Text of Inauguration Address by His Excellency Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf, The Executive Governor of Kano State on the Occasion of his Swearing – In Ceremony on Monday May 29, 2023 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano

A’uzu billahi minas shaydanur rajeem Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
 Was salatu was salamu ala Nabiyul Kareem

Our Leader, The National Leader of NNPP, His Excellency Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso;

Your Excellency, The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo;

Your Lordship, The Ag. Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Dije Aboki;

The Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hamisu Chidari;

The Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees of the NNPP;

The National Chairman and Members of the National Working Committee of the NNPP;

The Kano State Chairman and Members of State Executive Council of the NNPP;

Distinguished Senators;
Honourable Members of the House of Representatives; Honourable Members of Kano State House of Assembly; Your Lordships and Your Royal Highnesses;

Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
Our International Guests from across the World; Distinguished Invited Guests;
My Fellow Good People of Kano State; Gentlemen of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, Monday the 29th day of May, 2023 is an unforgettable day in the history of our dear state. Today is a confirmation that the will of the good people of Kano State has prevailed. Today, my fellow Kano people, is your day! The day your Governor that you voted for with over a million votes is sworn into office. Alhamdulillah.

Let me therefore begin by thanking Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for making today possible, for making the build up to today memorable and peaceful, and for making the days and years ahead even more successful and fruitful in sha Allah. Let me also thank YOU, the good people of Kano State for your support and cooperation throughout our campaigns, but most importantly for voting us and ensuring that your votes count. I want to guarantee you that this victory is your victory, our administration is your administration. We shall, together work deliberately and purposefully to turnaround the fortune of our state and improve the living condition of all citizens and residents.

Let me also place on record my appreciation to our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and our Movement, The Kwankwasiyya Political Movement, the National Executives of our party under the able leadership of Alhaji Abba Kawu, the State Executives of our party under the capable stewardship of Hon Umar Haruna Doguwa, and the former State Executives of PDP under the resolute leadership Hon Shehu Wada Sagagi for their immense contribution to our successes. I also want to thank all our Kwankwasiyya and party members, supporters, volunteers and other nationalist who worked twenty four seven to organize, strategize, and mobilize all in an effort to make today a possibility. I want to assure you that your toil will not be in vain. To all the women of our state (the pathfinders and moral compass of our society), and our teaming youth and children (who are the hope for our continued advancement and sustained prosperity), we thank you for your support. And I want to let you know that your pain is our pain, and I shall deploy effective painkillers to tackle all your pains.

I also want to thank the business community, the religious leaders, and the traditional institution not only for supporting us, but also for their individual and collective roles in ensuring peace and stability in our state.

It is imperative to place on record our appreciation to all our international guests from over 20 different countries who are here with us to witness this momentous occasion. We thank you for your support.

And finally, to our father – the father of fathers, our leader – the leader of leaders, our mentor – the mentor of mentors, the grand commander of Kwankwasiyya Political Movement, the National Leader of our Party, the NNPP, His Excellency Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE, no words are adequate to express my appreciation and debt of gratitude to you, Sir. But in an occasion of this nature, words must be used. Thank you, Your Excellency. I shall remain the Abba that you always knew.

Fellow Compatriots, today is the beginning of repositioning and renewal of Kano State. Today marked the continuation of the Kwankwasiyya administration in our dear state – we shall continue from where we stopped in 2015. We will, by the special grace of Allah (SWT) redress all the injustices perpetrated in the last eight years. We shall recover and reclaim all public properties and assets misappropriate, hidden or stolen and return them to the custody of government. This was a promise we made during our campaign. And like all our campaign promises, we shall live no stone unturned to ensure that we fulfil our promises.

Beginning with security, we are aware of the persistent cases of armed robbery (especially phone snatching), kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes being perpetrated on the streets of our towns and cities. This menace will be confronted and brought to a permanent end throughout our State. On behalf of the government and people of our State, I want to register our condolences to the families of all the victims of this unacceptable crime. We are aware that one of the major factors that fuels these criminal activities is the consumption of illicit drugs. I am, today, announcing the formation of a Special Joint Taskforce to Prevent Phone Snatching and other Street Crimes comprising of teams of law enforcement agencies and mobile courts that would work together to clear our streets of these criminals and bring all of them to justice swiftly. The Kano State Reformatory Institute, Kiru will be reopened soonest for the purposes of rehabilitating drug addicts.

