Headlines
Jaafar Jaafar lifts blind Kano singer from abject poverty with N5m lifeline

Nazifi Dawud
Jaafar Jaafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian newspaper has revealed how he plans to utilize the N5 million he had generated through crowdfunding to improve the life of an 84-year-old blind Kano singer who was abandoned in extreme poverty.
Kano Focus reports that Mr Jaafar, who addressed a news conference in Kano on Wednesday, said it was sad that Magajiya Dambatta, who had used her singing talents to support enrollment of children in schools during the 1970s and 1980s was left to languish in abject poverty.
Forgotten diva
The journalist lamented how he met the 84-year-old traditional diva, struggling to make a living through street begging in her hometown of Makoda in the outskirts of Kano city.

Mr Jaafar, said his visit to Makoda was “informed by the sudden disappearance of a respectable voice in the traditional musical industry.”
“I met with 84-year-old, dimmed by age who is now blind, but ekes out a living by begging for alms in the village.
“When it was obvious that it was not something we could do alone, we settled for crowd funding, and by the end of the 5-day exercise, a total sum of N5,006,222 was realized to this forgotten heroine,” he said.
According to him, “We have a 3-year upkeep plan for the blind singer that would gulp a total of N1,560,000 for 3 years.”
Mr Jaafar revealed that a monthly stipend of N15,000 would be paid to Mrs Magajiya directly, adding that a quarterly allowance of N15,000 would also be paid to the music legend for soap, perfume and important items.
A new life
Speaking further on the management of the fund Mr Jaafar said the former singer would also be receiving at least N40,000 each year for textile materials and other needs for Sallah celebrations.
He explained that N144,000 would also be paid per annum for Mrs Magajiya’s feeding at N12,000 per month.
“This would be paid to her married grandsons who feed her to ensure that she gets the right nutrition in view of her age. There are two married grandsons who feed her. We decided to alternate this monthly payment between the two grandsons as a measure of control. Total per annum is N144,000,” he said.
Mr Jaafar added that “N5,000 nursing fees would be paid to her grand daughter who nurses and cleans her room and washes her clothes, while another N3,000 school pocket money (would be paid) for her guide (‘Yar Jagora). This would be paid to the mother of the ‘Yar Jagora”.
The journalist further disclosed plans to either buy a house or build a brand new one for Mrs Magajiya as her present abode has become severely dilapidated and unfit for living.
“We have already directed an agent in the village to scout around for a plot of land or a house for sale. Substantial amount of the money raised will be channeled for either building a new house or buying a house for her”, he said.
“We thank ‘Friends of the Community Organisation’ team led by Hassan Gama for their transparent handling and safe keeping of the funds,” he added.

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect cautions govt against taking loan after election

Aminu Abdullahi
The Kano State Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has issued a Public Advisory to all subsisting and prospective lenders to the current Kano State Government.
KANO FOCUS reports that the governor-elect warned that from March 18 to May 29, no lender, domestic or international, should grant any loan facility to the incumbent Kano State Government without the expressed consent of the incoming administration.
The advisory is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor-elect Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
“Any such loan facility approved and issued to the Kano State Government between the date of election and the date of swearing-in without the explicit knowledge and consent of the incoming administration will not be honoured by the new administration.

“All subsisting lenders to the Kano State Government shall take notice that all terms and conditions for all existing loan facilities shall be renegotiated by the new administration guided by the utilisation audit/review of each loan facility,“ the statement said.

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect unveils 65-member transition committee

Aminu Abdullahi
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Kano State Governor-elect Abba Kabir Yusuf has unveiled 65 member Transition Committee.
KANO FOCUS reports that the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), and NNPP 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Kano North Dr Baffa Bichi has been appointed as Chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee, GTC, while a retired Permanent Secretary, Abdullahi Musa will serve as the Secretary.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor-elect.

