Kano

By Uzair Adam

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended Bayero University, Kano (BUK), for its commitment to delivering quality education and maintaining equitable admission practices over the years.

The vice president, represented by Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Development Finance and Financial Inclusion, gave the commendation while inaugurating the BUK Class of 2004 Reunion at the university’s Main Campus on Saturday.

He praised BUK for its longstanding reputation for unbiased admission policies, emphasizing that the university has consistently offered opportunities to students regardless of religious or ethnic backgrounds.

“The contributions of Bayero University, Kano, in providing quality education for all Nigerians and its track record of equitable admission policies are truly commendable,” Shettima stated.

Highlighting some challenges faced by marginalized groups, including women, he underscored the need for innovative interventions to address systemic inequalities.

He urged participants at the reunion to leverage their expertise, networks, and resources to foster impactful solutions.

Shettima added, “With every challenge comes an opportunity. Together, as ambassadors of this institution, we can develop groundbreaking strategies and drive meaningful change. That is the essence of today’s reunion.”

The vice president reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to collaboration with private sector stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.

He stressed that government efforts alone could not unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential.

“This gathering highlights the pivotal role of future leaders and partners in ensuring the successful implementation of our initiatives. Let us seize this moment to exchange ideas, design innovative strategies, and explore emerging opportunities, particularly in technology, to create lasting impacts,” he noted.

Shettima called for collective efforts to define impactful roles, establish partnerships, and implement community-driven initiatives.

He urged attendees to support the administration’s vision and transform the outcomes of the reunion into tangible results aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We remain committed to translating these discussions into actions that will benefit our communities and the nation at large,” he concluded.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has alleged the involvement of the Federal Government in the recent blockade of the palace of Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, by security operatives.

The Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, expressed the government’s displeasure during a radio interview, condemning the move as an attempt to destabilize the state.

“We woke up to find the palace entrance sealed off by the police. When we inquired, they said it was an order from above.

“It’s evident that some people with Abuja’s backing are determined to disrupt Kano’s peace,” Bichi stated.

He noted that Kano remains committed to maintaining peace, warning against any attempts to provoke unrest.

Bichi further confirmed the Emir’s decision to accompany the newly appointed District Head of Bichi, Wamban Kano, Munir Sanusi, to assume his post.

Meanwhile, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who led the Friday prayer at the Kano Central Mosque outside the palace, urged residents to remain calm and avoid violence.

“I caution against falling into the traps of those who seek to see Kano in turmoil. They desire chaos, destruction, and loss of innocent lives,” the Emir advised.

The barricade by security operatives, including police and DSS, reportedly aimed to prevent the Emir from traveling to Bichi or attending a meeting with economists on proposed tax reforms.

The incident has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as interference in traditional affairs, while others see it as a political maneuver.

By Muhsin Ibrahim – Cologne, Germany

Let me say it aloud today: the Kano Hisbah Board’s decision to stop arresting people is quite disturbing.

Of course, I am one of those brave few commentators who criticised their method of arresting suspects some time ago, and I still stand by that view and criticism.

From Berlin to Baltimore, London to Lahore, Tel Aviv to Taipei, and Moscow to Muscat, security operatives sometimes manhandle individuals when arresting them. We are all humans!

If all arrests are halted, people will have free rein in Kano. Soon after Hisbah’s announcement, some socialites from other states and countries began relocating to Kano. They act freely and upload their videos on social media.

Kano is cosmopolitan but has unique norms, values, cultures, and religion that deserve respect. We cannot stop globalisation and cultural diffusion, but we should be concerned when our values are undermined.

Globally, countries still protect their “values” in one way or another. “Muhammad” can be – and is – the most popular baby name in England and Wales, but that doesn’t mean Muslims can, for example, legally practice polygyny. This is just but one example.

Kano State Government should reconsider how it manages Hisbah. You either have a functioning Hisbah or no Hisbah at all.

Hisbah should not be a toothless dog. Several clerics are already preaching (wa’azi, nasiha, etc.). It’s not Hisbah’s role to do just that; they need some power to use “force” at a certain level.

May we be guided, amin.

Muhsin Ibrahim is a Kano-born lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany. He can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam 

Armed police officers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have cordoned off the Kano Emir’s Palace at Kofar Kudu, preventing entry and exit from the premises.  

The Daily Reality gathered that this development comes ahead of an anticipated escort by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who is expected to accompany the newly-appointed Wamban Kano, Munir Sanusi, to his district posting in Bichi.  

Several reports have indicated that the Bichi Emir’s Palace is also under heavy security presence, with armed operatives stationed around the area.  

Details of the situation remain sketchy at the moment, but more updates are expected as events unfold.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the process of regulating the indiscriminate sale of cooking gas within the Kano metropolis.

The assembly is set to repeal and also insert a section in the State Fire Service Directorate Edict No 17 of 1970 to accommodate the move.

The measure followed a report by the standing committee on special duties after an investigation on the sale of cooking gas within residential areas during plenary on Wednesday.