In the same vein we shall investigate all cases of political violence that led to loss of lives and properties across the State in the last eight years. The infamous case of Alasan Ado Doguwa, who allegedly sponsored the maiming and murder of over 15 innocent souls in Tudun Wada Local Government will be pursued to its logical conclusion. The numerous victims of the Ganduje campaign of violence, using thugs that were being intoxicated with drugs will not be left unchecked. In order to prevent future occurrence, a judicial Commission of Inquiry will be put in place to ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice and the families of the victims of political thuggery are also entitle to justice.

We cannot forget the case of one of our respected member and supporter, Hon Dadiyata, who was bundled in broad day light by unknown assailant and whisked away. For five years nothing is heard of him. Kano State Government will take up the case of Dadiyata with all relevant security agencies in the country so as to rescue him and bring his assailants to justice.

The destruction that was visited on our education sector in the last eight years is very disheartening. Arising from deliberate neglect and wrong policies, the number of out-of-school children in our state has astronomically increased. The number of college drop-outs has also risen to a scary height. I want remind the good people of Kano State that besides ensuring the security of lives and properties of all residents of the state, our number one priority is Education. Consequently, we will take these emergency measures beginning from today to rescue our education system and ensure the enrolment of all out-of-school children:

• Our community reorientation committees, CRC, would be reactivated and continue to function as a vehicle for the implementation of our basic education agenda;
• All the girl-child education buses for transporting girl-child to and from schools would resume operation as soon as possible. The school buses that were immorally sold will be recovered and new ones will be purchased to add to the fleet;
• The de-boarding of all girls schools by the last administration will be revisited in due course;
• We will resume our policy of Incentivise enrolment by providing free uniform, free books and one meal per pupil per day in our primary schools;
• We will commence the renovation of existing primary and junior secondary schools in the state and make them ideal for teaching and learning;
• We shall resume our policy on the provision of seats (chairs, benches and desk) and other instructional materials to support learning and teaching in our schools;
• We will build more classrooms in all the local governments to accommodate new pupils;
• We will continue to incentivise girl child education and strengthen the girl child education with relevant legislation;
• We shall recruit and train more teachers and provide incentives for rural posting;
• We shall continue to work with development partners, donor agencies, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Tertiary Education Trustfund (TETFund) and other relevant agencies of the Federal Government to support our education agenda;
• Our policy of sponsoring our best graduates to pursue higher degrees locally and overseas is hereby restored. In the coming months, the screening process will, by the grace of Allah, commence.
• The 44 Schools of Islamic Studies and 47 Technical Colleges across all our local governments that were constructed by Senator Kwankwaso’s administration and which were closed and abandoned by the former administration, will be reopened, appraised, resume admission and commence academic activities. 
The healthcare system in our state is on its knees begging to be saved. Years of neglect and maladministration have reached an embarrassing crescendo that not only hospitals’ lands and funds were being stolen, even generators that are necessary for the hospitals to function were being sold. These cruel, immoral and criminal acts will not be allowed unpunished. While maternal mortality is rapidly increasing, neonatal death is on the rise and patients on emergency admission are receiving little or no attention at all, someone has the temerity to misappropriate resources belonging to hospitals! In what follows, I’ll announce measures to be taken by this administration in respect of these criminal actions. To commence fulfilling our campaign promises on healthcare, the following actions are hereby introduced:
• The resumption of free maternity services and the issuance welcome pack to new-borns in our hospitals will be revisited;
• To ensure balance distribution of medical personnel and their availability in rural area, medically qualified civil servants will be redeployed to hospitals across the state;
• Reintroduction of medical outreaches and the establishment of Mobile Clinics and Ambulance Service (MCAS) in all the 44 local government councils in the State;
• The renovation of all primary healthcare centres across the state; and
• The conduct of emergency Needs Assessment of all our general and 
specialists hospitals.

