Headlines
Customs officer allegedly commits suicide
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reportedly shot himself dead at his residence in Farm Centre Quarters in Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, police spokesperson in Kano, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.
Kiyawa said the customs officer, identified as Abdullahi Magaji, who was serving at the headquarters of the NCS in Abuja, allegedly committed suicide on May 6.
“On 06/05/2024 at about 12pm, a report was received that a custom officer, one CSC Abdullahi Abdulwahab Magaji, serving in Abuja, and a resident of Farm Centre Quarters in Kano allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a pump action gun,” the statement reads.
“The crime-scene police team was led by the Farm Centre Division Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Ibrahim Abubakar.
“The feedback on what the team observed prompted the commissioner of police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc to order for detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.”
In another development, the police spokesperson said one person was killed when suspected hoodlums invaded the venue of an upcoming wedding in Kano.
Kiyawa said one Muhammad Barde, organiser of the event and father of the children to be married, has been arrested alongside two other suspects for interrogation.
“The thugs took advantage where they engaged in supremacy fights that resulted in causing injuries to three (03) persons and damages to some innocent passerby motor vehicles,” Kiyawa said.
“Consequently, the commissioner of police ordered the arrest of the organiser Mohamed Barde who along with other two suspects is in police custody with the investigation ongoing.
“The fight escalated a few hours later and led to several weapons displays by the armed hoodlums and confrontations with other security personnel that responded to calm the situation.
“This led to the death of one Sadiq Abdulkadir, aged 23 years old,’m’, of Darmanawa Quarters, and Muhammad Sani, aged 22 years,’m’, of Sallari Quarters, Kano.”
The police spokesperson added that the command has commenced an investigation into both incidents.
Headlines
Gov. Yusuf names Dr. Aminu Magashi Technical Adviser for Kano’s humanitarian and poverty alleviation ministry
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
In a landmark decision to strengthen Kano State’s humanitarian and poverty alleviation efforts, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has named Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba as the Technical Adviser for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The appointment, effective September 28, 2024, was announced by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Tuesday.
Governor Yusuf emphasized Dr. Magashi’s impressive credentials, highlighting his decades-long dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of Kano’s underserved communities.
The governor’s choice reflects his deep trust in Dr. Magashi’s extensive experience and proven leadership, recognizing him as a pivotal figure in achieving the administration’s humanitarian goals.
Dr. Magashi, with over 30 years in development and humanitarian work, is well-regarded for his influential initiatives.
His notable roles include serving as Chair of the AMG Foundation, leading the Health Policy and Planning Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association, and being the pioneering coordinator of the Kano State Cancer Care Center.
His strategic insights and leadership were also vital as Chairman of the health transition committee, where he collaborated closely with Governor Yusuf to craft a transformative agenda for Kano State’s healthcare future.
He also led the technical committee which supported Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to develop his campaign blueprint in 2022.
With this appointment, Kano State gains a dedicated advisor whose perseverance, humility, and honesty have defined his career.
Dr. Magashi is expected to guide the ministry in developing impactful strategies that address the pressing needs of Kano’s communities, laying the foundation for a more compassionate, resilient future for all.
Headlines
Kano State Refutes Allegations of N177 Billion Loan from France
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Kano State Government has publicly denied recent claims that it borrowed N177 billion from France.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Hamisu Sadi Ali, Director General of the Kano State Public Debt Management Office, clarified that no new loans have been taken since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf took office in May 2023.
The allegations, originally reported by local media, suggested that the funds were recently secured from a French lender.
The debt office condemned the report as “malicious” and “politically motivated,” clarifying that it mistakenly links a 2018 loan agreement from the previous administration, led by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, with the current government.
Dr. Hamisu noted that the 2018 agreement was a 64 million-euro loan from the French Development Agency, intended for the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project, and was not associated with the present administration.
In an effort to promote transparency, the state government shared an overview of Kano’s existing debt portfolio, which includes several longstanding foreign loans, such as the Multi-state Road Project and the Malaria Control Booster Project, some dating back to 1992.
Dr. Hamisu also outlined domestic loans totaling billions, contracted by the previous administration under the APC.
The current government highlighted its commitment to debt reduction, announcing that it has already repaid over N63.5 billion in debt in 2024, reducing Kano State’s overall debt to N127.8 billion.
Dr. Hamisu urged the public to disregard the “fake and misleading” report and encouraged media organizations to focus on accurate, investigative journalism.
He underscored the importance of responsible reporting to maintain public trust and informed civic engagement.
Headlines
Kano Focus reporter bags West Africa DPI Fellowship
KANO FOCUS reporter Ms Zulaiha Danjuma has been selected alongside 44 other journalists from Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana for the second edition of the Digital Public Infrastructure (DIP) fellowship.
KANO FOCUS reports the DPI fellowship is an initiative by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with Co-develop.
A total of 45 journalists from Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana were selected from 45 News organizations after months of rigorous selection processes.
The fellowship is a three-month programme running from November to January 2025, followed by a three-month post-fellowship period for the production of special reports on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
MFWA’s fellowship seeks to equip participants with skills to create impactful reports on topics such as national digital identification systems, online data security, and digital governance; through specialized workshops, mentorship, and hands-on story production.
Ms Danjuma’s selection for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) fellowship recalibrates *Kano Focus* commitment to growth and knowledge gathering of staffs.
About the Reporter
Ms Zulaiha Danjuma is a dedicated journalist who has produced impactful Investigative stories on government accountability, health and gender based violence.
In 2023, she carried out a groundbreaking investigation on multifaceted illegal tax extortion, forgery and corruption. In 2024, her report of poor budgetary allocation to Hepatitis B successfully brought the attention of the state government, resulting in commitment to provide additional resources for addressing the issue.
Other DPI fellows
Ten fellows were selected from Ghana and Benin, and five fellows from Togo respectively. Nigeria had a total of twenty journalists selected to be part of the second Phase II of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Fellowship.
Pictures of all fellows: