Kano State

By: Habibu Maaruf Abdu 

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, coinciding with World Polio Day, UNICEF launched the ‘No More Zero Dose’ immunisation song across Nigeria and other West and Central African countries. 

The Kano state launch took place at Tahir Guest Palace, attended by government officials, Kannywood members, social media influencers, and journalists from Jigawa and Katsina states.

According to Mr. Rahama R.M. Farah, chief of UNICEF’s Kano field office, the event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation, especially for children under five. 

“We have gathered this morning to raise awareness on the importance of Immunization, which remains the most cost-effective intervention to confront vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in children under 5 years of age…”

“Thank you for joining us this morning to launch the Immunization Song aptly entitled, No More Zero Dose!” He added 

The No More Zero Dose song highlights the urgent need to boost immunisation coverage in West and Central Africa, a region with the lowest vaccination rates in the world. This reality has led to multiple outbreaks of preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, polio, yellow fever, and cerebrospinal meningitis in the region.

The song features Spyro, Ali Nuhu, other top music stars, and UNICEF Champions from Mali, Chad, Cameroon, and Guinea. 

A media dialogue on immunisation followed the song’s launch. UNICEF Communication specialist Samuel Kaalu then mobilised caregivers for the upcoming immunisation campaign in November, encouraging them to amplify the message.

By Uzair Adam 

A Federal High Court in Kano has disqualified Prof. Sani Lawan Malumfashi as Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) due to his affiliation with a political party. 

Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the ruling following a suit filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court also disqualified five other members of KANSIEC—Anas Muhammad Mustapha, Mukhtar Garba Dandago, Isyaku Ibrahim Kunya, Kabir Jibril Zakirai, and Amina Inuwa Fagge—on similar grounds. 

According to the court, they are active members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), making them unqualified for their roles under the Nigerian Constitution and the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law.

Justice Amobeda further ordered that KANSIEC must cease all activities related to the upcoming 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State until a properly constituted commission is appointed in accordance with the law. 

This includes halting the issuance of election guidelines, candidate screenings, and the sale of nomination forms, all of which were declared null and void.

Additionally, the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold all electoral materials, including the voter register, from KANSIEC until the commission is legally restructured.

The ruling emphasizes that any actions taken by KANSIEC in preparation for the 2024 Local Government Election are invalid unless qualified individuals are appointed to the commission.

By Abbas Datti

As citizens of Kano State, we have witnessed the power of effective leadership in fostering youth empowerment and curbing youth restiveness. Under the fair representation of former House of Representatives Member, Rt Hon Aminu Sulaiman Goro of Fagge Federal Constituency, there was a clear commitment to improving the lives of young people. 

We call on the incumbent Fagge House of Representatives Member, Barr. Muhammad Bello Shehu to step up and continue the vital work that his predecessor began. There is an urgent need to reinvigorate efforts to fight youth restiveness through job creation, vocational training, and mentorship programs. 

Similarly, women must be given the tools and opportunities to succeed through economic empowerment initiatives, access to loans, and business development programs.

Ex-Rep Aminu Sulaiman Goro was a youth and women’s empowerment champion, leaving behind a legacy of initiatives that addressed the pressing needs of both groups. Through programs aimed at reducing unemployment, promoting skill acquisition, and empowering women economically, he provided pathways to prosperity for many, contributing to a more stable and thriving environment.

Since the end of Aminu Sulaiman Goro’s tenure, the challenges of youth restiveness and the marginalisation of women have resurfaced with greater intensity. Many of our young people are again feeling the weight of unemployment and lack of opportunities, leading to increased frustration and social unrest. Therefore, we call on Barr. M. B. Shehu to emulate the footsteps of his predecessor by implementing impactful youth empowerment initiatives and women empowerment programmes 

M. B. Shehu needs to focus on job creation, scholarship, and skill-building programs tailored specifically for young people. These efforts can reduce youth restiveness and position the younger generation as crucial contributors to economic progress, instilling a sense of hope and optimism in our community.

The well-being of our youth and women is central to the prosperity and peace of the Fagge Federal Constituency. As a community, we urge M.B. Shehu to prioritise these issues and make youth and women’s empowerment a central part of his legislative agenda. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable are given the support they need to thrive. 