Our city used to be the cleanest city in Nigeria between 2011 and 2015. Today, it is the opposite. Refuse dumps with uncollected wastes are all over the city. Our streets are littered with all sorts of garbage and nobody seems to care. Today, a Taskforce on Refuse Disposal, Evacuation of Drainages and Streets Cleaning (Operation Nazafa) comprising of different stakeholder groups is approved. In the coming days, I will officially launch a state-wide campaign with self-help groups to drive the operation. In the next few weeks all the dumps will be cleared, all our streets will be clean, all our drainages will be desilted and a sustainable system of maintaining the cleanness and clearing the dumps will be in place. To begin with, starting from next month, all vehicles on our roads across the state are required to have dustbin in them, and all businesses – including shops and stalls – should also have dustbin for collecting and 
proper disposal of wastes and refuse. At this point, we urge all the residents of Kano state to give us their maximum cooperation.

We are aware that our street lights have not been in use for about eight years yet the exorbitant cost of fuelling and servicing the generators that power them have continued to increase even when the lamps were permanently switched off. To add salt to injury, we are also aware that in the last couple of days, some “officials” have stolen most of these generators. I want assure the good people of Kano State that our street lights will return as soon as possible. And the perpetrators of the crimes of stealing funds meant for servicing them and those “so called official” that stole the generators will be brought to justice, in sha Allah. Our Independent Power projects, at Tiga and Challawa, that we started in 2012, and which was bastardized by the last administration will be revisited.

Our novel policy of Auren Zawara, a policy that helps in bringing stability and reducing social vices in our communities will resume as soon as possible. Related to this are the empowerment programs for women and youth. All the 26 entrepreneurship institutes that were established by the Sen. Kwankwaso administration with the mandate of equipping our youth and women with soft and hard skills in different fields of endeavour, and which were closed down and abandoned by the former administration are hereby opened. Enrolment into these institute will begin soonest.

The mainstays of our state, beside education are Commerce and Agriculture. We shall modernize agriculture and give it priority such that agri-business will be made one of the major drivers towards eradicating poverty and unemployment in our midst. Arrangements are in place to ensure that fertilizers and other inputs are made available to farmers at affordable rates. The Kano Agricultural Supply Company, KASCO, and the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, KNARDA, will be revived and reinvigorated. KASCO shops in all the 44 Local Government Councils will be reactivated to continue supporting our farmers. We will deploy extension workers, employ and train more of them, to support farmers to improve their yields.

We would expand the irrigation fields, desilt our dams and channels, and use the evacuated manure to improve the fertility of the soil. All available funding supports for farmers from banks and other donor agencies will be pursued to ensure that our farmers get optimal benefits.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen my administration will not be government as usual, because a vibrant and motivated public service is necessary for the success of every administration. We are aware that the former administration has bastardized the civil service – they employed tens of thousands of unqualified persons without due process and most of the improperly employed person had to pay through their noses to get the offer; they conducted arbitrary and illegal promotions to their cronies and agents; and they stuffed the civil service with ghost workers. All these will be reviewed. Additionally, we will put in place machinery that will bring about reforms to improve service delivery and boost productivity and ensure professionalism in the State Civil Service.

We will continue to partner with other stakeholders, including civil society organizations, the private sector, and international development partners to create more effective, more transparent and more accountable institutions that work to improve the lives of all citizens. However, let me warn that our administration will not tolerate abuse of the public service procedures, corruption and indiscipline. We shall put in place a structure that will ensure transparency and accountability in governance. To start with, we shall resume the good practice of publishing the weekly reports of the State Executive Council meetings in national dailies; we shall re-introduce the full utilization of the Treasury Single Account; we shall ensure that all government payments and receipts are done through the electronic payment systems; and our suggestion boxes, for members of the public to offer advice to their government, will be placed in different locations across the state.

To end the injustices being meted on petty traders in the state, beginning from June this year, all small business owners with income of less than thirty thousand Naira per month are exempted from paying any tax. We shall create the enabling environment and provide all necessary incentives, including the facilitation of access to capital, for small, medium and large scale entrepreneurs in the state to blossom and succeed. We shall reactivate all the 37 Microfinance Banks established by the Kwankwasiyya administration which were deliberately neglected by the Ganduje administration to justify selling them to their cronies and agents.

Our dear state, Kano is one of the oldest in Nigeria, a state with rich culture and history, a state that enjoys tremendous amount of respect all over the world. A state that sets all the good examples for others to follow. All these were thrown to the winds by the last administration. We are all aware of the embarrassments that the Ganduje administration has brought to the office of the Governor and by extension, to the entire people of Kano State – all negative perceptions as a result of crude corruption, land grabbing, and poor governance.

This perception has to change. And the time to change it is now. We shall work together to change this narrative and promote Kano positively.

