Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf has uncovered a warehouse where food items meant for palliatives were being diverted at Sharada industrial estate in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that leading government officials and journalists to the isolated warehouse, Governor Yusuf was conducted round the facility where supposed hijacked food items were kept along drum of chemicals.

The Governor expressed shock and vowed to punish whoever is involved in the scandalous act of diverting the palliative food items consisting of maize and rice.

He immediately directed the Commissioner of Police to take over the warehouse and conduct swift investigation to fish out all suspects involved.

The incidence occurred following a tip of Information from some community members in Sharada when discovered suspicious movements of unknown people around the warehouse in question and reported the matter to Sharada police division.

While briefing the Governor on the spot at the warehouse, one of the Sharada community leader Rabiu Amour said thousands of bags branded with the Governor’s portrait and designed as palliatives were discovered to be re-bagged.

“We know these food items are meant to be distributed to less privileged people, therefore we decided to make a whistle blow. This is our contribution to the good efforts of the Governor, he is trying his best to help the downtrodden but some people within the system are sabotaging him”

Shortly after the inspection, the Governor directed the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud to brief the media, the commissioner who told journalists that government has discovered an isolated warehouse where released palliatives have been diverted, said investigation has commenced immediately.

Although, the Commissioner of Agriculture disclosed that investigation will further reveal the magnitude of quantity hijacked and diverted to the warehouse, he said the food items are being rebagged and resold in the market.

He said the specific portion of the rice and maize being hijacked and diverted to the warehouse are meant to be distributed to people with disabilities and widows of armed forces and other security agencies in Kano.

Although, the commissioner declined to reveal the identity of the culprits, he confirmed that two suspects have been handed over to the police in connection with the crime. He said government has set up investigation team to unravel the root course of the development.

“You will recall that after the official unveiling of distribution of food items meant for the less privilege as palliatives to crushing the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the government later set aside another large portion of the palliatives specifically to be distributed to people with special needs like in the society.

“Besides people with special needs, the last round of palliatives were also meant for families and widows of members of the Armed forces, the Army, Navy, Airforce, police, and that of the sister agencies like Immigration, Prison services, Customs, Civilians defence, Road safety, Hisbah Vigilante.

“Incidentally, the government discovered that several bags of these food items have been hijacked and diverted to a warehouse in Sharada industrial estate where intelligent reports revealed that those food items are being rebagged and to be sold in the market”. The commissioner said.

Meanwhile, Kano State Police command has confirmed arrest of one Tasiu Al’amin Roba, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor, attached to Office of the Secretary to the State Government and other person named Abdulkadir Muhammad who are already in police custody at Sharada division.

Following the directive of the Governor, the suspect are expected to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation into the matter.

You may recall that the Governor of Kano State Engr. Kabir Yusuf set up a strong Compliance Committee for Palliatives Distribution headed by the Secretary to the State Government and the his Chief of Staff with six other relevant commissioners as members to ensure that all palliatives items get to the right beneficiaries.

While inaugurating the committee, Governor Yusuf emphasized that no political appointee under his government will benefit from the palliatives as it is meant to be distributed to the people who need it the most.

….. Set aside Six Billion for Six 6,000 Beneficiaries

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

In fullfilment of one of the campaign promises as contained in his blueprint, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has Saturday flagged-off the first tranche of settlement of death benefits to deceased civil servants and gratuity of pensioners to about six thousand (6,000) beneficiaries who exited from the civil service and deceased workers between 2016 and 2019 totalling billion naira at an elaborate occasion that was held at Coronation Hall Government House.

KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the payment was possible despite meagre resources, inherited empty treasury and competing developmental projects as the government had blocked leakages of public funds siphoning and more viable projects for people of the state.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the governor Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa quoted Yusuf saying his administration was highly concerned with the plight of pensioners especially those at the lower level as they are the end receipients of the economic hardship occasion by the removal of fuel Subsidy in the country.

The Governor added that to ensure the continuation of the settlement of the backlog, 10 billion naira was propose in the state next year’s budget for more inclusion of gratuity and death benefits of bereaved families of deceaseds civil servants to enjoy their legitimate entitlements.

He made a clarion call to the receivers of the funds, to make judicious use of what they collected and invest wisely in lawful businesses for more incomes to cater for their day to day needs and other necessities of life.

In his submission, the deputy governor and Commissioner for local governments and Chieftaincy affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo appreciated the selection of beneficiaries with not more than 3 million at the state level, 1.5 million at local governments levels all within grade level 1-6.

The Executive Chairman of Kano State Pension Trustees Fund, Alhaji Habu Muhammad Fagge, said the commencement of liquidating the backlog and ensure prompt payment of gratuity and death benefits was a clear indication of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s zeal to better the lives of pensioners and provide succur to the families of deceased civil servants.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Kano state government has announced that out of the 138,430 tested for HIV, 4,728 have been found to be positive from January 2023 to date.

KANO FOCUS reports that with this figure, it indicates that a total of 46,732 persons are living with the disease and receiving treatment in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, made this known on Friday while delivering a speech at the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day in Kano.

He, however, disclosed that the state has improved its strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting tests for 95 percent of all pregnant women during their first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 percent are found positive.

He stated, “We have tested a total of 138,430 people for HIV and found 4,728 positive and have successfully initiated new 4,140 HIV-infected persons on ART from January 2023 to date.”

He noted that “Currently, the state has 46,732 people living with HIV receiving treatment.

“We have improved our strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting HIV testing for 95 percent of all pregnant women during their first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 percent turned HIV positive,” the Commissioner stated.

Dr. Ladan further explained efforts by the state in managing the situation where he said, for the first time, the state has achieved a state HIV budget target of 3 percent, N2 billion, of the total health budget in the proposed budget submitted to the Kano state Assembly.

The event themed “Let Communities Lead” was in collaboration with the USAID in Kano as well as other partners.

He said that the state government appreciated the support of partners like USAID, LHSS, NEPWHAN, and KanSLAM for their advocacy engagements towards achieving the KSACA’s budget.

Earlier, the Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, said SACA has brought on board 600 persons living with AIDS to benefit from the free healthcare service package introduced by the state government.

Dr. Bashir then hinted that “Most of the beneficiaries are children of those who died of HIV, as well as those children living with the disease.”