, maintained that all financial dealings of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) strictly adhere to budgetary guidelines and established financial regulations.
“Every cash outflow into MDAs is duly budgeted with clear codes in the state’s fiscal policy. No government official accesses public funds without a defined purpose,” Bature stated.
He noted that the Protocol Directorate is responsible for logistics, welfare, and official engagements of the governor and visiting dignitaries, explaining that about 95 per cent of its functions involve financial transactions conducted with government approval.
The statement stressed that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration would not allow the integrity of its officials to be undermined by political propaganda.
“The Yusuf administration remains committed to financial prudence, transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption. We will not allow our aides’ reputations to be destroyed by deliberate blackmail from unpatriotic elements,” it said.
The government reaffirmed confidence in Rogo’s credibility, describing the allegations as unfounded. It added that all officials, including the Director-General of Protocol, are open to scrutiny by anti-graft agencies when required.
It further accused political opponents of sponsoring the allegations as part of a smear campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
“These claims are nothing but fiction designed by desperate politicians relying on propaganda to remain relevant,” the statement noted.
The government also pointed to alleged financial mismanagement under former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration, citing withdrawals of over N20 billion between February and May 2023. It referenced the dollar-video scandal as evidence of what it called “eight years marred by corruption.”
While pledging transparency, the government warned it may pursue legal action against those spreading misinformation.
“No propaganda, fabricated claims, or media trials will derail our determination to serve the people with honesty and accountability,” the statement added.
It concluded by noting that it would not comment further on the matter since it is already before a competent court.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, says it has arrested a 27-year-old man in possession of nine kilograms of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) valued at more than N10 million.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari.
He explained that the suspect, a resident of Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested on August 6 along the Zaria–Kano Road by operatives of the Kiru Area Command while transporting 19 parcels of the substance from Lagos to Kano.
According to Muhammad-Maigatari, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the illicit trade and had been on the command’s watchlist before his arrest.
He noted that the seizure inflicted a major financial loss on the drug network, disrupting their supply chain and denying them revenue for further criminal activities.
“Removing this quantity from circulation also helps protect vulnerable communities from the social and economic harms associated with the trade in narcotics,” he said.
The spokesperson added that under the leadership of Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, the Kano Strategic Command will continue to strengthen patrols and intelligence-driven operations to curb drug trafficking in the state.
The Kano State Police Command has announced a ban on the operation of tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, by underage individuals within the Kano metropolis.
Spokesperson of the Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a video he posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, said the decision followed a disturbing increase in accidents linked to underage riders.
He added that the practice was responsible for 16 serious but preventable crashes, resulting in injuries and damage to property.
Kiyawa further noted that the Command has observed a growing trend of road users disregarding traffic lights and other regulations, a development he described as a major cause of avoidable accidents and traffic gridlock in the state.
He warned that riding tricycles by underage persons remains prohibited under the law and poses serious risks to both the riders and other road users.
Parents and guardians, he stressed, must stop allowing their children to operate tricycles, as offenders—both the riders and the owners—will face severe penalties.
“All road users must obey traffic lights and other traffic regulations. The Command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating traffic laws to ensure the safety and security of road users,” the statement added.
He noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, assured residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
He said enforcement teams have been deployed and urged members of the public to report underage tricycle riding, reckless driving, or other traffic offences to the nearest police station or via 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926.