To begin this, we shall be launching the campaign, ‘Kano, my state, my pride,’ in the next couple of weeks to promote unity and patriotism towards our dear state. It is a call to action that encourages every citizen to take ownership of their community, support initiatives that promote development and project a positive image of Kano at all times.

We must all work collaboratively to ensure cleanliness, maintenance of infrastructure, promoting our cultural heritage, and encouraging investments that will create opportunities for our people and attract more investors. At this point, let me say that we will commence the work of ensuring water supply across the state. We shall also commence the completion of the 5km roads across the local government councils in the state by the special grace of Allah. Similarly, the Jakara River Project, popularly called the Wuju-wuju Road and the dualization of the Sheikh Salga Road would be resumed.

Our government recognises the superior importance of decent shelter to human life and as a hub around which all development programs hinge.That is why between 2011 and 2015, Sen Kwankwaso’s administration built three cities that were abandoned by the former administration. We shall complete these cities and expand the project to commence subsequent phases of the cities.

My administration will encourage, as well as support the citizens of Kano state to exploit financing opportunities for home ownership, construction and renovation, especially the National Housing Fund. True to our campaign promise, we shall provide rural housing and develop mini cities to decongest Kano city and bring development and job opportunities to all corners of our dear state. We shall improve our land administration for ease of doing business and to facilitate sustainable housing provision.

We shall introduce innovative and sustainable measures to curve the menace of irregular development of unplanned shelters or ‘Awon Igiya’ around the metropolis. All ‘Awon Igiya’ projects in and around the Metropolitan Kano are hereby suspended. We shall also resume the street naming and house numbering project in earnest.

My fellow Kano Residents, democracy is as precious as it is fragile. Much as we cherish its values and respect its outcomes, we must also be mindful of its fragility. The manifestation of such fragility has never been so palpable as it was in 2019 in our dear State. Recall that in that year, we won the Gubernatorial election clean and clear. But the mandate was stolen. And those that stole the mandate, knowing full well that the voters have rejected them, started unleashing their vengeance on the entire state. No state in the country suffered the kind of vandalism, maladministration and naked injustices like Kano State in the last eight years. The vandalism they visited on the state was mind-boggling; the havoc they wrecked was unprecedented; and the looting spree was simply unimaginable. It was like the night operation of rattus norvegicus or the result of an unleashed mad bull in a china shop.

As I swore to the oath of allegiance and oath of office this bright Monday morning, the work to recover public properties, assets, and looted funds starts now. With a near empty treasury and a humongous local and international debt left behind by the former administration, and with almost all assets and properties looted, misappropriated or sold. The only rational thing to do is to commence the recovery and reclamation in the overall interest of public good.

We have noted that the last administration have sold lands in and around schools, religious and cultural sites, hospitals and clinics, graveyards and green areas, and along the city wall of Kano. We have also noted that they indiscriminately sold numerous other landed properties and assets belonging to Kano State within and outside the state to their cronies and agents. I am announcing, today, that all these public places and assets that were immorally plundered and sold by the Ganduje administration should be taken over by law enforcement agencies, led by the Police, the DSS, Civil Defense, and Hisbah pending the final decision of government.

And to guarantee that no public officers, their cronies, or assignees are ever allowed to engage in the looting of the common wealth of the Kano people, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry will be empanelled in the coming days to ensure that all perpetrators and those that aided and abetted them are brought to justice.

Further to this executive order, all political appointees heading government MDAs and companies are hereby relieved of their appointment with immediate effect. They are directed to handover to the permanent secretary or the most senior director as the case may be. Similarly, all boards of MDAs, companies and institutions of higher learning are hereby dissolved with immediate effect.

My fellow Kano People, these actions are necessary to reset the state and commence repositioning her on to the path of honour and dignity, on to the path of respect and responsibility, and on to the path of progress and prosperity.

I guarantee you that I will give my all in the service to my dear State and her good people, thinking not of power but the immense responsibilities that come with it. I beseech you to continue to pray for our dear state and your trusted government; I beseech you to continue to support and cooperate with us as we, collectively, steer the ship of our state to success, in sha Allah.

I will end this speech as I started it by thanking the Almighty Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, to whom all thanks and praises are due and praying for the peace and blessings of Allah (SWT) to be on our beloved Prophet, the Leader of Messengers of Allah, Prophet Muhammad, and to all members of his family and to all his companions.

