Kano

By Uzair Adam

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has appointed Ado Inuwa as the new Controller of the Kano State Command.

Prior to his new role, Inuwa served as the Controller of Corrections in Jigawa State, according to a statement released on Wednesday by SC Musbahu Lawan Kofar Nasarawa.

During the handover ceremony, Inuwa urged officers and personnel of the command to extend their full cooperation in achieving the objectives of both the command and the service.

He succeeds CC Sulaiman Muhammad Inuwa, who retired after 35 years of dedicated service.

Inuwa expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received and encouraged staff to work collectively in supporting both inmates and those on non-custodial sentences.

He also called on other security agencies in the state to collaborate in strengthening Kano’s security.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has approved new resumption dates for all public and private primary and post-primary schools for the 2024/2025 academic session.

According to the updated schedule, boarding students will return to school on Sunday, September 15th, 2024, while pupils and students attending day schools will resume on Monday, September 16th, 2024.

This announcement follows the earlier postponement of school resumption, which was made by the state’s Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, on Saturday, September 7th.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Public Enlightenment at the State Ministry of Education, Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, parents and guardians were urged to ensure compliance with the new dates.

The statement also advised students to avoid bringing prohibited items, such as knives or razors, and to adhere to school regulations.

The government, led by Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, reiterated its commitment to providing quality education and creating an environment conducive to academic success.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Government has delayed the resumption of both primary and secondary schools for the 2024/2025 academic session, initially set for September 8th and 9th.

The postponement was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Ministry of Education, Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, on Saturday.

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, cited urgent reasons for the decision, emphasizing that it was made to improve the learning environment for students.

Doguwa said, “I wish to inform pupils, students, and parents that the previously announced resumption dates are now postponed.

“This decision will help create a more conducive learning atmosphere for our children.

“A new resumption date will be communicated in due course,” the statement read.

The ministry urged students and parents to bear with any inconvenience caused by the delay, assuring them that it was in the best interest of improving educational conditions in the state.

By Uzair Adam

Two children have been confirmed dead, and a couple sustained injuries after a two-storey building collapsed at Noman’s Land in the Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.

The incident, which occurred early Thursday morning, was confirmed by Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Kano.

According to Abdullahi, NEMA received a distress call at around 2:00 a.m. from a concerned citizen reporting the collapse. A rescue team was immediately dispatched to the site.

“Four individuals were rescued from the rubble, including a husband, wife, and their two children. Unfortunately, the two children were pronounced dead, while the parents were taken to the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital for medical treatment,” Abdullahi said.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with teams from the Kano State Fire Service, Police, Red Cross, NSCDC, and SEMA working to find any remaining victims.

By Uzair Adam

Hundreds of tricycle operators in Kano State took to the streets yesterday, protesting the sharp increase in the pump price of petrol, which has now reached N1,200 per liter at several filling stations.

The Daily Reality reported Tuesday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) sells petrol at N904 per liter within the state.

The protest, which began around the Dangi Bridge area, disrupted traffic for hours, leaving commuters and motorists stranded.

Many tricycle operators deserted their vehicles to join long queues at fuel stations, while passengers struggled with the sudden hike in transport fares.

A tricycle operator, Abdulazeez Ibrahim, reflected on the escalating fuel prices, recalling when petrol once sold for N95 per liter during the late President Shehu Musa Yar’adua’s administration.

“When prices go up in Nigeria, they never come down. This situation is very unfortunate, and it leaves us wondering how we will survive,” he lamented.

Similarly, a passenger, Ramatu Aminu, expressed frustration after being charged N300 for a trip that previously cost between N150 and N200.

“Many passengers were left stranded as there were few tricycles on the road, all due to the fuel price hike,” she added.

The situation is equally dire in neighboring Jigawa State, where petrol prices have soared to N1,350 per liter in the state capital, Dutse.

A motorist, Aliyu Katsina, recounted how he bought fuel at N1,150 in the morning, only for the price to spike to N1,350 later that afternoon.

The rapid increase in fuel prices across Northern Nigeria has left both operators and passengers grappling with the economic impact, as the cost of living continues to rise.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, across the country.

In Kano, the price has risen to N904 per litre at NNPCL filling stations.

Contrary to some reports, the Federal Government has denied instructing NNPCL to sell petrol at ₦1,000 per litre.

