Local

By Uzair Adam Imam

Following the boat mishap on Tuesday, 30th November, 2021 in Bagwai Local Government of the state, the Kano State Government has announced a ban on the use of commercial boats in transporting passengers in the river.

The Daily Reality has reported the incident that had claimed the lives of twenty nine people. Adding to that development, Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed the ban in a statement issued to journalists by the State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba.

In her effort, the Kano State government has provided two buses for passenger shuttle between Badau and Bagwai, while three new boats would be procured for effective water transportation in the area.

He added that: “Other control measures are expected to be instituted when the investigation committee set up by the state government submitted its report for implementation.”

Kaduna state government announced its decision to restore telecommunication networks in some parts of the state which were cut off due to insurgency. It can be recalled that due to the current security threats faced by many Northern states, the Kaduna state government decided to cut off the telecommunications operations in some areas of the state on the 30th of September.

In a press briefing by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna, announced the restoration of telecommunication network services. Below is the full excerpt:

“My dear colleagues:

I am here to inform you that the Kaduna State Government has contacted the relevant federal agencies to effect the immediate restoration of telecommunication services which were suspended in some local government areas.

Security agencies had requested the shutdown in October 2021, among other measures, to assist ongoing operations against armed bandits and other criminals. The security agencies have now notified the government that telecoms services can be restored.

Along with the other measures in the security containment order, the telecoms shutdown had helped the security agencies to achieve some results, which the security forces will reel out soon. The prolonged application of this measure was always out of the question, due to its impact on the legitimate activities of citizens and businesses.

Residents are advised that the restoration of full services in the affected areas may unfold over a few days, as the service providers mobilise to power and boost their transmission systems accordingly.

The Kaduna State Government regrets the inconveniences residents of the affected LGAs may have encountered as a result of the shutdown. The state government wishes to commend the sacrifices made by residents while this temporary measure lasted.

Notwithstanding, the government wishes to reiterate that the other measures announced as part of the security containment orders remain in force. These include the prohibition of motorcycles all over the state, the ban on weekly markets, transportation of cattle, and the prohibition of sale of fuel in jerrycans in specified local government areas.

Thank you for your kind attention.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has stated that his administration has deployed modern technology gadgets such as CCTV to tackle the challenges of insecurity and ensure safety of its citizens and their properties.

The governor made this disclosure in a release signed Monday, 15th November, 2021 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge.

It was gathered that Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, was said to have stated this while receiving the General Officer Command of the one division of Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General Kabiru Imam Muktar who paid him a visit at the Government House, Kano.

According to him, installation and deployment of modern technology has assisted greatly in curbing the criminal acts that before are bedevilling the state.

Ganduje also noted that, Kano is today one of the most peaceful states in the country due to prayers and synergy between the government and all the security agencies.

The statement read: “In Kano we hold regular security meetings so as to analyse our operations and chart ways foward, infact we have included paramilitary agencies into the state security council”.

“The Commander 3 Brigade, I am sure will brief you about our efforts in provision of adequate logistics,” Ganduje said.

He then assured of continued support and cooperation to the Nigerian Army towards ensuring peace and safety of Kano citizens.

Speaking, the General Officer Commanding of the One Division,Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major General Kabiru Imam Muktar said he is on a visit to the Army units and formations under his command in Kano State.

He explained that the first hand information they received from the citizens has assisted them alot in combating crimes.

“The cooperation and support given to us by Kano people has helped tremendously in our effort to contain criminality to the bearest minimum”.

“We are grateful to the traditional rulers and the citizens for their role in curtailing the farmers and herders conflict in the State”.

“I am indeed happy with the cordial relationship between the 3 Brigade and Kano people,” he said.

Major General Muktar while reiterating their commitment towards ensuring security of lives and properties of Kano people, commended the Governor for executing laudable projects in the State.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Director General, Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, Pharmacist Hisham Imamuddeen has received officials from the Sokoto State Ministry of Health on study tour to the agancy on Wednesday.