Abbas Datti wrote from Kano via comradeabbasdatti@gmail.com.

By Abdulrazak Abdulrauf Mudi

No words can truly capture the bond between brothers, but for me, my younger brother was more than just a family member; he was my closest companion, a light in our home, and someone who always had a smile for everyone. Full of life and optimism, he never failed to see the good in others, even when it wasn’t deserved.

Sadly, one of his closest friends since childhood, someone he grew up with and trusted, would eventually be the cause of an unimaginable tragedy – a grand betrayal. It was a life cut too short.

Aminu Abdulrauf was born in Rugu-Rugu in 1999, a small community in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano state. He was a kind, hardworking, and respectful young man loved by everyone in our family and known for his joviality.

Aminu wasn’t just a brother to me; he was inspirational. He led a peaceful, trouble-free life and enjoyed spending time with his friends, who he considered family.

Aminu completed his education at Rugu-rugu Central Primary School and graduated from Government Senior Secondary School Faskar Ma’aaji in 2018. From all indications, Aminu’s future seemed bright. He had built a house and was preparing for his marriage. But everything changed all of a sudden. 

One fateful Monday afternoon in 2022, around 2:30 pm – a typical afternoon for Aminu, who was sitting with his friends, chatting and playing at their usual meeting point just opposite my house, he borrowed a knife from one of his friends who sold sugarcane, intending to fix a stick he was holding. As he worked on the stick, Mudassir Ashura, one of their childhood friends, had the other end. In a tragic accident, the knife Aminu was using slipped and cut Mudassir’s hand, leaving a minor injury.

Aminu was horrified at what had happened and immediately tried to help. He offered traditional medicine to stop the bleeding and even pulled out ampicillin from his pocket to provide some first aid. But Mudassir denied any help, instead muttering words of revenge.

Neither Aminu’s friends nor my brother himself took Mudassir’s threat seriously. They thought it was a passing comment born out of frustration.

But Mudassir’s anger wasn’t fleeting, so he rushed home, grabbed a sharp knife, and returned to confront Aminu. Without hesitation, he stabbed Aminu on the right side of his stomach. The air was filled with my brother’s cries for help as blood began to flow rapidly from the wound.

In the chaos, Mudassir fled the scene, leaving Aminu in the pool of his blood and gasping for breath.

We rushed Aminu to Tudun Wada General Hospital, where he was immediately admitted to the emergency ward. As soon as our father heard the news, he went straight to the Tudun Wada police station and filed a report. Inspector Aminu Shuaibu entertained the case, and an order was given for Mudassir’s immediate arrest.

For two agonising days, we stayed by Aminu’s side at the hospital, praying for his recovery. Despite the tests, treatment, and even the scan to assess the depth of the knife wound, his condition worsened. On Wednesday, he passed away, leaving us shattered and consumed with grief and anger.

The following day, Aminu was buried amidst hearts. We offered prayers in an attempt to find solace in our faith. Our father assigned me the responsibility of following up the case against Mudassir. The authorities charged him with murder,and we spent weeks going back and forth between the police station and state headquarters in Kano.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this process was how the system treated us. The police demanded money from us to fuel their vehicle to transfer the case, a painful reminder that justice can be costly even in tragedy.

After a week of efforts, the case was finally filed at court number 7 at No Man’s Land, Kano. I met with the court registrar and was informed that we would bring three witnesses to the trial.

When I returned home to update my father and family members, he made a decision that took me by surprise. With a heavy heart, he told me it was enough that no amount of struggle or court proceedings would bring Aminu back to us. He believed we should leave the matter to Almighty Allah, the ultimate judge.

In the end, my brother’s death left a permanent scar, not just in the heart of our family but also in the hearts of all who knew him. Aminu’s passing taught us painful lessons about the fragility of life, the unpredictability of those we called friends, and the dark consequences of unchecked anger.

As much as we wanted justice, my father’s decision to leave everything in the hands of Allah reminded me of the importance of faith and trust in divine wisdom, even in the face of heart-wrenching tragedy.