This clarification was made in a statement issued by Nnemaka Okafor, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, on Tuesday.

The statement dismissed the report as false and intended to cause confusion in the oil industry.

Despite this, an internal message circulating allegedly from NNPCL suggested a different price point.

The message indicated an upward review of the petrol pump price from N617 per litre to N897 per litre, effective September 3, 2024.

The Daily Reality on Tuesday gathered that NNPCL is now officially selling fuel at N904 per litre.

However, the correspondent noted that the station in Hotoro, Nasarawa local government area, was not dispensing fuel to the public, except to familiar individuals, resulting in long queues.

One motorist expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “This is unfortunate; even with the price hike to N904 per litre, only those they know are being allowed to buy fuel. We have been here for over two hours.”

An anonymous staff member at the station revealed that the directive to increase the pump price came from NNPCL on Tuesday.

By Uzair Adam

At least 10 people have died and 40 others are currently hospitalized following a diphtheria outbreak in Kano State.

The state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, disclosed this to journalists as reported by The Daily Reality on Sunday.

Dr. Labaran confirmed to journalists that the deaths occurred over the past week, adding that the state government has established diphtheria treatment centers in various local government areas to handle the outbreak.

“We have recorded 10 deaths from the diphtheria outbreak in the last week, and as of this morning, 40 patients are receiving treatment,” Dr. Labaran stated. He urged residents who encounter individuals showing symptoms of diphtheria to visit the newly established treatment centers instead of coming to facilities in the metropolitan area, to help prevent the spread of the disease.

He emphasized that treatment at these centers is free of charge.

Dr. Labaran also refuted figures circulating on social media, stating, “The only official number we have is 10 deaths.” The health authorities in Kano continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to contain the outbreak are underway.

 By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Kano State court has released 40 minors on bail who were among the hundreds arrested during the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.

The minors were freed following the intervention of Advocate for Justice Alliance, a civic organisation led by Barrister AK Musa. 

The Kano State Police Command had arrested 873 suspects for alleged crimes committed during the protests, which were held to demand solutions to Nigeria’s economic woes and insecurity.

The suspects were arraigned before magistrates and detained in various prison facilities. 

Barrister Musa confirmed the release of the minors, saying, “We’re pleased that 40 minors have been granted bail, but unfortunately, no adults have been released.”

He added that his organisation is working to secure the release and representation of more detainees, with the next court hearing set for September 11, 2024. 

The protests, which took place across the country, saw over 1000 Nigerians arrested and detained, according to Amnesty International.

The global human rights organisation criticized the government’s response to the protests, saying it failed to address the economic issues driving the demonstrations.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has arrested several top officials over a significant corruption scandal involving the procurement of drugs and medical equipment for the 44 local governments in Kano State.

The investigation centers on allegations of financial misconduct and violations of procurement laws.

Among those detained are Ibrahim Muhammad Kabara, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Abdullahi Ibrahim Bashir, the Chairman of the State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Interim Council Chairman of Tarauni Local Government.

The Daily Reality gathered that additionally, five other officials were also arrested in connection with the case.

The Commission has also summoned Musa Garba, Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and a nephew of former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for questioning.

Sources indicate that Abdullahi Ibrahim Bashir confessed to illegally authorizing the payment of N402.6 million for the procurement, with N347.7 million already disbursed by 38 local governments before the Commission’s investigation commenced.

The detained officials, who have been held in custody since Tuesday morning, are undergoing interrogation by the Commission.

By Uzair Adam

A tragic incident has occurred in Karkari village, Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, where a widow and her five children lost their lives after consuming a local Hausa delicacy known as Danwake.

The Kano Police Command confirmed the heartbreaking event, stating that the victims were rushed to Gwarzo General Hospital but were declared dead upon arrival.

According to the Police spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna, investigations have begun to determine the exact cause of the deaths.

The Daily Reality gathered that preliminary reports suggest that the widow, Alhakatu Abdulkarim, may have used expired cassava flour in preparing the meal, leading to the unfortunate outcome.

The deceased children have been identified as Bashir, Firdausi, Hafsat, Usman, and Jamilu.

The community and the authorities are now awaiting a detailed medical report from the hospital to confirm the cause of death and prevent future occurrences.