A statement signed by the Information Officer Ministry of Health, Kano State, Hadiza M. Namadi disclosed, stating that the contribution Ganduje is giving to the health sector is tremendous.

The visiting team, comprising top management officials from the ministry which was lead by Pharmacist Murtala, Sokoto State Drugs and Medical Consumables agency and the Lead Consultant from Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement Supply Management, Pharmacist Tukur Ibrahim.

Pharm. Hisham Imamudeen, while briefing them on the mandates, activities and the modest achievements recorded by the agency in recent times, he also commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his untiring support in the health sector.

However, he particularly expressed delight and deep appreciation to the Governor for allocating substantial percentage to the health sector in the 2022 Appropriation Bill as well as supporting commodity supply chain all aimed at improving the life of the people in the state.

Earlier in his his speech, the Team Lead, Pharm. Murtala said that they were in Kano for a study tour to see for themselves and learn the workings of the agency so as to improve their own.

Pharm. Murtala then expressed satisfaction with what they saw and therefore appreciated the capacity and friendly disposition of the DG as he promised to emulate the Kano state model in improving health commodity supply chain in their state.

He also thanked the DG and his entire management staff for their hospitality.

By Aisar Fagge and Uzair Adam Imam

The fight against corruption should not be left in the hands of the government and their agencies alone because of their apparent weaknesses. A lot of corrupt practices are taking place undetected by public anti-corruption agencies.

Prof. Ismail M. Zango, the Director of Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano (Mambayya House), made the above statement while speaking to The Daily Reality at a “One-Day Review Workshop of Civil Society Anti-Corruption Networks in the North-West Zone” organized by the centre.

Speaking about the time the centre started organizing workshops on the fight against corruption, Prof. Zango said:

“In 2018, the centre received a grant from MacArthur Foundation to engage faith-based organizations to actively participate in the crusade against corruption. And since then, we have worked with a number of CSOs and NGOs from different parts of Nigeria. So that was the first phase.”

Commenting about the achievement recorded by the campaign so far, the director said:

“The major success was that we were able to work with religious organizations. We invite Muslim and Christian clerics to enlighten them about the role they can play in fighting corruption using their pulpits through their sermons. We have also established anti-corruption clubs in secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions.”

“Government alone cannot fight corruption. But if you have civil society; if you have faith organizations; if you have community-based organizations all of them working together, the only thing that remains is to inculcate in them the culture of transparency and accountability,” he added.

There was a round-table discussion and Q & A session where leaders of selected CSOs from the North-West zone were given 10 minutes to report their activities and some of the challenges they faced.

Some of the “citizens” [members of CSO] blame donors for forcing them to do their bidding while others disagreed, stating that the problem was from the CSOs for selfishness, lack of transparency, accountability and being unethical in some deals.

Zahra’u Ahmad from Kebbi objected, pointing out that “Donors are not the problem, CSOs are. So if a donor comes to you with a project that goes contrary to your religious and traditional norms and values, just say no to his money. Another problem is we see these organizations like ours, which is wrong. These organizations belong to the community.”

While giving the vote of thanks, the Deputy Director, Research and Documentation, Dr Samaila Suleiman Yandaki, tasked the CSOs to be innovative in their fight against corruption by not solely relying on budget monitoring as indicated in their reports.

Some leaders of the CSOs presented papers that attracted questions, observations and commendations.

By Aisar Fagge

On 3rd November, 2021, a delegation from the Al-Azhar University, Egypt visited Al-Istiqama University Sumaila (AUSU) for partnership, staff training and establishing a centre for Arabic sign language that no any Nigerian university has. Explaining to the Daily Reality about this development, The VC of Al-Istiqama University, Prof. Salisu Shehu said:

“You know universities in the world thrive on partnership and collaborations. You need to come to abreast with international best practices in university education. And it is only through collaboration and partnership you get that. You need to mutually interdependent on one another. And it is on this basis we get some form of partnership with Al-Azhar University. As it were, Al-Azhar University is over one thousand years old. It is our big mother.”