“The Transition Committee will amongst other things, facilitate the orderly transfer of power from the outgoing Abdullahi Ganduje Administration to the incoming Abba Gida Gida Administration.
‘’His Excellency, the Kano State Governor-elect will inaugurate the Committee on Saturday 1st April 2023 by 2:00 PM,” Dawakin Tofa.
The Chief Press Secretary stated that sub-committees on various sectors and sub-sectors would be announced in due course.
Below is the list of the committee members:
Sen. AB Baffa Bichi, PhD Chairman
Prof. Hafiz Abubakar Member
Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi Member
Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa Member
Hon. Ahmad Garba Bichi Member
Dr Ali Haruna Makoda Member
Barr Maliki Kuliya Member
Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi Member
Dr. Danyaro Ali Yakasai Member
Engr. Muhammad Diggol Member
Dr Ibrahim Jibrin Provost Member
Sheikh Aminu Daurawa Member
Dr. Labaran Abubakar Yusuf Member
Prof Sani Lawan MFashi Member
Alh. Umar S. Minjibir Member
Dr Danjuma Mahmud Member
Engr. Kabir Jibrin Member
Dr Farouk Kurawa Member
Engr. Dr Marwan Ahmad Member
Dr Aminu Garba Magashi Member
Alh. Aminu Ibrahim Abba Member
Alh. Laminu Rabiu Member
Engr. Bello Muhd Kiru Member
Engr. Garba Ahmed Bichi Member
Hon. Tajudeen Othman Member
Sadiya Abdu Bichi Member
Hon. Yusuf Jamo Member
Hon. Nura Dankadai Member
Alh Yusuf Lawan Member
Hon. Umar Maggi Gama Member
Hj Azumi Namadi Bebeji Member
Prof. Auwalu Arzai Member
Rt. Hon. Gambo Sallau Member
Bar. Muhuyi Rimingado Member
State Chairman, NLC Member
State Chairman, KACCIMA Member
Alh. Audu Kirare Member
PS Adda’u Kutama Member
PS Aminu Rabo Member
Alh. Sule Chamba Fagge Member
Alh. Usman Adamu Gaya Member
Engr. Tijjani Yunkus Member
Engr. Abubakar Argungu Member
Alh. Yahaya Musa Member
Rt. Hon. Alasan Kibiya Member
Prof. Dahiru Sani Shuaibu Member
Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu Member
Dr. Kabiru Muhd Kofa Member
Dr. Mustapha Sani Member
Sheikh Malam Abbas Abubakar Daneji Member
Bar. Bashir Yusuf Mohd Member
Bar. Ibrahim Wangida Member
Umaru Idi Member
Dr. Sulaiman Wali Member
Hon. Rabiu Liliko Gwarzo Member
Alh. Kabiru Gwarzo Member
Hj Aisha Kaita Member
Hj Aisha Lawan Saji Member
Ali Yahuza Gano Member
Hon. Auwal Mukhtar Bichi Member
Alh. Musa Fagge Member
Hon Wakili Aliyu Garko Member
Tukur Bala Sagagi Member
Dr Nura Yaro D/Tofa Member
PS Abdullahi Musa Member/Secretary

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect cautions against private construction in public schools, hospital, city wall

Mukhtar Yahaya Usman
Kano state Governor–elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Thursday, advised stoppage of construction works in public places such as schools, hospitals, graveyards, religious and cultural arenas, and along the city walls till further notice.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a Statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, and made available to journalists.
According to the Statement entitled: “PUBLIC ADVISORY ON THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES,” any person, group of persons or organisations who keep constructing structures on government-owned land or places, are doing so to their own peril.
The Statement reads: “The Kano State Governor-elect, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed that this Public Advisory be issued to all individuals, groups, and other organisations that have ongoing construction in public places viz:

”You are advised to discontinue any construction work on public land within and around the following: All schools in the State, all religious and cultural sites in the State, all hospitals in the State, all graveyards in the State, and along the city walls of Kano.
“You are also advised to discontinue the demolition of, and the construction on, all existing public buildings belonging to the government and people of Kano State.
”This Advisory is issued in the public interest, effective from today Thursday 30th March, 2023 till further notice. Any contravener does so at his/her on risk, please.”
