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Kano COVID-19: Ganduje’s N15bn request and the question of reputation management
By Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa
Reputation management does not start and end at making someone popular, but protecting his or her personal integrity in the eyes of the public.
Many scholars in the field of sociology and communication have taken their time to explain the complexity of human perception as it relates to how people develop and maintain a mindset of other fellow human beings.
I have decided to take this bold step to publish this write-up on the ongoing fight against the global pandemic disease of corona virus also known as covid-19 with a sole aim of explaining the shallow approach given by Kano state governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
I am eminently qualified to speak on the governor as his former colleague when both of us served as commissioners during Kwankwaso’s administration and I am one of the key figures that brought in his administration in 2015 under the platform of All Progressive People’s Congress being the pioneer elected chairman of the party in Kano state between 2014 and 2017.
So I have worked closely with Governor Ganduje more than many politicians within the state.
Let me begin by extending my heartfelt condolences to the good people of Kano who lost their loved ones due to the corona virus pandemic in the state.
I have decided to put down this piece of write up as Kano has became the epicenter of covid-19 disease in northern Nigeria, unlike other state governors who have been up and running, providing the preliminary tools/equipment in preparation of the arrival of the pandemic into their states, Governor Ganduje has shown a deliberate nonchalant attitude towards fighting the disease at the state level.
The governor rather, saw the pandemic as a window of opportunity to garner resources for a reason best known to him, strategically, Ganduje set up a shadow structure, looking beautifully upright and ahead of the arrival of the pandemic, appointing his deputy as the head of Covid-19 State Response Team with his first daughter Dr. Amina Ganduje as the defector technical lead of the team.
I have been reliably informed that the activities of the committee depend largely on what the governor’s daughter consented upon, the meeting proceedings were nothing other than observing what Dr. Amina Ganduje has interest on, sometimes, meetings cannot hold if she is not available and she is the one briefing the governor on every activity of the committee.
Probably, because of this nepotism and self-centredness, scores of frontline health workers are currently infected by the covid-19 disease in Kano.
One can easily perceive an agenda, knowing well who Governor Ganduje is, it is predictable that it’s the business as usual but not doing the needful for the fight against covid-19 in the state.
As an administrator, Governor Ganduje knows the constitutional ways to harness resources internally through budget virement that is as simply done through a letter to the state assembly requesting change of some line items in the fiscal document to allow insertion of new items that can cater for the activities of corona virus.
Instead, the governor decided to pursue the federal government to give him N15b.
Unfortunately, his reputation has kicked the bucket in the public glare, the federal mercy he enjoyed to rig election and manipulate the judiciary to scale through the daylight robbery of the 2019 elections is no longer of help to him this season.
He constituted a fundraising committee, in good time, but the potential donors prefer to contribute in kind because of the governor’s previous records and bad reputation of handling state resources.
There is a popular Hausa proverb that says “Ba a bawa Kura ajiyar nama” meaning “meat is not safe at the hand of a carnivore”.
It is not a surprise that the fund raising committee could not yet announce the total amount realized, because potential donors were afraid to give in cash.
Umar Doguwa writes from Kano, Nigeria
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project and other development partners in advancing education in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the assurance while receiving the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, during a courtesy visit at the Government House in Kano.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mustapha Muhammad, Governor Yusuf said his administration would continue to collaborate with stakeholders and support initiatives aimed at improving education in Kano State.
“We will continue to collaborate and support every effort geared towards the development of education in Kano State,” the governor said.
He described the AGILE project as a beacon of hope that is strengthening the education sector through infrastructural development and support for teachers.
Earlier, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad informed the governor that Kano State had successfully secured the World Bank’s “No Objection” approval for the construction of 49 new schools under the AGILE project at a cost of ₦23 billion.
The minister disclosed that contractors handling the projects had already been mobilised to site, adding that the initiative would significantly expand access to education for underserved communities across the state.
She also commended the Kano State Government for the quality of projects being executed in schools, particularly those she inspected during her visit, and urged the AGILE project team to emulate the state government’s standards in project implementation.
The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving access to secondary education and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls across Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, has commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, describing the intervention as a major boost to girl-child education in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that Professor Suwaiba made the remarks during an inspection visit to selected AGILE project sites in Kano State, including Government Girls College, Kano, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSS), Dukawuya.
