Opinion
Changing the Nigerian education landscape: The Bola Tinubu commitment
By Ahmad Sajoh
The Nigerian Education ecosystem is witnessing a change for the better.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it very clear right from the onset that his presidency understood that education is the real catalyst for National development.
One year after, the progress made in the education sector had been tremendous. Though a lot them are intangible but their impacts are real. Education and knowledge sharing are among the most dynamic aspects of human development. Core knowledge today could become obsolete tomorrow. However, the Tinubu government commitment to quality and access to all are constant. Thus, ending out-of-school children syndrome and providing enablement are key to President Tinubu’s inclusive education template. The Students Loan scheme is a bold step by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that every eligible child gets quality higher education in Nigeria no matter the circumstances of their birth. It’s launch is not only historic but revolutionary. Children who would have been deprived of access of quality tertiary education will surely be availed such opportunities under the Students Loan scheme.
In order to drive the education sector effectively, Mr. President realized that delegating his mandate in that sector requires a driver that will drive it with the precision of a pilot. Thus, in appointing the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education, the president looked for a committed academic from the University as the Minister of Education. If there is a man presiding over our education system that fits the bill, it is indeed the current Minister Prof Tahir Mamman, SAN CON. His entire professional life is spent on promoting learning and knowledge sharing. And because he is a professional in the true sense of the word, he came to the Ministry with a mindset that believes ” *Education without Skills is incomplete”*
Working on the Matching orders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Prof Tahir Mamman set out to actualize the ” *Education roadmap of the Renewed Hope Agenda* ” The first thing he did in office was to act like a true academic. He set up a panel to study the situation and come up with a comprehensive blueprint for the repositioning of the Education. And he didn’t just involve fellow academicians alone, he mixed them with industry players including long term directors in the Ministry who have a lot of institutional memories. Prof Tahir Mamman understood that every academic study can be enriched by some validation exercises. He promptly set up a two-step validation process. First he established a small team of experts and asked them to explore the study contents and come up with a working document.
That working document which was designed by the experts was ultimately aligned to the education roadmap of the Bola Tinubu vision. It was further subjected to a stakeholder validation process at a retreat in Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital. Participants include a broad spectrum of industry players including the sub-national governments, international agencies, academics and professionals. It was profound and deep.
As if that was not enough, Prof Tahir held a stakeholder forum in Abuja involving civil society groups. This too was in keeping with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is concerned about public input into all policies. The President believes that all policies are for the benefits of the people hence the need for public inputs into all policy documents.The end result of these processes is a working document that had an input from different sources with insider knowledge and ” *recipient value understanding”*
The essence of these National Stakeholders Conferences and Strategic Engagements are intended to advance education leadership management, ensure quality assurance in education, promote teacher education and determine benchmarks for creating a valuable education database. These engagements include building valuable partnerships with the private sector in order to build a holistic education system for the country.
One thing that stood out very clearly during these engagements is that the Federal Government’s direct role in Primary and Secondary Education is minimal. As a matter of fact, the Federal government role at these levels of Education are simply policy matters and regulations. Another fact that emerged is that there are more private schools at the basic and secondary level than public schools. Working on the directives of the President, the Federal Ministry of Education set out to remodel all policies at the basic and secondary levels to fit into certain key requirements. One of such requirements which is derived from the Renewed Hope Agenda is universal access to basic education by all citizens. In this case a new impetus was given to ensuring that out-of-school children are reduced drastically and eventually eliminated completely. Another core component of the new education policy is the introduction of skill-sets, as part of the curricular at both basic and post basic levels.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier informed the nation that he is committed to very high standards in education. Leveraging on that understanding, Professor Tahir Mamman started working on new policies that will set standards that may create a competitive advantage for public schools. At the public stakeholder forum the Minister said that ” *by the time our current policies mature there will be no difference in standards between public and private schools* ” that is something we eagerly look forward to. One key area this policy is expected to truly make a difference is in the reintroduction of the skills component in the education system at the basic and secondary levels.
Nigeria like most parts of the world is transiting to a more functional form of education that includes hands-on knowledge in a particular skill for every student. This is in addition to literacy and numeracy. The reason of course is that both white collar and blue collar jobs are limited. Students must begin to look beyond being job seekers to job creators. Hence, the new policy of education tilting towards a more comprehensive and functional learning environment than just relying on a theoretical framework.
In the area of research and development, the Federal Ministry of Education under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration has sponsored 185 researchers, supported 44 teams of 176 researchers and upgraded 24 centers of excellence. The net effect is that about 80 books have been written and published. All of them are tailor made for the Nigerian learning ecosystem. 868 Academic Research journals were procured in addition to 3,118,701 assorted books and 376,262 E-Resources.
