Headlines
KAROTA convicts 5,000 in one month, considers community service for traffic offenders

By Nazifi Dawud
The Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) said it has convicted a total of 5,000 traffic offenders within just one month through its mobile court.
Head of the traffic outfit, Baffa Babba Dan-Agundi, said this in his office on Wednesday while receiving members of the Kano state Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Mr Dan Agundi also revealed plans by the agency to introduce community service for traffic offenders that cannot afford to pay its fines.
“You know, one of the challenges we face is that when you arrest some of these traffic offenders, they will tell you that they don’t have money. KAROTA is not a revenue generation agency although, what we are really after is for road users to maintain traffic laws.

“So, we want to introduce this community services as a way of punishment so that when you say you don’t have money to pay your fine, you will be assigned to do a community service commiserate with the gravity of traffic offence you committed,” he said.
He added that KAROTA is sensitizing members of the public on how to avoid traffic offenses, which he said often lead to unnecessary traffic hold-ups and accidents.
Mr Dan Agundi identified some of the offences including wrong parking, reckless driving, receiving or making calls while driving, speeding, among other related traffic offences.
“As a result of the measures we put in place since I came in as the managing director of KAROTA, the rate of accidents within Kano metropolis has dropped by over 70 per cent.
”This is not a fabricated data. The facts are there even in our hospitals. When I visited some of the hospitals within the state, they confirmed this to me.
”Because this feat is due to the re-orientation of our staff who are now fully motivated to work for the interest of the people and our dear Kano state,” he said.
He continued: “To tell you that even the road users are now conscious of the traffic laws. By June this year, for instance, we were getting about N5.5 million as fines from traffic offenders, but in July, we were able to receive only N2 million as fine from traffic offenders.”
Mr Dan Agundi appealed to road users to be conscious of traffic rules and obey them, saying it is all about the safety of human life.
”If all of us do what is right while on the road, KAROTA will have less work to do and society will be better for it,” he said.

Headlines
UNICEF applauds Kano State for enacting Child Protection Law, calls for effective implementation

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has commended the Government and citizens of Kano State for the recent enactment of the Child Protection Law, signed into law by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commendation was contained in a statement issued by Samuel Kaalu UNICEF spokesperson in Kano.
The statement quoted Mr. Rahama R.M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, saying “The Kano State Child Protection Law is a remarkable achievement that benefits the children and people of Kano. It establishes a legal framework to ensure the protection of children’s rights within the state.
“Now that the law has been established, it is crucial to allocate the necessary resources and establish mechanisms for its effective implementation. We urge the new administration in Kano State to take this vital step and provide adequate resources to ensure the comprehensive enforcement of the law.

Mr. Farah added that with the enactment of this law, Kano State joins other states that have successfully incorporated the Nigeria Child Rights Act, originally enacted by the National Assembly in 2003, into their legal frameworks.
He said “It is important to note that this Act is derived from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), of which Nigeria is a signatory. Extensive consultations were conducted with key stakeholders, including faith-based and community leaders, during the development of the bill.
“This collaborative effort ensured that the law reflects the values and aspirations of the people of Kano.”
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children.

Headlines
APC condemns Kano demolition exercise

Aminu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has implored the victims of the recent demolition exercise embarked upon by the Kano State government to seek legal redress while describing the action of the new NNPP administration as barbaric and unacceptable.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Ag. State Chairman of the opposition party, Shehu Maiagari made the condemnation while Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Kano.
The politician condemned the spate of demolition of business interests and property across the state by the Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“The action of the state government has brought unnecessary chaos, rampant vandalism, daylight robbery and grabbing of property belonging to innocent members of the Kano society” he lamented.
The opposition party insisted that the demolition has destroyed the means of livelihood of the people of the state while lamenting that it has equally tarnished the reputation of the state as a safe commercial centre for secured business investment.
The APC appealed to security agencies in the state to step up action and restore the people’s confidence in light of the shock they had experienced while imploring parents and guardians to caution their children against being used as agents of destruction by the state government.
“We assure the good people of the state of our prayers and support in this trying period; we also implore those affected directly or indirectly, to seek redress in the court of law,” they stated.

Headlines
Kano Governor Appoints Habu Fagge as Pension Boss

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the appointment of Alhaji Habu Muhammad Fagge as Executive Chairman, Kano State Pension Board Trustee.
KANO FOCUS reports that the appointment takes effect immediately as the governor directed for handing over and taking over within 24 hours.
A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the governor Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa said Alhaji Habu Fagge, a holder of Bsc Finance from Abraham Lincoln University, served two terms as Executive Chairman of Kano Internal Revenue Services.
The statement added that the new appointee had served Kano State as director finance, director planning, research and statistics and director other taxes.