I want to thank all our invited guests, members of the diplomatic corps, our development partners, our gubernatorial candidates, members of the Ulamah, and all our supporters from across the country and beyond for gracing this Inauguration Ceremony.

To my family, you have all been very supportive all through this journey. I am certain that your support and understanding will continue to increase. I want place my debt of gratitude to all of you.

Finally I want to thank the entire people of Kano state for your continuous support, cooperation and prayers. Let me assure you that we will not disappoint you.

Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah,
I wish all of you safe journey to your respective destinations. Kanawa Mungode.

H.E. Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf

Executive Governor, Kano State

Zulaiha Danjuma

The budget of every country or state is the roadmap to a government’s spending priority.

The key focus areas of an administration can easily be understood through its yearly budgetary allocations. Health as an essential sector has been in focus for years. International Health Concerned Organizations and Local Non- Governmental Civil Society Groups have advocated for special attention to the

Health Sector.

Kano Focus reports, more recently, the need to focus on Epidemic Preparedness and Prevention through specific and robust budgetary allocations with releases.

In was in the view of preparedness, the Kano state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa in 2022, made an announcement to reporters at a press briefing in the state, that the ministry was going to have an increase in its budgetary allocation higher than the previous year https://punchng.com/kano-increases-2023-budgetary-allocation-to-health/

The increase was supposed to prepare for outbreaks of Monkeypox and other diseases in the state.

Following his declaration for higher allocation to the ministry of health in the 2023 budget. The ministry’s allocation didn’t meet the commissioners’ declaration.

Similarly, the Kano state Speaker of the  House of Assembly, Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari made a promise to members of Civil Society Organizations in a courtesy visit to him that the Assembly was going to ensure an allocation of 20 percent to the Ministry of Health in the reviewed budget they were to present to the state governor to pen his signature https://dailytrust.com/kano-assembly-promises-20-allocation-to-health-in-2023-budget/

However, such an increase was never made to the budget allocation of the Ministry of Health.

What is Monkeypox

According to the World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox Monkeypox is a virus also called Mpox. This is a zoonosis, this means a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. The disease can also spread from humans to humans. It can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, and lesions on the skin.

Monkeypox is a disease with similarities  to smallpox, due to the symptoms. Evidence of monkeypox virus infection has been found in animals including squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others.

Due to human hunting, killing, selling and eating of bushmeat like antelope, rats, sneak and monkeys including other wild animals for sustenance, which is an act largely found around rural communities this has constantly put humans in danger of zoonotic diseases (disease spread to humans by animals).

The 2023 Budget

The Ministry of Health in the 2023 Kano state budget had a total of 245 Billion Naira when Governor Abdullahi Ganduje first presented the proposed budget to the House of Assembly on November   https://kanoassembly.gov.ng/governor-ganduje-presents-the-proposed-2023-budget-of-n245-billion-to-the-state-assembly/

The budget was later reviewed and upscaled by the House of Assembly with the sum of 23 Million Naira, making it a total of 268 Billion Naira. The upscale of 23 Million was made to fast track the completion of ongoing projects and the initiations of new ones.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria as published by Premium Times among other news outlets, the  sum of 39.1 billion was allocated to the ministry of health in Kano state in the first proposed 2023 budget before an upscale was added  https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/563468-ganduje-presents-kanos-2023-budget-to-lawmakers.html?tztc=1

In 2022, the ministry of health had a total of 17% from the state’s total budget. However, in 2023 the ministry of health was giving 15.9% from the total state budget. This figure is 1.1% lower than the previous year allocation to the health sector in Kano state.

Epidemic Preparedness in the 2022 and 2023 Kano state budget

The 2022 Kano state budget was a total of 221.2 Billion Naira https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/501991-ganduje-signs-n221-2-billion-kano-budget-into-law.html

The 2022 budget similarly to the 2023 budget had a review and upscale to it by about 24 billion giving it the 221.2 Billion naira from a figure of 196 Billion Naira.

In the 2022 budget, there was no specification or provision for epidemic preparedness mentioned in the budget. Despite the fact that the allocation to health was 17%. There was on project on epidemic preparedness. https://budget.kn.gov.ng

The World Health Organization (WHO) produced a practical guide to design, manage, and monitor program budgets in the health sector. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049666

The book highlights how Covid-19 pandemic was a stress test on government budgets across the globe. The book also talks about why it’s important for the government to make the transition away from rigid, line item budgets towards output-oriented budgeting.

