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Pantami applauds ICT’s 17.92% contributions to GDP
Nasiru Yusuf
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has applauded consistent growth in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which hit 17.92 per cent in the last quarter of 2020, and in the first quarter of 2021, and continued on an impressive trajectory.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Minister, who gave the figures at the opening of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) – (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) FCDO Roundtable, and Technical Workshop on Building Capabilities for Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Transformation in Nigeria, said this “percentage is unprecedented, and this is only the contribution of ICT to our GDP without calculating digital services”.
This was contained in a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Reuben Muoka and sent to KANO FOCUS on Tuesday.
Pantami said digital access and connectivity have become a necessity, as they play an increasingly vital role in our everyday lives and have become key drivers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Minister assured his audience, including representatives of ITU, FCDO, and other international agencies, embassies, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, that the “Federal Government understands that enormous private sector support, as well as support from international organisations, are essential to enable us to realise our lofty goals for Nigeria’s digital economy and this has informed our decision to partner with key international organisations such as the ITU and FCDO.
“The digital age is upon us, and all relevant stakeholders must be prepared for the enormous but inevitable change that will occur,” he said.
The Minister also assured of the Federal Government’s committed to the development of the digital economy, with a promise that “the Nigerian government will ensure that all critical infrastructure is made available for the facilitation of digital connectivity, transformation and ultimately, the realisation of a robust digital economy”.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Garba Danbatta revealed that the Federal Government’s policies in the communications and digital economy sector are already yielding positive results including a reduction in the access gap, improved digital financial inclusion and a steadily increasing contribution to the GDP.
He stated that the sector has remained the most resilient in the country while stressing that the Commission recognizes the need to do more in strengthening the telecommunication sector and improving internet penetration.
“As of the end of 2021, the estimated population of people living in the underserved areas declined from 31.16 million in 2019 to 28.87 million in 2021, and the access gaps reduced from 227 to 114,” he said.
Danbatta assured that the Commission will not rest on its oars in supporting Internet penetration and improvement of services but prepared to support internet penetrations and digital skills to give concrete expressions to policies and initiatives to close identified gaps.
“The Commission is quite conscious of the need to do more and considers this Roundtable as another opportunity to gather feedback as well as expert opinions of participants. Therefore, all participants are enjoined to contribute freely and recommend measures that will further support Nigeria in meeting its connectivity target and develop a robust digital economy.
“We look forward to the outcome of your deliberations and expect feedbacks that will deepen the conversations on policies and initiatives for digital access and connectivity in Nigeria,” the EVC urged participants.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has sworn in four new commissioners recently cleared by the state house of Assembly.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ceremony which took place at Government House Kano on Thursday attracted party Chieftains, cabinet members, and host of others
The four new commissioners include Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abduljabbar Garko , Shehu Aliyu Yanmedi and Adamu Aliyu Kibiya.
The New Commissioners were assigned as follows: Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso – Youth and Sport, Abduljabbar Garko – Land and Survey, Shehu Aliyu Yanmedi – Special Duties, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya – Commerce and Industry.
Governor Yusuf Charged the new commissioners to be dedicated and commitment to their assigned responsibilities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A renown activist cum politician Sen. Shehu Sani said Kano People has set a pace for Nigerians to vote out non performing governments via electoral process.
KANO FOCUS reports that Comrade Sani revealed this on Wednesday night during a symposium to mark the 41st anniversary of Malam Aminu Kano’s death organised by Aminu Kano Centre of Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Gwammaja.
He noted that poverty and hunger should not be an excuse for people to compromise their voting right with spaghetti.
Sen. Shehu Sani
He attributed the Kano political consciousness to the legacy of Malam Aminu Kano.
We’re committed to promoting Aminu Kano legacies Gov. Yusuf
Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf said his administration would continue to keep the legacies of late Malam Aminu Kano by impacting positively on the lives of the people.
The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, described Aminu Kano as a nationalist and activist who fought to the uplift and uphold the fundamental rights of common people.
Baba Halilu Dantiye
He said Aminu Kano left a legacy of social justice, equality, sincerity of purpose, good governance, and desire that every child should be educated.
Yusuf said his administration was following that footstep by prioritising education as demonstrated in the huge allocation to the sector in the 2024 budget.
He said his administration was also providing foreign scholarships to Kano State indigenes.
Yusuf expressed his government’s readiness to embrace ideas, advice, and recommendations that would enhance the well-being of the people of the state.
He commended the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, for the annual symposium.
CP Usaini Gumel tasks law enforcement agencies on neutrality, professionalism during elections
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Usaini Gumel, has urged fellow law enforcement agencies to maintain neutrality, uphold professionalism and guarantee the safety and security of citizens during elections.
“As the Commissioner of Police of the Kano Police Command, I urge fellow law enforcement agencies to maintain neutrality, uphold professionalism, and guarantee the safety and security of all citizens during elections.
