Kano State

By Ishaka Mohammed

A 37-year-old man from Kogi State, Yusuf Shuaib, has launched a social media platform to bridge the gap between Nigerians and owners of social media companies.

The platform, named Ayema Social, was completed in June 2022, but the application was officially launched in September.

Yusuf holds a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) (formerly Kogi State University), Anyigba, Kogi State. He started his technology journey during his service year in Kano in 2009 when he enrolled in an information technology diploma.

In a chat with The Daily Reality, Yusuf revealed that he wanted to do something to change the popular belief that Islamic studies graduates can only become teachers or lecturers. However, his interest in becoming a developer had barely sparked off until after observing the role of social media in the 2015 general elections. 

Concerning the number of users so far, Yusuf said Ayema Social had recorded over 260 users within its two weeks of launch. “It was made public earlier this month [September] after being subjected to a series of tests for over two months, and our target is a minimum of a million users by December, God willing,” he said.

He also revealed that the application had been endorsed by some dignitaries, including the member representing Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency, Honourable Abdullahi Ibrahim (Halims); the executive director of special projects at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, Mr Tijjani Baba; and a senior officer of the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Ishaka Yakubu.

The founder, however, disclosed that only Android phones support the application version at the moment as he is still sourcing money to work towards making it accessible to users of Apple phones and iPads.

Regarding the security of users, Yusuf told The Daily Reality that the platform, which is named after his mother, Ayema, is bound by extant law global standards for data security and confidentiality, adding that the company is also in technical support partnerships with both Rayjoh Global Resources and Logical Address Limited.

Ayema Social shares many features with Facebook, and users can opt for either the website www.ayema.ng or its Android application version available on Google Play Store.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has advised Federal Government to create an efficient system and structures which will remove administrative bottlenecks in the justice sector service delivery process.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge, said the Governor stated this on Friday while declaring open the maiden retreat for top management of the Federal Ministry of Justice held in Kano.

The Governor was represented by his deputy and APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, in the event themed, “Enhancing system and structures in the Federal Ministry of Justice for effective justice sector service delivery”.

“The retreat, therefore, comes at appropriate time for the top management of the ministry to explore right mechanisms which will guide them in discharging the primary function of the ministry that is the administration of justice in the country,” the statement quoted Ganduje.

He added that “The retreat will achieve its objective of articulating activities and programmes which will change the present state of affairs by enhancing the efficiency and fairness of justice delivery, improved integrity, accountability, transparency across the sector, strengthening coordination and cooperation among the various stakeholders.”

On his part, the organiser of the event, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN, said the retreat would afford them the opportunity for review and self-assessment of their achievements.

He added that the retreat would also “identify the challenges and areas requiring revitalisation and then come up with innovative ideas to enhance their capacities to be more efficient and effective in achieving their institutional mandate.

“I am assured that we have here with us in this retreat legal experts and management professionals who will share their wealth of knowledge and experience to keep us abreast with contemporary issues that could support us in actualising this mandate,” Malami said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Kano State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has urged the state gubernatorial candidates to put their differences aside and work towards the development of Kano.

Gawuna, who is the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), said the interest of the state should supercede any individual’s ambition.

This, however, was disclosed in a statement signed Sunday, 4th September, 2022 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hassan Musa Fagge.

The statement disclosed that Gawuna made the charge during a ‘One Day Colloquium for Kano and Jigawa States Candidates’ across political parties contesting for various elective offices in the 2023 general elections.

The event was organised by the Kano-Jigawa Professionals Forum (KJPF) held at the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Research, Mambayya House.

The statement reads: “As stakeholders it is our duty to enhance peace, unity, cohesion and progress among our people. Therefore, we should cooperate with each another and advise should be given to those in government even if you are in the opposition.

“I am delighted you organised this event to give your contribution towards promoting the development of Kano State.

“Even though everyone of us has his own programmes but this 10 years strategic plan report was made by professionals of diverse background therefore I wish to call on all contestants to use it as a platform for guide when elected during governance.”

In attendance during the event were the APC Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate Alh. Murtala Sule Garo and other candidates from other various political parties.

By Muhammad Aminu

At least ten people have been trapped in a three-storey building being constructed in the famous Beirut Road market in Kano City.

An unspecified number of people have been affected, including some people working on the construction site.

An eyewitness said that the Kano State Government is constructing the building. He confirmed that close to ten people are still trapped in the collapsed building.

Three people have been rescued so far, but residents are lamenting the late arrival of the rescue operations team. An eyewitness also said his friend was among the trapped as his number rang and he answered, saying he was suffocating.

The incident happened around 30:30pm Tuesday.

By Muhammad Aminu

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has donated N50 million to Kantin Kwari textile market in Kano following a flood that affected the market.

The Star earlier reported that Kano has been witnessing torrential rainfall in the last few days that has led to floods in many parts of the metropolis, including the Kwari textile market.

The presidential candidate announced the donation Monday while welcoming former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau to the PDP.