Abdulrazak Abdulrauf Mudi wrote from the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano.

By Anwar Usman

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano has announced the suspension of the State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and the Commissioner of transportation, Muhammad Diggol.

The State party Chairman, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, confirmed this to journalists late Monday.

He said the two people were suspended over disloyalty and abuse of power and creating unnecessary tension in the party.

“We are here by informing the public today that we have suspended the SSG Abdullahi Baffa Bichi and the commissioner of transportation, Muhammad Diggol over abuse of power, office and disloyalty to the party.

“We appreciate the leadership of the party from their wards and the Local Government confirmed to us. They are all from Bichi north where they all came from for bringing the issue to us in written.

“Serving as the leaders of the party, we deliberated and consider that this is the best decision to take until we are done investigation on the issue.”

Reports has it that there is a growing crisis in the Bichi area of the NNPP between the stakeholders in the party.

By Khaleed Suleiman Abdul

We thank Allah for a life well spent. Indeed, from Allah we come, and to him we shall return. Professor Musa Abdu Auyo’s death is undoubtedly one of the few transitions that shocked Bayero University Kano and the entire academic circle within and outside Nigeria. 

The Comrade, as we fondly called him, was an unrepentant freedom fighter and social justice crusader. His uncommon spirit of tolerance and forgiveness earned him popularity among different classes of people. In fact, he is a man of the people, and the turnout of people from all walks of life who paid their last respects during his internment testified to that.

My first close encounter with him was when he and a few other individuals helped me secure admission into Bayero University. That was about three decades ago, 1993 – 1994, to be precise. From then on, the relationship knew no boundary and continued to wax stronger until his death.

I always recall with joy how he facilitated the securing of admission for ten qualified candidates in different departments and faculties whose credentials were forwarded to him by my humble self.

His simplicity and sense of accommodation enabled him to act or respond with dispatch to any request I put before him, particularly on student admission or counselling issues.

He once said, “As a lecturer, I don’t have much financially to give, but when it comes to securing admission or imparting knowledge to people, I must do my best”.

Comrade was always ready and willing to help you irrespective of your tribe, religion, class, or age. He believed that society must change positively through education and the creation of public awareness. 

His exemplary, simple lifestyle contributed immensely to our conduct. 

He taught us the spirit of accountability, answerability, patriotism, and sympathy in the common person.

The late academic guru was bereaved by two wives and nine blessed and educated children. One of them is completing her PhD, and others have or are doing their master’s degree and undergraduate programs in different fields of human endeavour. May God Almighty protect and guide them, ameen.

Professor Musa Auyo graduated in library and information sciences from the prestigious Bayero University Kano, received a master’s degree in the same field from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and received a PhD from BUK. He has also been a professor from the same institution lately.

He was the Head of the Department of Library and Information Sciences, Dean of the faculty of education, Bayero University librarian, one-time pioneer librarian at Federal University Kafin Hausa, and, very recently, chairman of the Board College of Education, Gumel, Jigawa State.

Despite all these academic responsibilities, the late professor still found time to belong to associations within and outside the university walls. 

I remember as a student, whenever a symposium was organised, and comrade Auyo and the likes of Prof. Ibrahim Bello-Kano (IBK), late Auwalu Umar, and Auwalu Kawu of sociology were to make a presentation, the theatre always appeared too small to accommodate the mammoth crowd of students anxious to hear words of wisdom from the effervescent cum erudite scholar.

His belief in public education and enlightenment led him to champion the establishment of the Auyo Youth Association (AYA), Hadejia Youth Organization, and Literacy Club Society of Bayero University (LICSOBUK) in which I worked closely with him to champion the cause but was short-lived immediately after we graduated.

He was a great pillar, a beacon who nurtured and groomed students and intellectuals within and outside the campus. Some of his students today are professors doing well in their chosen professions. They include professors Abbas Mai Dabino and Baffa Abubakar, to mention a few.

I recall with pride how the late Professor Auyo, as a crusader of social justice and other sound-minded intellectuals in the Senate, saved many students from rustication for merely embarking on a lack of electricity and water protest in the new campus, where the Vice Chancellor insisted that the students must be punished. 

