Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf has uncovered a warehouse where food items meant for palliatives were being diverted at Sharada industrial estate in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that leading government officials and journalists to the isolated warehouse, Governor Yusuf was conducted round the facility where supposed hijacked food items were kept along drum of chemicals.

The Governor expressed shock and vowed to punish whoever is involved in the scandalous act of diverting the palliative food items consisting of maize and rice.

He immediately directed the Commissioner of Police to take over the warehouse and conduct swift investigation to fish out all suspects involved.

The incidence occurred following a tip of Information from some community members in Sharada when discovered suspicious movements of unknown people around the warehouse in question and reported the matter to Sharada police division.

While briefing the Governor on the spot at the warehouse, one of the Sharada community leader Rabiu Amour said thousands of bags branded with the Governor’s portrait and designed as palliatives were discovered to be re-bagged.

“We know these food items are meant to be distributed to less privileged people, therefore we decided to make a whistle blow. This is our contribution to the good efforts of the Governor, he is trying his best to help the downtrodden but some people within the system are sabotaging him”

Shortly after the inspection, the Governor directed the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud to brief the media, the commissioner who told journalists that government has discovered an isolated warehouse where released palliatives have been diverted, said investigation has commenced immediately.

Although, the Commissioner of Agriculture disclosed that investigation will further reveal the magnitude of quantity hijacked and diverted to the warehouse, he said the food items are being rebagged and resold in the market.

He said the specific portion of the rice and maize being hijacked and diverted to the warehouse are meant to be distributed to people with disabilities and widows of armed forces and other security agencies in Kano.

Although, the commissioner declined to reveal the identity of the culprits, he confirmed that two suspects have been handed over to the police in connection with the crime. He said government has set up investigation team to unravel the root course of the development.

“You will recall that after the official unveiling of distribution of food items meant for the less privilege as palliatives to crushing the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the government later set aside another large portion of the palliatives specifically to be distributed to people with special needs like in the society.

“Besides people with special needs, the last round of palliatives were also meant for families and widows of members of the Armed forces, the Army, Navy, Airforce, police, and that of the sister agencies like Immigration, Prison services, Customs, Civilians defence, Road safety, Hisbah Vigilante.

“Incidentally, the government discovered that several bags of these food items have been hijacked and diverted to a warehouse in Sharada industrial estate where intelligent reports revealed that those food items are being rebagged and to be sold in the market”. The commissioner said.

Meanwhile, Kano State Police command has confirmed arrest of one Tasiu Al’amin Roba, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor, attached to Office of the Secretary to the State Government and other person named Abdulkadir Muhammad who are already in police custody at Sharada division.

Following the directive of the Governor, the suspect are expected to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation into the matter.

You may recall that the Governor of Kano State Engr. Kabir Yusuf set up a strong Compliance Committee for Palliatives Distribution headed by the Secretary to the State Government and the his Chief of Staff with six other relevant commissioners as members to ensure that all palliatives items get to the right beneficiaries.

While inaugurating the committee, Governor Yusuf emphasized that no political appointee under his government will benefit from the palliatives as it is meant to be distributed to the people who need it the most.

Kano state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has raided a warehouse where over 1,000 bags of maize were distributed by the state government as palliatives were diverted and hoarded.

Kano Focus learned that the governor busted the warehouse, located at the Sharadaan industrial area of Kano City on Saturday.

The governor, was visibly angry after seeing how the 10kg bags of maize meant for poor people were emptied and the maize grains re-bagged in larger unmarked bags, apparently to be sold in the open markets.

It could be recalled that over 200,000 bags of food items had been distributed by Mr Yusuf, a few months ago to vulnerable people to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.

It is understood that Governor Yusuf vowed to uncover and punish the persons behind the diversion and hoarding of the relief materials.

….. Set aside Six Billion for Six 6,000 Beneficiaries

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

In fullfilment of one of the campaign promises as contained in his blueprint, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has Saturday flagged-off the first tranche of settlement of death benefits to deceased civil servants and gratuity of pensioners to about six thousand (6,000) beneficiaries who exited from the civil service and deceased workers between 2016 and 2019 totalling billion naira at an elaborate occasion that was held at Coronation Hall Government House.

KANO FOCUS reports that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the payment was possible despite meagre resources, inherited empty treasury and competing developmental projects as the government had blocked leakages of public funds siphoning and more viable projects for people of the state.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the governor Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa quoted Yusuf saying his administration was highly concerned with the plight of pensioners especially those at the lower level as they are the end receipients of the economic hardship occasion by the removal of fuel Subsidy in the country.

The Governor added that to ensure the continuation of the settlement of the backlog, 10 billion naira was propose in the state next year’s budget for more inclusion of gratuity and death benefits of bereaved families of deceaseds civil servants to enjoy their legitimate entitlements.

He made a clarion call to the receivers of the funds, to make judicious use of what they collected and invest wisely in lawful businesses for more incomes to cater for their day to day needs and other necessities of life.

In his submission, the deputy governor and Commissioner for local governments and Chieftaincy affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo appreciated the selection of beneficiaries with not more than 3 million at the state level, 1.5 million at local governments levels all within grade level 1-6.

The Executive Chairman of Kano State Pension Trustees Fund, Alhaji Habu Muhammad Fagge, said the commencement of liquidating the backlog and ensure prompt payment of gratuity and death benefits was a clear indication of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s zeal to better the lives of pensioners and provide succur to the families of deceased civil servants.