He sympathized with the businessmen and women who were already suffering from an unfriendly business environment with economic hardship.

According to him, Shekarau’s defection is a win for the people of Kano State, the PDP and the country.

The former Kano State governor argued that Atiku was the most qualified candidate to get Nigeria working again come 2023.

Atiku was in Kano since Sunday alongside his running mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Minister of Transportation, Senator Abdullahi Umar Idris, among other party chieftains.

By Uzair Adam Imam

At least three people reportedly died while 15 others sustained injuries in an auto car accident that occurred in Takai Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Kano State Fire Service Spokesman, Yusuf Abdullahi, confirmed the development Sunday, saying the accident involved a Toyota Hilux conveying three people from Jigawa State and a commercial hummer bus conveying 15 others from Kano.

Abdullahi, who identified the dead victims as Sani Isah 28, Shamawilu Isah 30 and Musa Yusuf, 32, stated, “On receiving the information, we quickly sent out our rescue team to the scene of the accident for rescue.

“On arrival, we found out that it was a commercial bus (hummer bus) without registration number and conveying 15 people from Kano that had a head-on collision with a Toyota Hilux conveying three persons coming from Jigawa with registration number JMK 142 XA. The hummer bus was engulfed by fire.

“Out of the 18 people involved, 15 people were rescued alive while three out of the passengers from the hummer bus were rescued unconscious. We immediately conveyed them to Takai General Hospital where doctors on duty confirmed the three unconscious, dead,” he said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of Kano State, has formally rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Shekarau joined the PDP on Monday in Kano after leaving the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman, and other PDP members met with the former governor.

Shekarau joined the NNPP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and left it two months later.

Shekarau, a senator for Kano Central, previously served as Kano’s governor for two terms and as Nigeria’s minister of education.

He also contested for president of Nigeria in the 2011 general elections.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Kano State newly deployed Commissioner, Abubakar Lawal, has resumed duty on Friday at the command’s headquarters in Bompai, a statement Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed. 

The Daily Reality gathered that the new CP was deployed to Kano on Wednesday, following the retirement of CP Sama’ila Shuaibu Dikko.

It was learned that, before his deployment to Kano, Lawal was a commissioner of police in Enugu State Police Command. 

Lawal is a native of Daura in Katsina, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and has served in various capacities.

By Muhammad Aminu

Kano state ministry of health, through the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), has disbursed remnant of the CACOVID medical supplies to 175 health facilities across 44 local government areas of the state.

Primary Health Care facilities, general hospitals and specialist hospitals are the beneficiaries of the equipment.

Speaking at the flagging up, the Director General, DMCSA, Hisham Imamuddeen, said the exercise is part of the state government’s effort to improve the quality of healthcare across the 44 Local Government areas of Kano state.

He said: “Facilities need to improve to cater for the increasing population, and this is why we felt the need to distribute these equipment for the betterment of the people.”

“These are equipment from Sani Abacha Isolation Centre; they were brought here due to the decline of Covid-19.”

On his part, Kano state commissioner for health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amina A. Musa, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the commodities.

“The CACOVID provided additional support of these items when we were in the midst of the pandemic, which was used to provide an additional isolation centre built at Sani Abacha stadium.

“The centre was then equipped with equipment to include beds, air conditioners, television sets and gym centre among others. We thank God it has all come to pass.”

Some of the beneficiaries who started receiving the equipment commended the effort while promising to make judicious utilisation of the commodities.

By Muhammad Aminu 

Former Kano State Governor and Senator representing Kano Central Zone, Ibrahim Shekarau, has said he only owns a single house in Kano.

Shekarau, who said he still rents a house in Abuja, added that he is yet to afford a personal home in the Federal Capital Territory.

He was reacting to an allegation that he was given $1 million in a bid to push him out of Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to another undisclosed party.

He made the statement while engaging his followers, the Shura council and committees on the brewing crisis in the NNPP.

He contended that in his over 40 years of public engagement, there is no money that could influence his decision.

“In my 42 years as a leader, I was a principal of GSS Hadejia with 500 students and 64 teachers. This hand has signed and approved whatever amount of money one can think of. My commissioners are alive; I have never dictated who should be given contracts in a council meeting.

“We have handled uncountable contracts with both foreign and local contractors. So I challenge any contractor to come out and say there was a time we negotiated on a particular contract.

“I challenge every political appointee or contractor who brought one Naira to me. If it happens and they keep quiet, I will not forgive him. 

Shekarau added that as precious as plots are in Kano, he has never allocated a foot-length of land to himself in his eight years reign as a governor.

He said: “It is not that we don’t like the money, but our dignity is more important than wealth. Therefore, whoever knows any house outside the one built for me based on pension agreement, I have given it to him.”

Shekarau further pointed out that he maintains a good relationship with high-profile politicians within and outside the party, and associating or visiting each other shouldn’t be an issue.

He argued that the recent comment credited to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso necessitated him to brief his followers on the latest happening in the NNPP and the rumoured defection.