However, these noblemen, including the late professor, stood their ground to ensure no student fell prey to victimisation.

In conclusion, filling the vacuum created by your demise will be very difficult. Your contribution to education, community development, social justice, mentoring, and nurturing within the university perimeter and across society will remain indelible in our memory.

We pray to almighty God to grant you the highest level of Jannah, peace, and everlasting Rahma in your grave until we meet and part no more. Alhamdulillahi!

Khaleed Suleiman Abdul (Sardauna of Gwagwarwa) wrote via akhaleed431@gmail.com.

By Umar Fatima Shehu

The weather and environment have hindered people’s health due to rapid rainfall, dam overflow, bushy environment, and unclean water.

According to the Reliefweb report, some states in the northern part of Nigeria have been experiencing continuous rainfall, which has caused drainage blockages, floods, crop loss, and soil erosion in states such as Kano, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Jigawa.

KANO

Obstruction of drainages, a bushy environment, and unclean water are affecting the people’s health in Kano, as there are few drainage provisions. 

At Bayero University Kano, this closure has affected the flow of waste products from the hostel latrines. The male hostels (Aliko Dangote, El-El-Kamis) and some of the female hostels are affected by this issue, which is not harmful to the health of the students residing and passing along the building.

Due to unknown circumstances, the management of the university has not been providing sufficient water to the hostels, leading to students fetching water from unclean sources such as rainwater from the rooftop of the hostel building, broken pipes surrounded by stagnant water, etc.

The closure of drainages and bushy environment has led to too much stagnant water around the university. This water helps to generate more mosquitoes and reptiles. The high rate of students visiting the school clinically is evidence of a lack of environmental hygiene. Several students have been diagnosed with malaria, fever, typhoid, cough, etc.

BORNO

The ancient city of Borno, Maiduguri, was flooded due to the overflow of the Alau Dam in Konduga. This led to home loss, missing relatives, and destruction of amenities, including health facilities.

According to a report by the Nigeria Health Watch, over 400,000 people are displaced. The state is at a high risk of infectious disease outbreaks because of camp crowdness, lack of clean drinking water, unhygienic conditions, shortage of health facilities, etc.

According to Chachu Tadicha, deputy director of program operations/humanitarian at Save the Children,” the flood has posed a serious risk to food security because crops in the field have been severely damaged. With this, there will be an increasing rate of malnutrition.”

The flood has contaminated the environment with specks of dirt from the disposals and drainages, which has caused stagnant water to serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare stated, “Chlorine tablets, anti-malaria treatment, bednet, etc., are being sent from other states to Maiduguri to address the potential increase in malaria cases.”

WAKE UP CALL

Dams and riverbank overflow caused most flood incidents. The Federal and State governments should work to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents again in the country by ensuring the appropriate use of signed bills for their purpose.

By Uzair Adam

A Kano State High Court has once again issued an order preventing the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, from carrying out renovations to the Nassarawa Mini Palace.

The legal action was initiated by the Kano State Government, the Attorney-General of Kano, and the Kano Emirate Council, who filed a motion through their counsel, Rilwanu Umar SAN, on September 12.

They requested the court to stop Ado-Bayero from making any changes to the palace located along State Road in Kano.

In her ruling, Justice Dije Abdu-Aboki, the Chief Judge of Kano State, found the applicants’ request valid, noting that the Emir had neither submitted a counter affidavit nor provided a written defense.

Abdu-Aboki referred the case to High Court 15 for further proceedings.

During the session, counsel for the applicants argued that Bayero had been removed from his position by the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law of 2024.

Despite being served on September 14, the respondent had not filed a response or appeared before the court.

The applicants also requested that the court declare the Nassarawa Mini Palace as the property of the Kano State Government and the Kano Emirate Council, not the personal property of Ado-Bayero.

Previously, on September 13, the court issued an Interim Injunction, preventing the Emir and his representatives from demolishing, renovating, or making any alterations to the palace until the case is resolved.

The court ordered that the status quo regarding the palace’s structure and design be maintained during the legal process.

