Headlines
COVID-19: Eid prayers to hold in Kano as ‘Hawan Sallah’ is canceled
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano state government has agreed to allow Eid-el-Fitr prayers to hold across the state after reaching an agreement with Islamic scholars and Imams on safety measures against COVID-19 to be observed during the ritual.
This was announced by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who held a meeting with Islamic clerics at the Government House, Kano on Monday.
“Government also considers it convenient to allow the conduct of Eid prayers in all five emirates in the state under strict observance of safety and prevention protocols,” Mr Ganduje said.
Ban on Friday prayers also lifted
Mr Ganduje also said Friday prayers, which have been banned in the state for weeks, would now be performed with the supervision of the Kano Hisbah board, which would ensure that worshippers comply with safety measures.
He explained that movement would be eased three times in a week–on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, adding that the free hours are from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
“In this regard, we have briefed the Hisbah board to hold meeting with Imams and also deploy its personnel to Friday mosques across the state to ensure that worshippers comply with personal hygiene through maintaining of social distancing, hand washing and use of sanitizers,” he said.
‘Hawan Sallah’ canceled
Mr Ganduje however said all festivities including the traditional ‘Hawan Sallah’ (Sallah durbar) have been canceled across all five emirates in the state.
“However, there will be no Sallah festivals in all emirates including the traditional Hawan Sallah,” the governor said.
“While government of Kano state will also continue to work toward ensuring that together we stand to fight the deadly (coronavirus) disease,” he added.
PTF slams fresh 2 weeks lockdown in Kano
Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has declared a fresh 2-week lockdown in the state, after the initial lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 27, 2020 expired last week.
Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha said the renewed restriction of movement would allow the government to further check the spread of the coronavirus disease.
“Advisedly, the current phase of eased restriction will be maintained for another two weeks during which stricter enforcement and persuasion measures will be pursued,” he said during the daily media briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.
According to Mr Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recommendations including the following:
“Maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;
“Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises.
“This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions; and Aggressive scale up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high risk states.”
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.
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.
Abba Kabir Yusuf asks Fuel Marketers to reverse to old price
Abba Kabir Yusuf appoints Rahila Mukhtar to head KSCHMA
Police arrest ninety-six suspects in Kano over attempts to disrupt inauguration activities
Alleged $1.3 fraud: EFCC withdraws amended charges against Zaura
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