Headlines
Kwankwasiyya leaders under probe over alleged Pantami humiliation
By Nazifi Dawud
Key leaders of the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano state have been invited by the Kano State Police Command to answer questions over the alleged humiliation of Sheik Ali Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and a top Islamic cleric at the Kano airport.
Kano Focus recalls that Pantami was booed, heckled and jostled by youths suspected to be members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, loyal to a former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, while returning to Abuja through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) after a condolence visit to Kano.
Following public outcry and condemnation of the incident, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kano, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, promptly denied that the Kwankwasiyya group was behind the alleged humiliation of the minister.
He accused political opponents of using the red cap–a key symbol of the Kwankwasiyya movement–to attack Mr Pantami in order to tarnish the group’s image and that of the PDP–the main opposition party in the state.
On Friday however, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said it had invited Mr Bichi, Aminu Abdussalam, the Kano PDP deputy governorship candidate and Dr. Yunusa Dangwani, director-general of the PDP campaign organization in Kano.
Mr Kiyawa, a deputy superintendent of police, said the opposition members, who are also top guns in the Kwankwasiyya group, were invited to shed light on the possible involvement of their members in Mr Pantami’s humiliation.
He added that the three PDP chiefs were invited and interrogated by the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, alongside the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano, to establish the intent of the unruly behaviour of their supporters.
The police spokesperson warned that anyone found culpable in embarrassing Mr Pantami would be punished in accordance with the law.
โโThe Police invited the PDP stalwarts in the state in connection, with the mob action attempt on the minister at the Airport in Kano. In attendance were the Chairman of PDP in Kano, Suleiman Bichi; PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam; and the DG, Governorship campaign, Haruna Dangwani. They were interrogated by the CP himself, alongside the Director, DSS in Kano. They were invited and quizzed about the ugly incident that happened at the Kano airport, last week Monday,” Mr Kiyawa said.
However, the PDP officials reportedly denied playing any role in the incident, insisting that they had warned their supporters against causing any trouble while at the Kano airport to see off the 242 students that were sponsored for postgraduate studies abroad.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Governmentโs Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project and other development partners in advancing education in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the assurance while receiving the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Saโid Ahmad, during a courtesy visit at the Government House in Kano.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, Governor Yusuf said his administration would continue to collaborate with stakeholders and support initiatives aimed at improving education in Kano State.
โWe will continue to collaborate and support every effort geared towards the development of education in Kano State,โ the governor said.
He described the AGILE project as a beacon of hope that is strengthening the education sector through infrastructural development and support for teachers.
Earlier, Professor Suwaiba Saโid Ahmad informed the governor that Kano State had successfully secured the World Bankโs โNo Objectionโ approval for the construction of 49 new schools under the AGILE project at a cost of โฆ23 billion.
The minister disclosed that contractors handling the projects had already been mobilised to site, adding that the initiative would significantly expand access to education for underserved communities across the state.
She also commended the Kano State Government for the quality of projects being executed in schools, particularly those she inspected during her visit, and urged the AGILE project team to emulate the state governmentโs standards in project implementation.
The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving access to secondary education and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls across Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Saโid Ahmad, has commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, describing the intervention as a major boost to girl-child education in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that Professor Suwaiba made the remarks during an inspection visit to selected AGILE project sites in Kano State, including Government Girls College, Kano, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSS), Dukawuya.
She said the Tinubu administration remained committed to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving the standard of education and expanding access to quality learning opportunities for adolescent girls across the country.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of projects being executed under the World Bank-supported AGILE programme in Kano State, noting that the initiative would significantly improve educational infrastructure and learning outcomes.
While praising the standard of work at the project sites, she directed Principal and SBMC handling some of the projects to make necessary corrections where required in order to ensure durable and high-quality infrastructure.
Speaking during the visit, the National Coordinator of the AGILE Project, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna, highlighted recent achievements recorded under the programme.
According to her, the World Bank-supported project is focused on improving access to education for adolescent girls through infrastructure development and empowerment initiatives.
On his part, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda, said the state government had continued to prioritise education through increased budgetary allocation and ongoing investments in the sector.
Makoda disclosed that since the declaration of a state of emergency on education in 2023, the sector has consistently received more than 30 per cent of the stateโs annual budget.
He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for sustaining investments aimed at improving learning environments and educational outcomes across the state.
The commissioner also appreciated the minister for visiting Kano State to inspect the ongoing AGILE projects and for her continued support toward the advancement of education in the state.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu, disclosed that about 300 schools across Kano State would be renovated under the AGILE project.
He added that the state government also plans to construct 49 new girlsโ schools across the 484 wards in Kano as part of efforts to strengthen access to education for girls.
Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and Hajiya Amina Buba
As part of the visit, the Minister, accompanied by the National Project Coordinator of AGILE, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna; the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gwani Ali Abubakar Makoda; the Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu; and the Head of the Project Financial Management Unit (HPFMU), Alhaji Aliyu Lawan, also met with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to discuss the progress of the AGILE project in Kano State.
The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative designed to improve secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls through enhanced infrastructure, increased access, and empowerment programmes.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday launched the Northern Region Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (CNG/EV) Initiative, describing it as a major step toward economic growth, job creation, and affordable transportation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the launch, held at the Kano Indoor Stadium, was attended by the representative of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, and the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad.
As part of the event, the delegation also commissioned the Asad CNG and Greenville LNG stations located along the Kano-Zaria Road.
Speaking during the launch of the Kano and Northern Region CNG/EV Activation Programme, Governor Yusuf said the initiative would open up vast opportunities in refuelling infrastructure, vehicle conversion centres, technical services, assembly plants, logistics, and manufacturing.
According to a statement issued by the Governorโs Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor noted that the project would create employment opportunities for thousands of youths in the state, many of whom have already received training in vehicle conversion and technical maintenance.
Governor Yusuf assured investors of the state governmentโs readiness to continue collaborating with the Federal Government, the Pi-CNG & EV initiative, and genuine private investors willing to support the development of the sector.
โOur administration will continue to provide the enabling environment necessary for businesses to thrive, as we believe economic growth and job creation must remain at the centre of governance,โ the governor stated.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for introducing the initiative, saying it would significantly ease transportation challenges facing Nigerians.
In his remarks, Senator Hassan Hadejia, who serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, said the activation of CNG in Northern Nigeria would maximise utilisation due to the regionโs large transportation network, which he described as the biggest in West Africa.
He commended Governor Yusuf for his commitment to the programme and for creating an enabling environment ahead of its official rollout.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pi-CNG & EV Initiative, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad, said President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and was determined to provide alternative energy sources that are cheaper than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Ahmad further disclosed that CNG stations would be established across all senatorial districts in Kano State to ensure wider accessibility for residents.
Representatives of the governors of Jigawa and Katsina states also called for the swift implementation of similar CNG initiatives in their states to reduce transportation costs and stimulate economic growth.
Alhaji Aminu Suraj represented the Jigawa State Governor, while Professor Muhammad Al-Amin represented the Katsina State Governor at the event.
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Minister inspects AGILE Projects in Kano
Governor Yusuf launches northern CNG/EV initiative, commissions new stations
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AGILE Project: Kano awards โฆ23.1bn contract for construction of 49 new secondary schools
Tinubu nominates Kanoโs Rabiu Umar as new NMDPRA chief
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