“We are moving towards a memorandum of understanding with Al-Azhar University, and they are going to help us in a number of ways: one of which, for example, is that we want them to give us training, to train some of our staff on Arabic sign language.”

There is a problem with Muslim deaf people when it comes to Arabic language and reciting Qur’an especially in their prayers. Lamenting about this lingering issue, the VC affirmed that:

“Muslim deaf people in Nigeria don’t read Arabic, they don’t read the Qur’an, they pray in English. Because what is taught in our school is only English sign language. So even when you write Hausa to them they don’t understand, let alone the Arabic language.”

“So we need to get Arabic sign language and, we want to make Al-Istiqama University, insha Allah, a center for the production of deaf people that are literate in Arabic sign language so that they will be able to read Arabic and Qur’an. Not the usual English they are taught.”

“So we have requested Al-Azhar University to support us in terms of training so that can establish a center for Arabic sign language in order to promote braille literacy,” he concluded.

By Aisar Fagge

In its second segment of the students’ orientation lecture series held between 6th and 7th November 2021, the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Istiqama University Sumaila (AUSU), Prof. Salisu Shehu, stated that AUSU is the cheapest private institution where students can memorize the Holy Qur’an before their graduation.

Speaking about the name of the university, Prof. Salisu Shehu said: “Well, the message sent to parents and guardians from the name of the university is that, this is the university that stands for uprightness in all sense of the word; uprightness in character, behaviour and learning. What we aspire to achieve is that effective teaching and learning take place in our university.

We want to be sure that whoever comes to Al-Istiqama would be seriously groomed with the sound knowledge that is possibly only obtainable in our institution. Not only that, through our counselling and mentorship, serious students can memorize the Holy Qur’an before their graduation.”

From the name “Al-Istiqama”, some people think that the institution is all about Islamic studies and Arabic courses. Reacting to this, the VC has clarified that:

“Yes! This is a faith-based university, and that’s why it’s given the name “Al-Istiqama”. But that does not mean that learning is only going to be restricted to the religious sciences. All disciplines are going to be offered in this university. And, for now, we have about 15 different degree programmes. Islamic Studies is just one of the 15. In addition, there are social sciences, basic sciences and medical sciences. And we are going to open additional faculties as we keep moving, in sha Allah.”

There are complaints about students of private universities that they do not respect their teachers because they are proud of the huge money their parents spend on their school fees, and that has affected the quality of their learning process.

In his reaction to the above, Prof. Shehu explained that Al-Istiqama was different. He added:

“Al-Istiqama, being a faith-based institution, will not tolerate indiscipline, pomposity and any immoral character. We will not tolerate that situation where students are extorted. Although we need to get funds and resources that will sustain the university, parents and students should not be that source.

Our school fees are very, very affordable. Almost the lowest you can find around because it is not a profit-making venture. The proprietor did not intend to make a profit out of it. Rather, he intended to render service to humanity. So that kind of notion and that kind of mentality would not have a place here.”

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The new development by Katsina State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has been an immediate stoppage of all cash payments and collection of revenues, taxes and other levies due.

The Executive Chairman of KIRS, Mustapha Muhammad Sirajo, on Sunday in a statement issued to journalists added:

“The stoppage of the cash payments takes effective from Monday, November 8, 2021. As part of the modernization project of its service, Katsina State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) is reviewing the process of collection of revenues, taxes and levies due to Katsina State’s Developments.”

“The commercial banks are First Bank, Access Bank, Eco Bank, First City Monument Bank, Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Keystone Bank, Polaris Bank, Stannic Bank, Sterling Bank, Union Bank, United Bank of Africa and Zenith Bank.”

“The public is hereby informed that all cash payments and transactions have been halted and e-payment effective from Monday 8th Nove mber 2021.”