The book further argued that attaining such level of informed budgeting will create an enabling environment to achieve health security.

In line with the recommendations from the guide by WHO Kano state 2023 budget still hasn’t achieved the output-oriented budgeting (performance budgeting). However, the budget did have specific mention of Epidemic preparedness and the sum of 400 Million Naira was allocated to epidemic preparedness in the Kano state 2023 budget

https://kanobudget.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/kano-state-fy-2023-budget-publication-version.pdf

Regardless, of the lower allocation of 15.9% giving to the health sector in the 2023 budget as compared to the 2022 budget allocation of 17%, the 2023 budget was more specific in budgeting for epidemic preparedness as the budget reflected an allocation of 400 million each for both Epidemic Preparedness and Epidemiology and control of outbreak, like Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Measles, Chrolela e.t.c.

Kano state on Epidemic Preparedness

The Director of Budget, Ministry of Budget and Planning Yakubu Sabiu Garindanga said, it was not unusual to have a Commissioner expect higher allocation to his ministry.

He added that the commissioner’s statement might have come due to the necessity to have more funds due to issues of health importance in the state.

While enquiry on likely setback a lesser budget allocation could have on the ministry of health activities in connection to preparedness, Mr. Sabiu said, the ministry of health is not likely to face any difficulty because Kano state is still within the accepted budget allocation expected to go to the ministry of health

Mr. Sabiu said “There is a 15% demand allocation to the health sector in line with the Abuja Declaration”

“Based on the Abuja Declaration each state is expected to allocate 15% of its budget to the health sector” he added

According to Mr. Sabiu, the Kano state government 2023 budget allocation is in line with Abuja Declaration because it meets the demand of 15%.

Mr. Sabiu went further to say that due to the Kano state government need for health security in the state on Epidemic diseases the Commissioner hoped for an increase.

According to Mr. Sabiu, the Kano state government aside reflecting the need for epidemic preparedness in its budgeting to the ministry of health the government also went on to launch an action plan for health security.

The action plan was to help the ministry of health put some epidemic diseases in focus by having plans and strategies to tackle possible outbreaks in the case of an outbreak.

The action plan was made based on the International Health Regulation (IHR). The Kano state government, with support from some civil society groups, came up with the health security action plan, Mr. Sabiu said.

The Kano State Action Plan for Health Security (KSAPHS)

This document was created to help the Kano state health institutions have a roadmap for strengthening the core capacities to  prepare, prevent and respond to issues of health threats for adequate preparedness for health emergencies to provide maximum health security on cases of outbreaks  like, Cholera, Lassa fever, Covid-19, Diphtheria, Monkeypox etc.

https://www.advocacyincubator.org/featured-stories/2023-03-06-kano-state-launches-action-plan-for-health-security

The Kano State Action Plan for Health Security (KSAPHS) at an event on February 20, 2023.

The KSAPHS is estimated to cost approximately 1.232 Billion Naira  (USD $2,679,920.32) to implement all planned activities between 2022 to 2026.

The Kano state Action Plan for Health Security emphasizes the need for a multi-sectoral approach, involving the health sector, as well as other sectors like agriculture and environment.

Possible Basis for the need of Monkeypox Preparedness in Kano state

According to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in the epidemic week 52 (Epi 52) which spans from 26th December 2022 to 1st January 2023

Nigeria has 2123 suspected cases of Monkeypox and a total of 762 confirmed cases. States boarding Kano states like Kaduna and Katsina had 16 and 8 confirmed cases respectively, while Kano had 7 cases confirmed https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/update-monkeypox-mpx-nigeria-epi-week-52-december-26-2022-january-1-2023

Kano state shares both commercial and leisure ties to Kaduna and Katsina state. Both states see an influx of Kano residents visiting the state for various reasons. Kano state, also the commercial epicenter of the North, has both states among others constantly coming into the city.

This increases the chances of spreading the Monkeypox diseases due to everyday contacts of people at bus packs, markets, and social gatherings.

Primary Healthcare Centers Epidemic Preparedness and Monkeypox cases

The Kabuja Primary Health Care Center which is one of the PCHs under the Gwale Local Government Area in Kano town boasts of a lot of improvement ranging from quality of staff, to adequate distribution of vaccination to infants and young children to prevent epidemic diseases.