She said the Tinubu administration remained committed to implementing policies and programmes aimed at improving the standard of education and expanding access to quality learning opportunities for adolescent girls across the country.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of projects being executed under the World Bank-supported AGILE programme in Kano State, noting that the initiative would significantly improve educational infrastructure and learning outcomes.
While praising the standard of work at the project sites, she directed Principal and SBMC handling some of the projects to make necessary corrections where required in order to ensure durable and high-quality infrastructure.
Speaking during the visit, the National Coordinator of the AGILE Project, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna, highlighted recent achievements recorded under the programme.
According to her, the World Bank-supported project is focused on improving access to education for adolescent girls through infrastructure development and empowerment initiatives.
On his part, the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda, said the state government had continued to prioritise education through increased budgetary allocation and ongoing investments in the sector.
Makoda disclosed that since the declaration of a state of emergency on education in 2023, the sector has consistently received more than 30 per cent of the state’s annual budget.
He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for sustaining investments aimed at improving learning environments and educational outcomes across the state.
The commissioner also appreciated the minister for visiting Kano State to inspect the ongoing AGILE projects and for her continued support toward the advancement of education in the state.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu, disclosed that about 300 schools across Kano State would be renovated under the AGILE project.
He added that the state government also plans to construct 49 new girls’ schools across the 484 wards in Kano as part of efforts to strengthen access to education for girls.
Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and Hajiya Amina Buba
As part of the visit, the Minister, accompanied by the National Project Coordinator of AGILE, Hajiya Amina Buba Haruna; the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gwani Ali Abubakar Makoda; the Project Coordinator, Alhaji Mujittapha Aminu; and the Head of the Project Financial Management Unit (HPFMU), Alhaji Aliyu Lawan, also met with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to discuss the progress of the AGILE project in Kano State.
The AGILE project is a World Bank-supported initiative designed to improve secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls through enhanced infrastructure, increased access, and empowerment programmes.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday launched the Northern Region Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (CNG/EV) Initiative, describing it as a major step toward economic growth, job creation, and affordable transportation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the launch, held at the Kano Indoor Stadium, was attended by the representative of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, and the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad.
As part of the event, the delegation also commissioned the Asad CNG and Greenville LNG stations located along the Kano-Zaria Road.
Speaking during the launch of the Kano and Northern Region CNG/EV Activation Programme, Governor Yusuf said the initiative would open up vast opportunities in refuelling infrastructure, vehicle conversion centres, technical services, assembly plants, logistics, and manufacturing.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor noted that the project would create employment opportunities for thousands of youths in the state, many of whom have already received training in vehicle conversion and technical maintenance.
Governor Yusuf assured investors of the state government’s readiness to continue collaborating with the Federal Government, the Pi-CNG & EV initiative, and genuine private investors willing to support the development of the sector.
“Our administration will continue to provide the enabling environment necessary for businesses to thrive, as we believe economic growth and job creation must remain at the centre of governance,” the governor stated.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for introducing the initiative, saying it would significantly ease transportation challenges facing Nigerians.
In his remarks, Senator Hassan Hadejia, who serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, said the activation of CNG in Northern Nigeria would maximise utilisation due to the region’s large transportation network, which he described as the biggest in West Africa.
He commended Governor Yusuf for his commitment to the programme and for creating an enabling environment ahead of its official rollout.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pi-CNG & EV Initiative, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmad, said President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and was determined to provide alternative energy sources that are cheaper than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Ahmad further disclosed that CNG stations would be established across all senatorial districts in Kano State to ensure wider accessibility for residents.
Representatives of the governors of Jigawa and Katsina states also called for the swift implementation of similar CNG initiatives in their states to reduce transportation costs and stimulate economic growth.
Alhaji Aminu Suraj represented the Jigawa State Governor, while Professor Muhammad Al-Amin represented the Katsina State Governor at the event.
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Kano Govt reaffirms support for AGILE Project, education development
Minister inspects AGILE Projects in Kano
Governor Yusuf launches northern CNG/EV initiative, commissions new stations
NCC assures Nigerians of improved telecom services amid quality concerns
AGILE Project: Kano awards ₦23.1bn contract for construction of 49 new secondary schools
Tinubu nominates Kano’s Rabiu Umar as new NMDPRA chief
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