Usaini Gumel,
“We must work tirelessly to prevent electoral violence, investigate electoral offences, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.
He also said that the travails of Nigeria’s electoral process in the Fourth Republic underscored the urgent need for reforms that would strengthen democratic institutions, promote electoral integrity, and restore confidence in the electoral system.
The commissioner stated that by upholding the values of democracy and the rule of law, “we can steer our nation toward a future where the voice of the people truly shapes the course of governance.”
Presentation of Book on NEPU
He said Nigeria as a nation had made significant strides in transitioning to democratic governance,yet, the prevalence of electoral irregularities, political violence, vote-buying, and other malpractices had eroded public trust in the electoral system.
This, coupled with the phenomenon of judicial interventions in electoral disputes, Gumel said, had led to a growing perception of courts wielding more influence than voters in shaping political leadership.
“For democracy to thrive in Nigeria, it is imperative that the electoral process upholds the principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability.
“Political actors, electoral bodies, security agencies and the judiciary, all have a crucial role to play in ensuring free, fair, and credible elections that truly reflect the will of the people,” he said.
Gumel further stated that while free and fair election was the hallmark of a democratic system, election malpractices and violence had been regarded as obstacles to the consolidation of democratic institutions.
Book written on NEPU SAWABA
This, he said, made the issue of security very crucial in all the phases of the electoral process: the pre-electoral, electoral, and post-electoral phases.
He said the role of the security agencies was to safeguard the electoral environment and electoral process, and that for this reason, the security agencies were exposed to the machinations of political actors.
“To optimize the role of the security agencies, an Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) was established in Nigeria before the 2011 General Elections, which establishes the code of conduct and rules of engagement for the security agencies before, during and after elections.
MD ARTV Mustapha Adamu Indabawa and MD Radio Kano Abubakar Adamu Rano
“With this, all security men and women on electoral duty now have a common standard of reference for their actions,”the commissioner added.
Also speaking, a former national president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Prof. Nasiru Isa Fagge said Nigerians need to be given quality education to chart a cause for national development, saying that Nigerian government has enough resources to do that.
To strengthen democracy in Nigeria, Prof. Fagge advised that electoral offices should be made unattractive and judiciary should be corrupt-free, paying emphasis to substance of cases brought before them not just technicalities.
Among the speakers during the occasion were the Vice-Chancellor Bayero University, Prof. Sagir Abbas, representative of the Emir of Kano, Wakilin Arewa, Alhaji Faruk Yola.
The banner
Prof. Williams Fawole, Senator Shehu Sani and Dr Abubakar Umar led discussion on the topic “Democracy or ‘Courtocracy’: The Travail of Nigeria’s Electoral Process in the Fourth Republic.”
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kano APC spokesperson accuses Presidency of sabotaging Gandujein Kano, Alhaji Ahmad Aruwa, has issued accusations against the Presidency for undermining and conspiring against the suspended Acting National Chairman of the APC Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Mr. Aruwa articulated these claims in a short video he produced in Kano circulating on social media where he blamed the some forces in the presidency that are pushing for the exit of the former Kano State Governor as the Ag. national chairman.
He asserted their awareness of individuals engaged in conspiracies to sabotage Mr. Ganduje’s efforts, with the intention of fracturing his relationship with the President.
He warned of the potential for a significant political upheaval if any APC members dared to oppose Ganduje in Nigeria as he was one of the pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s success at the 2023 polls.
“We will confront anyone within the APC who dares to challenge Ganduje, regardless of their status or political influence.”
Mr. Aruwa also criticized Tinubu for disregarding the support extended to him in Kano when others had rejected him.
He observed that no one in Kano, a state with largest voter turnout would support Tinubu’s cause, as Ganduje was the sole architect of his success in the state. Therefore, they will not tolerate any subversion at the Villa.
“I solemnly pledged that if anyone is to confront Ganduje within the APC, it would inevitably lead to a substantial political crisis which we are very ready to fight back.”
“Irrespective of the individual’s identity, we are acutely aware of the plotting and machinations orchestrated by certain APC members at the Villa.
“It was solely Ganduje who facilitated Tinubu’s presence in Kano when there was a lack of support from others.
“Every resident of Kano is refraining from associating with Tinubu, as those within the APC who are acquainted with him are distancing themselves due to Buhari’s influence.”
Reliable sources from the Presidential villa who pleaded for anonimity revealed that Ganduje’s trivails started when he was directed to galvanize the attention of Kano state Governor Abba Yusuf and his political Godfather Rabiu Kwankwaso to abandone thier political party (NNPP) and join the ruling APC.
It was reported that contrary to the terms of reference given to Mr. Ganduje, he arrived Kano and chaired a stakeholders meeting where he mocked Kwankwaso and Kano state Governor, a situation that stalled the negotiation process with Kwankwaso’s team.
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