Headlines
NCC, Danbatta bag fresh awards for broadband development

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Umar Danbatta has bagged “Broadband Oxygenator of the Year” award for his remarkable role and commitment to the development of broadband infrastructure to support the country’s digital economy drive.
Kano Focus reports that Mr Danbatta bagged the award at this year’s edition of the Nigeria Tech Innovation and Telecoms Awards (NTITA), 2020.
Regarded as the Oscars of Nigeria’s telecoms industry, the awards, powered by Instinctwave, Africa’s leading business-to-business event organizer in collaboration with the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Abuja at the weekend, saw the Commission and other industry stakeholders, including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, carting away distinguished awards.
The NCC, as a corporate organisation received the “Outstanding Contribution to Driving Greater Broadband Penetration Award of the Year.
A statement sent to Kano Focus on Monday by the spokesman of NCC Ikechukwu Adinde said basic active internet subscription under Danbatta grew from 90 million to 143.7 million while active voice subscription increased from 151 million to 205.25 percent during the same period with teledensity also reaching 107.53 percent as at end of September, 2020.

The statement added that last five years have seen the number of licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCo) increasing from two in 2015 to six currently. The InfraCos are to deploy broadband infrastructure, on a wholesale basis in the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the Commission is currently reviewing the framework for the licensing of InfraCo to ensure sustainable funding options for effective implementation of the proposed national fibre project towards increasing broadband penetration to 70 percent target, as set in the new national broadband plan by 2025.
It added that the ongoing review of the InfraCo framework is to cater for the delays in take-off, change in exchange rate, supply chain and other challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to InfraCo implementation.
NCC and Danbatta’s recognitions at the NTITA 2020 were also hinged on the increase in the contribution of the telecom sector the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 8.5 percent in 2015 to 14.30 percent as of the second quarter of 2020, translating to N2.272 trillion in financial value.
In the last five years, under Danbatta leadership, telecoms investment grew from around $38 billion to over $70 billion currently with appreciable remittances in spectrum fees and operating surplus by the NCC into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
Increased e-commerce services, other digital services and more access to financial inclusion were also enabled through increased deployment of broadband infrastructure being promoted by the telecoms regulator through a number of regulatory initiatives.
Speaking on the significance of the NTITA, President of ATCON, Olusola Teniola, said: “Our thinking is that if we decide to ignore the contribution that our sector has made to the development of Nigeria by not recognizing the actors that made it possible, what we are saying invariably is that we are unappreciative of their concerted efforts in changing the story of our industry.”
He hoped that the awards would spur the Nigerian government to pay more attention to the sector and that state governments would continue to support the efforts of the industry to transform their various states into digital cities.

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.”