The Review of both Senior Secondary Education Curriculum and Tertiary Education curriculum have been undertaken within the last one year. The review emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge, competitive employable skills, skills for digital disruption, development of skills in Positive Based Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, entrepreneurial attitude and skills, value orientation, and a wide range of critical soft skills for global competitiveness.
Teacher training and advancement are at the core of an effective education system Training of Teachers is considered a core component of the overall education advancement in the country because of the realization that the teacher is the learning process. To this end various programmes have been put in place for the training of teachers. 35,000 teachers across the country have been trained in the use of ICT in the classroom. In addition, 70,674 teachers and non-teaching staff at all levels in various relevant academic and non-academic have benefited from training initiatives, covering Leadership Skills Development, Effective National Innovation Ecosystem, Education Management Information System, Quality Assurance, Effective curriculum development and implementation and many others including early childhood care development.
The Ministry has Registered and certified 40,999 teachers on their TRCN database and a total of 19, 193 licenses have been issued to teachers. 3,535 successful graduating education students across 11 institutions in the country were inducted while the Dual Mandate in Federal Colleges of Education has commenced. This means that there will be Concurrent running of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) & Degree programmes in those institutions.
The bulk of the Federal Government direct contributions in education are at the Tertiary level. At this level, the Federal Government participates in a number of ways through ownership of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, regulation and interventions. This way the government is saddled with setting standards and ensuring that Nigerian graduates compete with graduates all over the world. Already it is evident that Nigerian graduates have been proving their capacities all over the world.
What the Ministry of Education under President Tinubu’s government hopes to achieve is to align all Tertiary education activities within a common standard that ensures value addition through skill-sets as the core component of learning. In addition the Ministry is working towards a unified system that encourages synergy and mobility. The new mantra is co-operation rather than competition.
It is in line with this new focus that for the first time in the history of the country, the government released the list of governing Councils for Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education at the same time. The purpose is to enable them to commence work at the same time. Thus, monitoring and evaluating their contributions as policy hubs can be done at the same level using the same key performance indicators (KPIs).
In order to make sure they operate using the same benchmarks developed from the Renewed Hope Agenda and stakeholder inputs, they will be invited to attend a retreat together as a group. The essence is to enable all the council members to know that Tertiary education under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will operate in synergy. There is no superiority or territorial protection. They must all function as units of National development under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
One year after, all the frameworks for a robust education roadmap have been put in place. Some of the policies have started taking shape. Academic calendars for all Tertiary Institutions will be standardized with all hiccups such as strikes by staff avoided at all levels. The roles and functions of the different tiers such as Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges Education will be clearly spelt out and pursued vigorously. In the end the Education roadmap will eventually leap-frog Nigeria into the 4th Industrial revolution. The ultimate goal is to change the education landscape of Nigeria for the better. According to Professor Tahir Mamman SAN CON ” _The goal of Education under the Tinubu Administration is to provide for a reformed education sector that provides access to quality education for all and is capable of producing a highly skilled and educated workforce equipped with entrepreneurial skills to break the cycle of poverty and guarantee sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness”_
Ahmad Sajoh is a member of the Independent Media and Policy Initiative IMPI and writes from Wuse, Abuja.
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions. To proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam, the other being Eid al-Fitr. This significant occasion honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice one of his sons, either Isma’il or Ishaq, as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. It is a time of deep spiritual reflection, communal prayers, and acts of charity. Eid al-Adha holds immense cultural and religious significance for Muslims around the world.
According to Islamic tradition, the story of Eid al-Adha dates back to the life of Prophet Ibrahim. One of the main trials of Prophet Ibrahim’s life was to receive and obey the command of Allah to slaughter his beloved son. Prophet Ibrahim had recurring dreams where he saw himself sacrificing his son Isma’il, and he recognised this as a divine command. He shared his dream with his son, who obediently responded:
“Father, do what you are ordered to do.”
Prophet Ibrahim prepared to fulfill Allah’s will and sacrifice his son as an act of unwavering faith and obedience. However, just as Prophet Ibrahim was about to carry out the sacrifice, Allah intervened and replaced Isma’il with a ram. This divine intervention demonstrated Allah’s mercy and provision, acknowledging Ibrahim’s commitment and sparing his son’s life. Muslims commemorate this event during Eid al-Adha by sacrificing animals and distributing the meat among their families, the needy, and the less fortunate.
Eid al-Adha follows the Islamic lunar calendar and falls on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic year. The celebration lasts for four days and involves various religious and social customs. Families gather for communal prayers at Mosques, where they seek blessings, forgiveness, and spiritual rejuvenation. These prayers are led by an Imam, Shaykh or Malam and emphasise the importance of unity, compassion, and gratitude.
