Headlines
Gurasa bakers threaten indefinite strike if IRS, BUA, Super, others fail to reverse flour price
Nasiru Yusuf
Barely one week after they called of a three-day warning strike, Gurasa Bakers Association of Kano state has threatened to embark on indefinite strike if IRS, BUA, Super and Golden Confectionery fail to reverse the price of flour.
KANO FOCUS reports that gurasa is a Kano indigenous local bread made up of flour that serves as one of delicacies used by Hausa people in the state.
The association, through its Chairperson, Fatima Auwalu, on Wednesday said nothing has changed since they called off the warning strike, prompting them to embark on indefinite industrial action until authorities and stakeholders do the needful.
Chairperson, gurasa Bakers Association of Kano state Fatima Auwalu
According to Mrs Auwalu, all Gurasa bakers in the state are counting losses due to the recurring increase in the price of flour, which is the major ingredient for making of one of the local staple foods.
The Chairperson pointed out that not long ago, the price of flour was N9,500 but now it has reached N16,200, calling on the companies to reverse the price to N9,000 or shutdown the business.
She also lamented that a part from the increase in the price of flour, the quality of the product has been reduced, saying, “this has negatively impacted our business.”
“Since calling off the warning strike, we thought the price would reduce, but to our dismay, the price is rather going up day by day.
” The three-day strike had inflicted hardship on us and our customers, but we could not do anything to resolve this problem but to take industrial action in order to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to bring lasting solution to the problem.
Mrs Auwalu disclosed that the association had decided to call off the strike because of the intervention of the Kano state Commissioner of Police and other agencies.
“We normally use IRS flour, BUA, Golden Confectionery and Super Flour. These are the only three brands that we used always. But we’re in a difficult situation because our business has become the shadow of its former self due to the hike on the price of the flour.
Gurasa baking pot
” Let me use this opportunity to call on Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu and other stakeholders to quickly reverse the price of flour or we shut our business down. If we shut it down, it will not affect us alone, it will affect many people in this state and the North as a whole,” she warned.
Another Gurasa baker, Usaina Adamu said they had been forced to embark on the indefinite strike due to the fact that their warning action did not yield desired results.
According to her, the bakers had decided to go on the strike in order to bring the attention of the stakeholders to control the price of the flour, noting that but their action did not change the situation.
“We called on the stakeholders to do the needful in a bid to control the situation but it is rather deteriorating.
” We therefore call on Abdussamad, IRS and other companies to as a matter of urgency reverse the price of flour to N9000 or we go on indefinite strike. They should know that thousands have relied on this business. If we shut it down, a lot will suffer,” she warned.
On his part, Umar Badamasi, who is the Vice Chairman of Gurasa Sellers Association, expressed surprise on how the price of flour is raising day in day out.
Umar Badamasi, Vice Chairman of gurasa Sellers Association
” We call on stakeholders, the Manufacturers such as BUA, IRS, Super and other manufacturers to investigate this matter and provide solution. They should also warn those dealers who we suspect are increasing the price whole they get the commodity at cheaper rare from the manufacturers. If this is not done, we have no choice than to shut down the business,” he threatened.
“This is the product that we bought N12, 000 per bag recently, it increased to N13, 000, N14000 up to over N16, 000. This is sad. Our business is being negatively affected. Something has to be done,” he pleaded.
Checks have revealed that the flour companies have increased the price of the commodity by 56 percent within the period of one year, situation that resulted to uproar in the country.
Efforts to reach BUA company in Kano proved unsuccessful, but a major dealer of the product in the state, Alhaji Muhammadu Danadakawa said the bakers should go for the strike in order to draw the attention of the state and federal government into the matter.
He said the bakers should take a decision that would call the attention of the government to intervene in a bid to reverse the price.
“Let them go on strike so that the state and federal government will know about their action and intervene. We just see it when they increase the price. We should buy it like that if we want to buy.