By Bilal Muhammad Bello (BMB)

It is widely recognised across Kano State that the 44 LGA Day Technical Schools have been abandoned and remain under incomplete construction. These schools were established in 2012 during the second tenure of former Governor Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. 

The initial progress on these schools was swift under Kwankwaso’s administration. However, the subsequent government, led by former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, halted the continuation of the project.

The abandonment of these schools has not only led to their physical decay but also created opportunities for theft and vandalism, with some individuals stealing materials from the school premises. The neglected sites have also become hubs for illicit activities, posing a threat to the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities.

It is crucial to bring this matter to the attention of His Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, the current Governor of Kano State. Your commitment to advancing education in both urban and rural areas, particularly through the construction of classroom blocks, the reduction of registration fees for higher education institutions, and the provision of postgraduate scholarships, is commendable and has garnered praise from Kano residents and visitors alike.

During your 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial campaigns, you pledged to resume work on the 44 LGA Day Technical Schools. I respectfully appeal to your administration to take swift action to complete these schools. By doing so, you will transform these temporary sites into permanent institutions, ensuring they fulfil their original purpose and preventing further loss of valuable materials.

Bilal Muhammad Bello (BMB) wrote from Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano.

By Engr. Alkasim Auwal

There was a time, not so long ago, when Kano stood tall as the industrial heart of Northern Nigeria. It was a vibrant, thriving city, neck and neck with Lagos, vying for economic supremacy in the country. Kano’s industries were buzzing, its economy flourishing, and its future seemed limitless. But today, that promise has faded. Kano has fallen behind — not just behind Lagos, but even smaller states like Ogun. How did we lose our way?

Nowadays, the only thing Kano can confidently claim is its large population. Economic stagnation, crumbling infrastructure, and leadership failures have become the sad reality of a state that once had so much potential. Since 1999, our leaders have come and gone — Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Ganduje, and now Abba — but none have been able to provide the clear vision and roadmap Kano so desperately needs. Their methods may have differed, but the results have been the same: little progress and missed opportunities.

Think about it — in 2024, we’re still talking about rehabilitating primary schools and constructing 5-kilometer roads. If we had a genuinely functional system, these tasks should be handled by local government chairmen, not state governors. We’re still facing water shortages, and our roads in the city and the rural areas remain in disrepair. These are problems that should have been fixed decades ago, yet here we are, still grappling with them.

Meanwhile, Lagos has moved forward. They now have a functioning metro train system, and traffic jams — once a defining feature of the city — have been significantly reduced. Lagos is not just growing; it’s thriving. It’s what happens when a state follows a clear and focused plan. While Kano should implement advanced transportation systems like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Light Rail Transit (LRT), we’re still debating basic infrastructure. We should be pioneering new ventures like our state airline, much like Akwa Ibom did with Ibom Air. 

Then there’s agriculture. Kano is blessed with vast, fertile land that could revolutionise our economy. We could lead Nigeria in mechanised farming, feeding our state and the nation. Just look at what Niger State’s governor is doing with their agricultural reforms. Why aren’t we doing the same? Why are we letting such immense potential go to waste?

The neglect of Kano’s importance became painfully clear when the federal government launched CNG-free conversion centres in several states. Yet, Kano—the most populous state in Nigeria—wasn’t even considered. It’s a glaring omission that reflects how far we’ve fallen off the radar. Our leaders don’t seem to care. They’re more concerned with playing politics instead of pushing for development and innovation.

So, where did we get it wrong?

We got it wrong when we lost sight of long-term development, when our leaders prioritised political games over real progress, and when they abandoned the people’s needs for short-term gains. Kano’s downfall is not inevitable; it results from poor planning, lack of foresight, and a failure to act on the opportunities available.

The solution isn’t impossible. It requires leadership that listens to the people, plans for the future, and invests in infrastructure, education, and industries. Kano can rise again, but only if we recognise our mistakes and demand better from those who lead us. We need a vision for the future that builds on our strengths and addresses our weaknesses.

Until then, we will continue to watch as other states, big and small, leave us behind. Kano’s story doesn’t have to be one of decline. But to change the narrative, we need bold, forward-thinking leadership that understands the power of a clear and actionable blueprint for development. The choice is ours, and it starts now.