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Detained Kano rice workers – Ministry of labor denounces police intervention
Nasiru Yusuf
The Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity has criticized the Nigerian police for rescuing hundreds of workers detained in a Kano rice mill.
Kano Focus reports that the police had rescued the workers after they had been detained in the Popular Farms rice mill at Challawa, Kano for about three months.
However, labor officer in the Kano office of the ministry, Abdullahi Ali told Kano Focus that the issue was not a police matter and that the company had treated the workers fairly.
Police rescue over 300 workers detained for 3 months in rice mill
“We visited the organization, we were conducted round, we interviewed workers and they confirmed to us that they were held in the company willingly.
“As far as we saw with our own eyes, the workers were treated well by the management.
“They were given feeding allowance, and even allowed to periodically visit their homes.” Mr Ali said.
The labor officer added that if the workers had any complaints they should report to the ministry of labor rather than the Nigerian Police.
“In the first place, an employment issue is not a police case.
“If there is any case of forced, compulsory or slave labor, the ministry of labor’s attention should have been drawn, and every agency has its own role to play.
Abdullahi Ali: Labor Officer
“As far as industrial issues are concerned, we have sole prerogative. “We are on exclusive legislative list of the federal government so when you have industrial issues you address it appropriately and rightly to the labor office and we can assign a labor officer to go and address it.
“We did not received such complaint; we only heard of it over the radio,” Mr Ali said.
The Kano Command of the Nigeria Police is yet to respond to this statement.
The labour officer also denied accusations by the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) that he has connived with the company’s management to sabotage the inauguration of the union’s branch.
Union alleges “Compromise”
Kano state secretary of the NUFBTE, Usman Muhammad told Kano Focus that Mr Aliyu had been “compromised” by the company.
“There was a time we visited the factory along with the labour officer, the national president of the National union of food, beverages, and tobacco employees, his deputy, general secretary, national treasurer and state leadership but the admin manager denied us entry.
“The labour officer’s approach to the matter showed that he has been compromised.
“Instead of taking decisive action, I overheard him pleading to the admin manager to allow us to enter.
“If he has done his work, the factory will not dare to maltreat workers,” Mr Muhammad said.
He said the union will prepare and send a comprehensive report on the incident to the Kano state branch of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) for prompt intervention.
Influential people connive with foreigners
Meanwhile, Kano state chairman of the NLC, Kabiru Ado Minjibir has condemned the action of the company pending the receipt of the report from the NUFBTE.
Mr Minjibir lamented that some Nigerians connive with foreigners to maltreat indigenous workers.
“Some influential people in Kano have contributed in degrading indigenous workers in the sight of expatriates.
“The last time labour leaders visited the said factory to inaugurate union leaders, they met resistance from management of the factory who at the end invited police to arrest the labour leaders.
“But if the matter involved indigenous factories, they don’t get such privileges.
“I don’t know why our leaders support foreigners to enslave our people in their factories.” Mr Minjibir said.
Detained workers not our staff
In its defense, Popular Farm Rice Mill said the labourers are not its employees and it is therefore not responsible for their welfare.
The administrative manager of the company, Kareem Saka told Kano Focus that the labourers are sourced from outside contractors.
“They are not our staff; we contracted loading and offloading contractors who hired those labourers.
“They had an agreement which they are paying them on daily basis. “And out of our own magnanimity we didn’t stop there, we still provided them with allowances, detergents, medical service and so on and so forth.” Mr. Saka said.
He added that the company provided a sleeping place for the workers in its farmland because they live far away from their homes.
Mr Saka however denied any knowledge that the workers were not allowed to go out at all.
“Our agreement is only with the contractors and not with their staff. “They are the ones who discussed with their labourers and agreed on their terms of employment,” he said.
Kano Focus had made several attempts to get the Kano state Ministry of Commerce and Industry to respond to the matter.
However, after several phone calls and text messages to the Ministry’s spokesperson, the commissioner Mahmoud Muhammad is yet to respond.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has issued a blistering response to recent accusations made by Baffa Bichi, the former Secretary to the State Government, describing the claims as baseless fabrications intended to mislead the public and tarnish reputations.
This was contained in a stark issued by governor’s spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin on Sunday.
Governor Yusuf dismissed all the allegations made by Bichi via social media, branding him “a shameless liar” whose utterances are unworthy of serious attention.
“The claims are not only false but also laughable. Baffa Bichi is a big liar, and everything he said is a total fallacy,” Yusuf declared.
Particularly, the Governor vehemently refuted the assertion that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, is receiving N2 billion monthly from the Kano State Government.
Governor Yusuf described the allegation as “the height of political desperation and dishonesty.”