However, “the Monkeypox disease does not have a known vaccine yet”. The Ward Technical Officer/In-Charge of Kabuga PHC, Yusuf Adamu Muhammad said.

Mr. Muhammad said, the PHC facility may handle or refer cases based on the severity and kind of disease.

He said in the case of a suspected Monkeypox at the PCH, after a physical assessment the facility first records the suspected case at facility level, then proceeds to call on the attention of the Disease Notification Officer.

Ja’en Primary Healthcare Center

“When the Disease Notification Officer is informed, such a case is generally a referral case. The patient with the suspected Monkeypox is referred to the Epidemic Preparedness Unit (EPU), a second health care facility in the state”.

He went on to say that the facility has a functional laboratory, but cases like Monkeypox are not tested in the facility because such conditions require special investigations. He added that, sometimes in cases of such magnitude it’s likely to have the testing carried out in another state, different from where the suspected case was recorded.

Mr. Muhammad adds, “before a patient is referred to another facility the PHC conducts a pre-referral treatment which helps ease any discomfort or pain on the patient at that time”.

Being that the Monkeypox disease is yet to have a vaccine, Mr. Muhammad said the facility raises public awareness on epidemic pron outbreaks.

“For every PHC there is a surveillance officer attached to the facility, when at OPD symptoms of any suspected case of Monkeypox or Diphtheria is observed he is notified and he in turn calls on to the Disease Notification Officer.

He however said that the facility has not recorded any suspected case of Monkeypox since January 2023.

Similarly, at the Ja’en Primary Healthcare Center, the Ward Technical officer/ in charge Ahmed Adamu Diso, said; the facility has also not recorded a Monkeypox case.

Both the Kabuga and Ja’en Primary Healthcare Centers do not have specific units for epidemic Preparedness in their facilities.

The two PCH centers improvise using other testing rooms in the Primary Healthcare Facility to check and separate Epidemic disease carrying patients on arrival to the PHCs general attending room.

Kabuga PHC Epidemic Preparedness Methods

Outside the premises of Kabuga PCH

The facility engages in community outreach and sensitization to enlighten community members before a possible outbreak is recorded, Mr. Muhammad said.

He said that as part of their epidemic Preparedness strategy of the Kabuja PCH is to educate community members on epidemic prone disease before an outbreak.

“We have a quarterly town hall meeting with representative of women leaders, youth leaders and tradition leaders in the community to enlighten them on issues relating to epidemic diseases”

“We also have a sensitization program we carry out at Friday Mosques around the community on various diseases like COVID-19, Diphtheria etc. The program is under the stewardship of the Local Government immunization officer (LIO)

“While doing to the mosque we come prepared with some vaccines relating to diseases that have vaccines and administer to willing participants present there” he said

Mr. Muhammad went further to say that the biggest awareness exercise by the facility is the district and local government meeting on epidemic Preparedness.

“The  district meeting holds at the residence of the Dagaci (area traditional head)  comprising of all stakeholders needed at that event to further educate of various epidemic diseases, while the local government meeting even gets the presence of the Local government chairman to discuss”

“We sometimes have the meetings at the secretariat chambers, or at the Gwale Hisbah board, ” he said.

The Public Emergency center

On his part, The Kano state Epidemiologist and Polio incident Manager from the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullahi Isah Kauran Mata said due to states commitment to meeting global standards on health security issues the Polio emergency center in Kano was transitioned to Public emergency center

“This transition is inline with the globe health security agenda Nigeria is a signatory to, as it stand Kano is among the few states that has an established emergency preparedness and  response committee” he said

Dr. Isah went on to say that aside from the emergency preparedness response committee, the state surveillance  working group was created

“This surveillance working group is a group of technical experts who handle all emergency preparedness and response activities and this group is under my leadership” he said

He went to say that the surveillance working group have pillars

“One of the important pillar is the risk communication and community engagement pillar (RCCE)”

“Their main responsibility is community engagement, and media engagement; especially during outbreaks”

Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Hospital were the Public Emergency center is located

“We do routine community engagement we work closely with community leaders structures”

“These structures are set up from the state Emirate down to the ward , and these structures work in hand with the Emergency Preparedness and response committee, the ministry of health and the surveillance working group to spread awareness”