While presenting the report, the committee chairman and member representing Gezawa constituency, Abdullahi Yahaya, said the Kano State Fire Service Directorate reported about 475 illegal cooking gas premises after engaging with relevant stakeholders within the state.

He also stated that statistics available from the state chapter of the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NRDPRA) showed that there are 234 unlicensed natural gas retailers in the state.

Yahaya added that the investigation was carried out following a motion moved by a member representing Kiru constituency, Hon. Tasiu Abubakar on the hazards of the sale of the product within the metropolis.

By Uzair Adam

The Senate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has extended the registration deadline by six weeks for students who sat for the First Semester examinations without completing their fee payments.

This decision was reached during the university’s 418th Senate meeting on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, following a recommendation by the Vice Chancellor.

In a statement issued on Friday, Lamara Garba, the Deputy Registrar and Head of Public Affairs, said the extension, effective from Thursday, November 28, 2024, will give affected students additional time to finalise their registration.

Garba warned that students who fail to pay within the extended period will be required to suspend their studies for the 2023/2024 academic session.

He also disclosed that the Senate has approved a suspension of studies for students who were unable to register or sit for the First Semester exams due to unforeseen circumstances.

“This decision highlights the university’s commitment to supporting students facing financial challenges,” Garba stated.

By Uzair Adam

A legal dispute has emerged involving Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over a contentious land allocation in Kwankwasiyya City, Kano.

The case, filed by Garba Musa Kwankwaso, centers on a vast expanse of land initially allocated to WAECO Nigeria Limited during the administration of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Court documents reveal that the defendants include the state commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), the Attorney General of Kano State, and others.

Garba Kwankwaso seeks an interlocutory injunction to prevent the governor and other parties from taking any action deemed adverse to his interests in the land.

The land dispute traces back to a 2017 investigation by the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, which revealed that WAECO, the company allocated the land, was not a legal entity at the time of allocation.

The commission found that the company was actually “Water and Agricultural Engineering Company Limited,” in which Rabiu Kwankwaso and his brother were directors.

Based on this finding, the commission recommended the revocation of the allocation, leading to subsequent reallocation by the administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

During Ganduje’s tenure, portions of the land were allocated to Mallam Kato Square and other original owners, including the Dantata family.

However, sources allege that Governor Yusuf has resisted revoking the land and returning it to WAECO Nigeria Limited, and that prompted Garba Kwankwaso to take legal action.

In an application filed at the Kano High Court, Garba Kwankwaso sought an order to restrain the defendants from entering, demarcating, or allocating the disputed land, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.

Justice Usman Na’abba granted the order on November 13 and adjourned the case until November 27 for further hearing.

The case sheds light on the ongoing complexities of land allocation and revocation in Kano State, raising questions about governance and legal accountability.

By Uzair Adam

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were among the notable figures who attended the wedding Fatiha of the daughter of former Kano State Governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Kano on Saturday.

The grand event also brought together the groom and bride’s fathers, prominent businessman Dahiru Mangal and Rabiu Kwankwaso, alongside Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his deputy, Aminu Abdusalam Gwarzo.

The wedding Fatiha was held at the Palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and drew dignitaries from across the country.

The ceremony marked another significant gathering of Nigeria’s political and business elite, reflecting the strong ties among the nation’s leaders.

By Uzair Adam

A petrol tanker burst into flames near the Jigawa-Kano border, causing alarm among nearby residents and travelers in Jigawa State, Northwest Nigeria.

Aliyu M. A., Public Relations Officer of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Jigawa State Command, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

He stated that on November 12, 2024, around 10:43 a.m., the FFS received an emergency call from Kuho Village Head, Zubairu Ahmad, reporting a tanker accident at Tsaida, Kwanar Kalle, near Gamoji village along Maiduri Road.

“The FFS responded promptly, arriving at the scene at 10:50 a.m. The fire was contained and brought under control,” Aliyu said.

This incident follows a similar accident just one month prior, on October 15, 2024, in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, which tragically claimed over 170 lives when a petrol-laden truck exploded while traveling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State.

By Uzair Adam

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, announced plans for the state to independently generate and distribute electricity, while leveraging the National Electricity Act to alleviate the current power shortfall.

The governor explained that the Act empowers states to address their energy needs, which has prompted Kano to establish its own power generation and distribution agency.

The Daily Reality reports that in response to concerns about power shortages, Yusuf highlighted that Kano has around 20 dams that could be transformed into Independent Hydro Power Plants (IHPPs) to supply electricity across the state.

Currently, the state-owned 10-megawatt Tiga Hydro Independent Power Plant supplies energy to industrial areas and the Kwankwasiyya residential city.Governor Yusuf also mentioned that the Challawa-Gorge Hydro Power Plant, which is 65% complete, will contribute an additional six megawatts of power upon completion, reinforcing the state’s efforts to meet energy demands.

He called on the federal government to expedite projects crucial for Kano’s energy infrastructure, including the second Kaduna-Kano 330KV line, the Daura-Jogana-Kura 330KV line, and the solar initiative approved for 19 northern states.