Headlines
Top Kano stories last week: October 25–November 1, 2019
By Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Ganduje to pay new minimum wage arrears
Mr Ganduje had offered to pay N30,600 as minimum wage in the state after the minimum wage law bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Kidnappers to receive death sentence–Ganduje
Crime of kidnapping would soon be punished by death in Kano state, according to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The governor said he had already directed the state Ministry of Justice to initiate the process of amending the Penal Code section on kidnapping in order to change the punishment from life imprisonment to death.
Mr Ganduje, revealed this on Thursday while inaugurating the 16-man Commission of Inquiry mandated to investigate the abduction and forceful conversion to Christianity of nine Kano children by an Igbo kidnap syndicate.
The governor declared that death penalty is the only befitting punishment for kidnapping, which he said has taken a dangerous dimension in the state.
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We’ll install 17 rice mills in Kano–Nanono
Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said the federal government is planning to install 17 rice mills in Kano state as part of efforts to boost agriculture and ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria.
Mr Nanono revealed this on Friday during a stakeholders meeting with farmers at the Kano State Government House.
He said the installation of new rice mills and the revival of existing ones would increase rice production output and curtail the effects of border closure on food sufficiency and security.
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KAROTA officer crushed to death by runaway motorist
A personnel of the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) was crushed to death after a motorist who resisted arrest ran over him and fled
Witnesses said the deceased, Tijjani Adamu, 27, had entered the offender’s car after arresting him for beating traffic, but alighted to remove the vehicle’s front number plate.
At that moment, it was learnt that the driver pressed the accelerator and crushed Mr Adamu before speeding off.
KAROTA had informed the Kano Police Command to launch a manhunt to arrest the suspect.
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2020 Hajj registration begins–Kano Pilgrims board
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB) announced the start of registration for the 2020 hajj exercise.
Executive Secretary of the board Muhammad Abba Danbatta, revealed this in a news conference, calling on intending pilgrims to make a minimum deposit of N1.2 million.
Mr Dambatta said the board would establish registration centres across the 44 local government areas of the state to guide those interested.
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Kano launches measles vaccination, targets 3 million children
The Kano state government officially launched vaccination campaign against measles, saying it is targeting at least three million children under five years.
Flagging off the campaign, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, explained that measles is a preventable but highly transmissible viral infection which affects mostly children under five years of age and remains a major cause of children’s mortality globally.
Headlines
Dangote Refinery maintains ex-depot price of PMS
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
Headlines
Tinubu congratulates Garo on appointment as Kano deputy governor
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo on his emergence as the Deputy Governor of Kano State following his swearing-in on Tuesday.
KANO FOCUS reports that Garo was sworn in by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Garo’s appointment as a positive step toward strengthening unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The President noted that the 48-year-old politician has held several public offices, including Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He also served as the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu commended Governor Yusuf for the appointment, urging political stakeholders in the state to rally behind the administration to ensure stability and progress.
He also called on the new deputy governor to work closely with the governor in delivering effective leadership and accelerating development in Kano State.
The President wished Garo success in his new role.
Headlines
Ganduje acknowledges Sanusi II as Emir of Kano, 6 years after dethroning him
Ibrahim Khalil
A dramatic political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the unexpected gesture occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, at Government House, Kano—an event attended by top political leaders and traditional rulers.
While delivering his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate attention from dignitaries at the ceremony. The audience responded with loud applause when he greeted the Emir and recognised his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The development is particularly significant given the long-standing rift between the two figures. Sanusi was removed from the throne during Ganduje’s administration, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted following the emergence of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Observers say Ganduje’s public acknowledgment signals a possible easing of tensions and may point to broader efforts at reconciliation within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.
The moment has since been described by analysts as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where former rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect among key actors.