An essential aspect of Eid al-Adha is the act of Udhiyyah, which refers to the ritual sacrifice of an animal, often a goat, sheep, cow, or camel. The sacrifice symbolises Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and his ultimate submission to Allah’s command. Muslims who can afford it perform Udhiyyah, and the meat is divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the less fortunate.
Apart from religious practices, Eid al-Adha is a time of joyous celebrations and vibrant festivities. Families come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and engage in acts of charity. It is a time to strengthen bonds, reconcile differences, and extend goodwill to all. Many Muslims also use this occasion to embark on journeys of pilgrimage to the noble city of Makkah, fulfilling one of the Five Pillars of Islam known as Hajj.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims across the globe, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural diversity. While the core rituals remain the same, the festivities showcase the unique traditions and customs of each region. In countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, etc, the celebrations are particularly grand and elaborate.
The atmosphere during Eid al-Adha is filled with joy and a sense of community. Streets are adorned with colourful decorations, and markets bustle with shoppers purchasing new clothes, sweets, and gifts. Traditional dishes and delicacies are prepared, and families open their homes to welcome guests and share meals. The exchange of greetings and well wishes is a common practice, spreading love and harmony among individuals.
The pronunciation of Eid al-Adha may vary based on regional accents and languages. It is also commonly pronounced as Eid al-Azha and Eidul Azha, especially in regions influenced by the Persian language like the Indian subcontinent. The Arabic pronunciation is Eid Al-Adha.
The term “Eid” itself is derived from the Arabic word عيد (ʿid), which signifies a festival, celebration, feast day, or holiday. The term has its roots in the triliteral root عيد, which carries meanings of “to go back, to rescind, to accrue, to be accustomed, habits, to repeat, to be experienced; appointed time or place, anniversary, feast day.” The holiday is known as عيد الأضحى (Eid al-Adha) or العيد الكبير (Eid al-Kabir) in Arabic, with the words أضحى (adha) and قربان (qurban) being synonymous in meaning, representing sacrifice, offering, or oblation.
Eid al-Adha is a significant Islamic festival that commemorates the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah’s command. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faith, sacrifice, and compassion in the lives of Muslims. The observance of Eid al-Adha involves prayers, acts of charity, and the sharing of joyous moments with family, friends, and the less fortunate.
During this festive season, Muslims express their gratitude for the blessings received and recommit themselves to the principles of unity, generosity, and love. The timeless story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son serves as an enduring symbol of faith, resilience, and the boundless mercy of Allah. As Muslims gather to celebrate Eid al-Adha, they embrace the values of sacrifice and selflessness, fostering a sense of harmony and goodwill within their communities.
Respected brothers and sisters! There are always questions whenever Eid occurs on a Friday, and I would like to clarify whether it is obligatory to pray both Eid Prayer in the morning and Jumu’ah in the afternoon.
First of all, we should remember that both occasions are among the most important Islamic symbols. Attending both prayers and congregations are very virtuous. The mindset of the person should be to be eager to attend both prayers, as this is part of glorifying the symbols of Allah. Allah Almighty says:
“And whoever honours the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” [Qur’an, 22:32]
That is why most of the scholars including Hanafiyyah and Malikiyyah consider attending both of them as obligatory.
The Shafi’iyyah school of thought gave an excuse only for those who live away from the city where the Jumu’ah is established, not to attend the Jumu’ah once they have attended the Eid Prayer. The reason is due to the difficulty they are likely to encounter in coming back to attend the Jumu’ah Prayer.
These scholars say that attending Jumu’ah is obligatory (wajib) by consensus, as Allah Almighty says:
“O you who have believed, when [the Azan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” [Qur’an, 62:9]
The scholars have said that lifting this confirmed obligation needs further evidence of the same level and most of the evidences that are presented are not strong enough to waiver this obligation.
Furthermore, al-Nu’man Ibn Bashir narrated that:
“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) used to recite: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High’ and ‘Has there come to you the narration of The Overwhelming?’, on Friday and on Eid, and when Friday and Eid converged, he would recite them both.” [Muslim]
This incident also happened during the time of Uthman Ibn Affan, as it is reported in the Sahihul Bukhari and the Muwatta of Malik that Abu Ubaid, the freed slave of Ibn Azhar, said:
“I was present on the occasion of two Eids (together) with Uthman Ibn Affan; that was on a Friday. He offered the (Eid) prayer before the sermon (khutbah), then delivered the sermon (khutbah) and said, ‘O people, on this day two Eids have come to you together, so whoever wants to wait for Jumu‘ah with the people of al-Awali, let him do so, and whoever wants to go back, then I gave him permission to do so.’”