“They also work with religious institutions because there are still misconceptions and religious misperceptions regarding health related issues” he added

Dr. Isah said even in the case where there is no outbreak the state Emergency response committee meets quarterly to discuss various issues and the state surveillance working group meets even more frequently

Asides these strategies by the Public Emergency center under the the Ministry health, Kano Focus gathered there is an establishment of a Technical Working Groups (TWGs) which are specific response and preparedness committees that are of technical orientation

Each epidemic prone disease has a technical working group

“We have TWG for Monkeypox, We have TWG for measles, We have TWG for Cholera, and we have TWG for Diphtheria” Dr Isah said.

“These Technical working groups (TWGs) are responsible for daily surveillance and tracking of information relating to these diseases”

Dr. Isah further states that the Center for Public Health Emergency under the Ministry of Health uses global standards in handling epidemics

“We use global standards in handling our epidemics, like the establishment of the IMS structure, the Custard implementation plan called the IAP”

“All the developmental partners working in Kano work together with us as a team”

“Social mobilization which we call the concept handling awarenesses creation is very robust and we have support from partners to even do this” Dr Isah said

Key Takeouts 

• The Kano state government, Civil Society Groups, and the Ministry did well to come up with a state action plan for health security
• The Ministry of Health, and the State governments  specific mention of Epidemic Preparedness in the 2023 budget, unlike the previous year’s budget is a welcome development
• Primary Healthcare Centers need to have specific units and department designated for Epidemic Preparedness and Prevention
• Government officials and Public office holders need to refrain from making sweeping promise to the public without proper mechanisms for implantation of promises
• The Public Emergency Center is an important aspect of epidemic Preparedness, Response and Prevention, the center is an assert to Kano state public health
• The Kano state government, Ministry of Health, Kano state House of Assembly and the Ministry of Budget and Planning need to further prioritize epidemic Preparedness, Response and Prevention in subsequent state budgets
• All allocation on epidemic Preparedness in the Kano state 2023 budget need to be monitored by the media for public accountability

Act Financial Training Centre, in association with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited, and ComX, Nigeria’s first digital commodity trading platform, recently organized a commodity trading course aimed at buyers, traders, and those interested in understanding how to manage risks, while positioning for profits in agricultural produce futures.

The course focused on the foundations of commodity markets in Nigeria.

It discusses how commodities markets are created, how commodities are traded from producers to final consumers, the role of transportation and storage, operational structure of the commodities markets, among other topics.

Attendees were also exposed to the elements of spot, futures and futures option markets, basis, hedging, price discovery, fundamental analysis, and risk management strategies.

They were gained knowledge of the various commodity assets in Nigeria, commodity evaluation and grading, and how to trade on AFEX ComX Platform.

It provided a broad and detailed discussion of economic theories behind markets, how they work in and the current state of these markets in the world.

Dahiru Usman, the course coordinator, says in the wave of the current economic down turn in Nigeria, and the Federal Government’s diversification plan from dependence on crude oil to agriculture and value-added agribusiness, there is need for proper development of manpower with the entrepreneurial skillsets in agricultural commodities as well as the development of the supporting market infrastructure that would enhance liquidity, price discovery and risk management for participants.

He added that asides its profit potential, knowledge of agricultural commodity trading empowers traders with a viable diversification option, agro-commodities trading provides effective hedging options against risks, especially in Nigeria, where farm harvests are vulnerable to weather uncertainties and disease.

Expert resource persons who facilitated the course were Mr. Kola Oyedokun, managing director, DSU Brokerage Services Limited, Abuja and Chairman of ACT Financial Training Centre, Mr. Akinyinka Akintunde, managing director, AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited, Mr. Sam Okoh, Chief Operation officer, Prime Commodity Exchange Limited, Mr. Yusuf Ogunbiyi, Investment Manager, AFEX/ComX, Mr. Zannah Hassan, Managing Director, Farmfields Agro Allied Services and Mr.  Bello Lafe, Country Manager, Collateral Management International Ltd.

Participants at the first edition included staff from Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency, Niger Investment House, Kwik Kapital Limited, Jaiz Capital, Credent Investment Managers Limited, and Bauchi Investment House among others.

According to the organisers, the training will be held on the first Saturday of every month at Genius Business School, Gateway Plaza in the Central Business District of Abuja.