” But, look for the companies managers here in Kano because I’m not a manager, I’m just a dealer,” he said.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Chapter of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has inaugurated a security committee aimed at strengthening community-based responses to insecurity in the state and wider northern region.
KANO FOCUS reports that the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the ACF Secretariat by the Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees in Kano State, Brigadier General Haliru Akilu (Rtd), who said the initiative was a strategic response to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Gen. Halliru Akilu inaugurating Gen. Idris Bello Dambazau while Dr Goni Faruk Umar is watching
Akilu described the committee as a platform for strategic engagement, grassroots intervention, and policy articulation to support formal security institutions.
“This committee is envisioned to serve as a fulcrum of strategic engagement and community-driven security intervention. It symbolizes our collective resolve to restore order and peace to our communities,” he said.
He noted that the committee draws membership from various security and paramilitary agencies including the NDLEA, Police, Hisbah, Civil Defence, FRSC, NAPTIP, and vigilante groups.
Gen. Halliru Akilu delivering his address
According to him, the committee is tasked with assessing the evolving security landscape in Kano and beyond, acting as a bridge between citizens and security agencies, and developing actionable, data-driven recommendations to promote peace, vigilance and resilience across ethnic, religious, and political divides.
General Akilu stressed that the committee must operate beyond bureaucratic routines and ensure its insights influence national policy. He also urged members to demonstrate integrity, confidentiality, and dedication.
Chairman of the committee, General Idris Bello Dambazau (Rtd), pledged to uphold the mandate of the committee with seriousness and discipline.
Gen. Idris Bello Dambazau (Rtd) granting interview to journalists
“We’re bringing the seriousness of military service into this assignment. Time in service is life. One minute can cost lives. That’s how seriously we’re taking this task,” he said, adding that the committee was set to begin work immediately.
On his part, the NDLEA Commander in Kano, Ahmed Idris, commended the synergy among security agencies in the state and expressed optimism that the ACF’s initiative would serve as a model for other states.
Cross section of members of the security committee
“In Kano, we’ve built a strong culture of collaboration. This committee reflects that spirit and the quality of its membership shows the seriousness of the ACF,” he said.
KANO FOCUS reports that the initiative comes as Kano and other northern states are facing security threats such as banditry, kidnapping, drug abuse, and youth radicalization. Observers say the ACF’s grassroots-focused approach could offer a much-needed complement to conventional security responses.
Gen. Halliru Akilu (rtd) inaugurating Gen. Idris Bello Dambazau (rtd)
Speakers at the event called for similar committees to be replicated across other states in the region, with hopes that the Kano model would become a blueprint for wider regional intervention.
Members of the security committee and ACF officials
General Akilu closed the event with a call for the committee to chart a new course for peace and security in the region, describing the inauguration as “a bold first step.”
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano State Government to declare a state of emergency on polio and routine immunisation due to the resurgence of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that with18 polio cases recorded across nine states, including three in Kano, UNICEF Acting Chief of Field Office, Michael Banda, emphasized the need for urgent action. “Polio knows no boundaries. An outbreak anywhere threatens children everywhere,” he said.
Senior Education Manager and Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Michael Banda, made the revelation during a media dialogue on polio and routine immunization in Kano.
Mr Michael Banda
According to Banda, Kano accounted for three cases uncovered in Warawa, Nasarawa, and Bunkure local government areas of the state, amid zero immunization and misconceptions against the deadly infection.
cVDPV refers to a type of poliovirus that arises from the oral polio vaccine (OPV), used in the prevention of polio.
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), on rare occasions, the weakened virus in the OPV can mutate and begin to circulate within a community, causing infections and potentially paralysis, similar to wild poliovirus.
Although Banda reminded that polio has been the leading cause of paralysis and death among children, he affirmed the disease is on the brink of eradication with vaccination of 3 billion children globally in the last 37 years.
The UNICEF boss, however, worried that the fight against polio is not over in some countries, including in Nigeria, because of low vaccination rates, thereby paving the way for polio outbreaks.
