Headlines
Critics of Almajiri ban are anti-development–Ganduje

Nazifi Dawud
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has described those who criticize his decision to ban child beggars (almajirai) from roaming the streets across Kano state as “anti-development and anti-people.”
KANO FOCUS recalls that Mr Ganduje had pronounced the proscription of almajirai in the state last Tuesday, and vowed to arrested and prosecute parents who allow their children to roam the streets, begging for food in the name of seeking Islamic knowledge.
Almajirai menace: Kano bans child beggars, to prosecute errant parents
However, the governor was criticized by the Kano Council of Ulama, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, who said the policy could not succeed “without the consultation and inclusion of stakeholders.”

Kano Council of Ulama rejects Ganduje’s Almajiri ban
It’s wrong for Islamic scholars to attack Ganduje over Almajiri ban–Pantami
But speaking on Sunday during a visit to some Tsangaya schools in Bagwai, Madobi and Bunkure local government areas of the state, Mr Ganduje said begging is un-Islamic and insists on implementing the ban policy.
“Begging is poverty-driven as a result of lack of parental care and lack of societal care. We must take the responsibility of our children,” the governor was quoted in a statement by Abba Anwar, his chief press secretary.
“As we born them, Allah places such responsibilities on our shoulders. Those kicking against our policy are anti-development and anti-people. Or they even lack proper understanding of the position of Islam on begging,” he added.
Mr Ganduje explained that his visit to the Tsangaya schools was part of the steps taken to implement the almajirai proscription.
“The visit was as part of the final touch for the full scale take-off of our banning of begging in the state. Begging is banned and will remained banned. We are telling these beggars to leave begging forever. And we are committed to see to the implementation of this.
“When we capture these beggars we take them to these facilities and take good care of them, we give them education, feed them and look after their living condition,” the governor said.
According to the statement “each of the facilities visited by the governor could accommodate thousands of Almajiris and there are 12 similar facilities across some local governments in the state. Each facility has dormitory, hostels, cafeteria, thousands of toilets, staff quarters among others.”
“We employed over 8,000 teachers recently that would be send to such schools. These children would also be given training on skills acquisition. So that they would become self-independent.
“Those begging in the street as we take them off the street we will take them to those newly established Tsangaya schools.
“We keep them there give them Qur’anic education, English language, Mathematics and Arabic language for them to understand the meaning of the what they are reading, the Holy Qur’an.”
“The second strategy is, those that are under their guardians, we will enrol them into nearby primary schools. And after finishing their primary education we will take them to secondary schools also.”
“Those with thousands of Almajiris would be integrated also into out free and compulsory education system.
“While at the same time government will continue to provide the schools with foodstuffs and some amount of logistics for them to take care of the children. That we have already started with some pilot Almajiri schools. And we are improving the facilities to be healthy,” Mr Ganduje further explained.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf asks Fuel Marketers to reverse to old price

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged petroleum marketers to reverse the prices of petroleum goods to its old rate in order to lessen the current hardship experienced by the general public.

KANO FOCUS reports that the appeal is contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the chief press secretary to the governor.
The governor said he is aware that the marketers still had old products in stock that were supposed to be sold at the previous pricing.
“To reduce the needless hardship on the state’s citizens, the marketers should exercise some restraint and quickly reopen all filling stations with available products in stock to sell at the former price.
“As a concerned Governor, I am disheartened to see our dear People of Kano suffering as a result of an unjustified fuel hike, and the situation must be stopped right away,” the governor said.
Kano, according to governor, is the commercial hub for the country’s northern region as well as certain countries in West Africa, and its bustling populace continues to enjoy favorable business conditions.
The Governor urged the good citizens of Kano state to maintain their composure and uphold the law because the government is always prepared to make sure that people are doing their affairs conveniently.

Headlines
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints Rahila Mukhtar to head KSCHMA

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced the appointment of Rahila Mukhtar as executive secretary of the Kano State Healthcare Contributory Management Agency (KCHMA).
KANO FOCUS reports that this is contained in a statement by his chief press secretary Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Thursday.
Yusuf also approved the appointment of Garba Bichi as managing director of the Kano State Water Board, Hassan Danbaffa as managing director of the Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA), Ibrahim Yakubu as managing director of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) and Abdulkadir Abdussalam as the accountant-general.
KANO FOCUS reports that the government said a date for their swearing-in would be announced soon to enable them to assume the new responsibilities.

Headlines
Police arrest ninety-six suspects in Kano over attempts to disrupt inauguration activities


Ninety- six suspects were arrested by the Nigeria Police in Kano following alleged attempts to disrupt peace in the state during Monday’s inauguration ceremony.
KANO FOCUS reports that State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who disclosed this at a press conference held at the Command’s Bompai headquarters, Wednesday remarked that the arrest followed a series of crackdowns by his men.
He noted that the suspects, who were picked up differently across the state within the last one week included 56 suspected mobile phone robbers, 17 illicit drug related suspects, and 20 suspects who were arrested on account of attempts to commit violent crimes.
Items recovered from the suspects included five cartons of suspected Tramadol tablets, 83 sachets of suspected Diazepam and 371 pieces of rubber solution, including 12 parcels and 303 wraps of dried leaves.
Other recoveries from the suspects included 157 weapons, four locally made guns, one toy gun and 18 mobile phones as well as 34 ATMs .
He explained that preliminary investigations had led them to conclude that the suspects were saboteurs and sponsored criminals given that they were found with dangerous weapons and were also under the influence of drugs during their arrest
Usaini added that all the suspects would soon be charged to court even as he advised the members of the public to be law abiding.
He insisted that the Police would continue to match its words with actions until all the criminally minded persons in the state repented or decided to leave the state.