However, the official opinion of the Hanbaliyyah school of thought is that attending one of the two prayers is sufficient.
They support their view with numerous evidences such as:
1. The Hadith of Zaid Ibn Arqam (RA), according to which Mu‘awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan (RA) asked him:
“Did you ever witness with the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) two Eids that happened on the same day?” He said, “Yes.” Mu‘awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan asked, “What did he do?” Zaid Ibn Arqam replied, “He (Peace be upon him) offered the Eid prayer, then he granted a concession allowing people to miss Jumu‘ah prayer, and he said: ‘Whoever wishes to pray (Jumu‘ah), let him do so.’” [It is narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, al-Darimi, and by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, where he said, “This Hadith has Sahih isnads, even though they [Bukhari and Muslim] did not narrate it, and it has a corroborating report according to the conditions of Muslim. And al-Dhahabi agreed with him.”
Imam al-Nawawi said in his book al-Majmu‘, “Its isnad is jayyid.”
2. The corroborating evidence mentioned above is the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA), according to which the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Two Eids have come together on this day of yours, so whoever wishes, it [the Eid prayer] will suffice for Jumu‘ah, but we will pray Jumu‘ah.” [Narrated by al-Hakim as stated above; also narrated by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn al-Jarud, al-Baihaqi and others]
3. The Hadith of Ibn Umar (RA) who said:
“Two Eids came together at the time of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). He led the people in (the Eid) prayer, then he said, ‘Whoever wishes to come to Jumu‘ah may come, and whoever wishes not to do so may stay away.’” [Narrated by Ibn Majah]
It was also narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir as follows:
“Two Eids came together at the time of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him): Eid al-Fitr and Jumu‘ah. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) led them in the Eid prayer, then he turned to face them and said, ‘O people, you have attained goodness and reward, but we are going to pray Jumu‘ah; whoever wishes to pray Jumu‘ah may do so, and whoever wishes to go back, may go back.’”
4. The Hadith of Ibn Abbas (RA), according to which the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
“Two Eids have come together on this day of yours, so whoever wishes, it [the Eid prayer] will suffice for Jumu‘ah, but we will pray Jumu‘ah, In Shaa Allah.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah]
The discussion between the scholars cannot be concluded at this time and hence I advise Muslims for the following:
1. It is without a shadow of a doubt that attending both prayers is safer and far better than missing one of them.
2. Whoever has not attended the Eid prayer for whatever reason while he should have attended it is not included in that concession granted by some scholars. And hence he must attend Jumu‘ah prayer.
3. The Imam of the Jumu‘ah Mosque must hold Jumu‘ah prayers and this is confirmed even by those scholars who do not believe that it is obligatory to attend both.
4. Whoever lives at a distance from the Mosque and needs to travel a long journey to attend the Eid prayer and it is very difficult for him to stay to attend the Jumu’ah prayer may have the concession allowing him not to attend Jumu‘ah. However, he must pray it as Zuhr after the time for Zuhr begins.
5. The view that whoever attends the Eid prayer has a concession waiving both Jumu‘ah and Zuhr prayer on that day is an incorrect view. Therefore, it is rejected by the scholars and they have deemed it to be mistaken and odd, because it is contrary to the Sunnah and suggests that one of the obligatory duties enjoined by Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is to be waived with no evidence to that effect. Perhaps the Sunnahs and reports about this issue – which grant a concession allowing the one who attended the Eid prayer not to attend Jumu‘ah, but state that he must still pray Zuhr – did not reach the one who said that.
I ask Allah by His beautiful Names and lofty Attributes that He bring Eid upon us once again and that our condition in that time be better than our condition in the previous instance, and that He accept our deeds from us and from all the Muslims.
So, as we honour the traditions and teachings of Eid al-Adha, let us reflect upon the virtues it embodies and strive to emulate them in our daily lives. May this auspicious occasion bring peace, unity, progress, joy, happiness, and blessings to all those who observe it. Ameen.
Dear brothers and sisters! Today we have only a day to Eid-ul-Adha. Please support the orphans with your sadaqah, help them with your donations and assist them with your Zakat so that they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha happily.
For those respected brothers and sisters who want to donate to orphans, to Islamic projects and activities FISABILILLAH, those who want to send their Sadaqah and Zakat, here are the bank account details:
1. Account number: 0048647196.
– Account name: Murtala Muhammed.
– GTBank
Or:
2. Account number: 1779691620
– Account name: Murtala Muhammed.