Banda explained that there is a collaboration with the Kano State Government through the Primary Health Care Management Board to broaden public knowledge on the potency of the vaccination.
He added that the media dialogue was targeted to solicit media support in raising awareness and mobilizing parents on the polio vaccination campaign in Kano ahead of World Immunization Week, beginning from 24th and 30th April 2025.
On her part, representative of Kano state Primary Healthcare Management Board, Hajiya Saadatu Ibrahim, identified challenges of hard-to-reach settlements, missing houses, zero-dose vaccination, and poor healthcare workers as major setbacks.
Hajiya Saadatu Ibrahim,
She reassured that the government has a renewed strategy to overcome the challenges, including a new method of recruiting immunization workers and the involvement of external supervisors
She said Kano State Government will immunize 4.1 million under five children.
A polio vaccination campaign is scheduled for April 24-30, 2025, coinciding with World Immunization Week. UNICEF is collaborating with the state government to raise awareness and mobilise parents.
Aminu Abdullahi
The ICEADA AGILE partnership, aimed at promoting girls’ education at the grassroots level, has organized an Activity Feedback Workshop and Quarterly Meeting to assess the successes and challenges of the project across six local government areas in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the local governments areas include: Bebeji, Kiru, Karaye, Madobi, Rogo, and Warawa.
Prof M. B Shittu presenting IEC materials to Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Speaking at the event, Prof. M.B. Shitu, Team Leader and Project Manager, explained that the project was designed to engage key stakeholders in the selected local government areas to sensitize communities on the importance of enrolling girls in school.
Cross section of ICEADA/AGILE mentors
He noted that participants of the workshop are Community Engagement Mentors selected from the six local governments.
“Their role is to engage directly with community members to promote girls’ enrollment in schools,” he said.
“Part of their responsibility is to carry out sensitization and mobilization campaigns within their communities. Our main concern is increasing the enrollment and retention of girls in secondary education. That’s why we introduced the Community Engagement Mentors—to collaborate with parents and local organizations in support of girls’ education,” Prof. Shitu added.
Cross section of ICEADA/AGILE mentors
He also revealed that the project has recorded significant progress across the six LGAs, although a few challenges still persist and are currently being addressed.
“One of the aims of this workshop is to review the activities carried out in the last quarter and set new community goals to strengthen our campaign. We’ve also launched house-to-house awareness campaigns to tackle the issues affecting girls’ education in these communities,” he stated.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress. Lami Idris, a Community Mentor from Karaye LGA, shared her experience.
“We are going from house to house to educate people on the benefits of girls’ education. One of the major challenges we face is the lack of schools in some villages. Some girls have to walk long distances to reach school,” she said.
Review meeting in session
Abdullahi Balarabe Kiru, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kiru LGA, reported that data collected from the area showed over 40 girls are currently out of school. He affirmed that efforts are ongoing to address the issue.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim presenting IEC materials to community mentors
In his remarks, Malam Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Communication Officer of the AGILE Project, disclosed that 130 new schools will be constructed in Kano State to tackle the problem of out-of-school children.
He also highlighted insecurity and the destruction of school infrastructure as major challenges facing the education sector.
ACF inaugurates security committee in Kano
UNICEF asks Kano Govt to declare state of emergency on polio, routine immunisation
The need to restore the prestige of Kano Pillars FC
In defence of Prof Abdalla Uba Adamu’s beautiful quip on Kano – IBK
AGILE partners ICEADA in promoting girls education in 6 Kano LGAs
AGILE partners ICEADA in promoting girls education in 6 Kano LGAs
Book Review: Quintessential Elegance in Islamic Scholarship, Sheikh Ibrahim Khaleel
IGP Orders Kano Police to Investigate Emir Sanusi, Withdraws Invitation from Force HQ
Emir Sanusi II Calls for Justice Over Killing of Kano Indigenes in Edo