“Senator Kwankwaso is one of the purest and most selfless individuals in Kano. He has never demanded a penny from this administration, nor has he interfered with the government’s finances,” the Governor asserted.
He also criticized Baffa Bichi’s timing and motive, noting that he served in the government for several months without making such claims—until after his dismissal due to incapacitation, poor performance and administrative negligence.
“You were in this government for more than a year l, If you had any integrity, you would have spoken out while still in office. But you chose silence until you were sent parking. That exposes your real motive,” Yusuf added.
The Governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transparency and good governance, urging the people of Kano to disregard what he called “the noise of bitter politicians who have lost relevance.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) campaign on Polio vaccine has recorded a positive response in Hotoro North, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that this a result of a renewed collaboration between the Kano State Government, the UNICEF and key community stakeholders with officials reporting a sharp decline in cases of parental resistance.
The campaign comes on the heels of a disturbing resurgence of circulating variant polioviruses in three local government areas, Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa, where three new cases were detected earlier in 2025. These incidents underscored lingering gaps in immunization coverage, largely due to misinformation and resistance from a fraction of parents who previously declined to vaccinate their children.
However, a recent visit by journalists to Hotoro North revealed a striking turnaround in public response. Field reports indicate that growing awareness efforts, powered by religious and traditional institutions, are yielding impressive results on the ground.
Alhassan Iliyasu, Chairman of the Ward Development Committee (WDC) and a member of the local polio taskforce, confirmed that community resistance has significantly dropped.
He recounted that on the third day of the campaign, health teams encountered only four resistant households. After intervention by community leaders, three of the families willingly presented their children for vaccination.
He said “We’re seeing real change.Thanks to continued sensitization and involvement of respected community figures, more parents are seeing the importance of immunization and allowing their children to be vaccinated.”
Umar Ahmad, the Wakilin Hotoro North and representative of the village head, also praised the collective effort. According to him, awareness campaigns are now embedded in local religious and social structures.
“We make announcements in mosques, engage community leaders, and partner with Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs). When there’s a case of non-compliance, we intervene immediately—and by the grace of God, people are now cooperating,” he said.
The campaign’s success has been further echoed by Hauwa Ibrahim, the Assistant Ward Vocal Person, who described the ongoing immunization round as the most positively received in recent years.
“It’s encouraging to see parents themselves approach us to ask why their children haven’t been vaccinated yet. There’s a new wave of awareness, and while a few still hesitate, most become receptive after sensitization,” she explained.
Stakeholders have applauded the multi-tiered approach that combines medical outreach with traditional authority and faith-based messaging. Marked houses and updated immunization records in Hotoro North now serve as tangible proof of progress in a region once burdened by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
With Kano State intensifying efforts to achieve a polio-free status, Hotoro North now stands as a shining example of what community-driven health campaigns can achieve—highlighting the power of partnership, education, and persistence in defeating one of the world’s most preventable diseases.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Government has signed a contract with TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited for the completion of Kankare to Karaye road, linking the villages of Tofa, Rimin Gado, Kabo, and Karaye Local Government Areas.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isah Dederi on Wednesday signed the contract on behalf of Kano state government.
Barrister Dederi recalled that the project was initially budgeted at N3 billion 15 years ago and had undergone five reviews by previous administrations.
The Attorney General noted that the present administration under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is committed to completing the project within a specified period.
He said “the signing of the contract is a significant testament to improving our state infrastructure, The project will not only enhance transportation but also Boost economic growth and the quality of life for our citizens.
“We are confident that with the expertise of TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited, we will complete this project within the stipulated timeframe.”
In his remarks the Commissioner of Works, Engineer Marwan Ahmad said the project was first awarded in 2010 by the Administration of Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and this is the sixth time the contract has been reviewed.
He noted that the project is in phases, with 7 bridges already completed, and the government has given the contractors an 8-month deadline to complete the second segment.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the member representing Tofa and Rimin Gado State Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker reiterated that the State House of Assembly would exercise its constitutional oversight function to ensure the timely completion of the project and adherence to the agreed terms.
On his part, Engr. Lee Wu, Managing Director of TEC Engineering Company Nigerian Limited, expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government under Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for recognizing their company’s capabilities.
He pledged to work diligently to complete the project within the stipulated timeframe and solicited the support of traditional leaders and community members for the project’s success.
Also commenting Alhaji Abdullahi Aminu, District Head of Karaye and Turakin Karaye, speaking on behalf of the District Heads of the four Local Government Areas, who grace the occasion expressed gratitude to Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for embarking on this laudable project. He noted that the construction of this vital road will undoubtedly revive economic growth in the area.
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