News
HAJJ: Last batch of Kano pilgrims depart for Saudi Arabia
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board on Friday evening concluded airlifting pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2019 Hajj.
KANO TODAY reports that the last flight with 282 pilgrims includes the board officials, journalists and members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The flight left the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at About 12: 15 am.
Executive secretary of the Board, Muhammad Abba Danbatta said they have airlifted a total of 3, 270 pilgrims from Kano.

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Mr. Danbatta said there are more pilgrims from Kano this year compared to 2018 when the state had less than 3,000 pilgrims.
He however said that the Board is yet to meet the expectation of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) which has allocated 5,000 slots to Kano state.
Addressing the pilgrims, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje charged them to be good ambassadors of Kano state in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Ganduje urged them to demonstrate good character and pray for the state during their stay in the kingdom.

News
NCC visits NCA Ghana

The Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has paid a benchmarking visit to its Ghana counterpart (the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana in Ghana.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NCC team under the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida were received by the Ag. Director General, National Communications Authority (NCA), Ghana, Edmund Fianko, during a benchmarking visit of the NCC to the NCA in Ghana recently.


Headlines
FG commissions National Cybersecurity Centre in BUK

Aminu Abdullahi
In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 commissioned a state-of-the-art National Cybersecurity Centre at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

KANO FOCUS reports that the facility, unveiled, is poised to become a national hub for digital defense, innovation and talent development.

Dr. Jide Ajayi cutting the tape during the opening ceremony
Speaking during the commissioning, NITDA Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the center as more than just a physical structure—“a national asset”.
Represented by Dr. Jide Ajayi from the Zonal Coordination Department, Abdullahi noted that the Centre represents a strategic intervention to enhance cybersecurity education, research and cross-sector collaboration across Nigeria.
“This is not just the unveiling of a facility, it is the activation of a knowledge-driven platform designed to equip our nation with the tools, talent and infrastructure required to safeguard our digital space and empower the next generation of cybersecurity experts,” he stated.
He added that the center aligns with the objectives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint, serving as a springboard for collaboration among government, academia and industry stakeholders. It will support research, hands-on training, and act as a resource hub for regional and national partners working to secure Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NITDA’s leadership for what he described as a visionary and transformative investment in Nigeria’s higher education and national development.

Group picture taken during opening ceremony
“This Centre is more than just a building—it is a symbol of foresight, partnership and the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping our universities with critical infrastructure for 21st-century education,” said the Vice-Chancellor.
“Indeed, the entire Bayero University community is agog with happiness,” he added.
The event was well attended by a distinguished audience, including the Principal Officers of Bayero University, senior management staff from BUK, NITDA, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, and a large number of academic and administrative staff, along with enthusiastic participation from students..

Headlines
Kwankwaso denies taking position on rumoured defection to APC

The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.

A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.
Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.
“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”
” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”
In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.
“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”
“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”