– Access Bank.
Allah Almighty says:
“Verily, Allah will help those who help His cause. Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” [Qur’an]
Jazakumullah Khairan as you kindly assit, help, donate and contribute to the cause of Allah, the cause of Islam.
May Allah Almighty accept your sacrifices, amplify your intentions, and bless you, your families with peace and barakah.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761.
This Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Dhul-Hijjah 10, 1446 AH (June 06, 2025).
By Mustapha Muhammad
It is no longer news that the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, is the Kano State Amirul Hajj of the year, 2025, but one thing significant is the way he is committed to ensure Kano Pilgrims have seamless Hajj exercises.
Nights and days struggles, meetings upon meetings, putting the right people to head the affairs of the Hajj Committee is certainly a pointer that, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is making efforts to see every pilgrim from Kano State smiles.
He appointed the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Dr. Muhammad Maharaz, to head the Central Hajj Coordination Committee and his members, who had track records in all their disciplines. To mention: Hon. Sarki Aliyu Daneji, Sheikh Tijjani Auwal, (Commissioner Religious Affairs), Sheikh Tijjani Bala kalarawi, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa (Hisbah Commandant) and Sheikh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar,
Other members were Dr. Al-Fatihi Karibullah, Alhaji Yusuf Lawan, Sheikh Tijjani Sani Maihula and Alhaji Abdullahi Kabir Yusuf, Hajiya Aisha Munnir Matawalle, Sheikh Basheer Arabi, Alhaji Yusu Abdullahi and Alhaji Muhammad Ghali Muhammad.
Making the list also were Alhaji Umar Yakubu Kabara, Alhaji Murtala Lawan Sani, Hajiya Kubura Ibrahim Dankani, Hajiya Batulu Isa Waziri, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad Indabawa, Alhaji Hussaini Abdul Inuwa as well as Alhaji Lamin Rabiu Danbappa as Secretary.
The amiable Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was seen inspecting the food for the Kano State pilgrims, not only that but after the meals ready; he served the pilgrims, this is rare gem at the corridor of power, despite the fact that he has all the representatives, including the Coordinating Committee, but he deems it necessary to do it himself.
At Mecca, the compassionate leader has presented a gift of flasks to the pilgrims, and at the same time while realizing the heatwave and scorching sun, the people’s Governor presented an umbrella to all the pilgrims numbering 3, 345. This is to relief them from the heatwave. In June, temperature in Mecca is extremely high, sometimes reaches about 42 degrees.
In Minna, the pilgrims enjoy decent and complimentary succulent meals including clean drinking water, waiting for Arafat tomorrow, (Thursday 4th June 2025)
The pilgrims from Kano State appear to be different from others; receiving courtesy from the Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf. They keep praising the efforts of the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
It is obvious that serving the pilgrims who are dubbed Guests of Allah (SWA) and Guests of the Two great Holy mosques is serving humanity.
Abba Kabir Yusuf, as the Amirul Hajj, is really serving the Pilgrims, and equally serving Humanity.
Mustapha Muhammad, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Dr Ruqayyah Hamidu Muhammad
A Timely Intervention Amid Growing Urban Challenges
The Kano State Government’s recent unveiling of a comprehensive Transport Policy is a timely and commendable move. With rapid urban growth, rising population, and increasing road congestion, this bold initiative could mark a turning point in how transportation is managed across the state. Yet, for this policy to succeed, it must be implemented with transparency, accountability, and firm resolve, especially in reforming the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) and regulating Adaidaita Sahu tricycle operations.
Road Chaos: More than Just Traffic Lights
Kano’s roads have become chaotic not only due to the growing number of vehicles but also because of poor enforcement, inadequate infrastructure, and unregulated commercial transport activities. While the installation of traffic lights at major intersections is a welcome technological upgrade, infrastructure alone cannot solve the systemic issues that undermine road safety and public order.
KAROTA: Urgent Need for Institutional Reform
Originally established to promote road safety and regulate traffic, KAROTA has largely failed in its mandate. Instead, the agency’s personnel are frequently linked to harassment, extortion, and misconduct. Incidents of manhandling drivers, issuing fines without receipts, begging motorists for money, and accepting bribes from overloaded vehicles have become common. This institutional breakdown has transformed KAROTA’s image from a regulatory body to a predatory force on the roads; a perception that must change if the new policy is to succeed.
Adaidaita Sahu: Bringing Order to the Streets
Once a practical urban transport innovation, Adaidaita Sahu tricycles have descended into disorder. Many operators are rude, lack formal training and knowledge of traffic regulations, operating without fixed routes or designated stops. This behavior contributes to traffic jams and accidents, as tricycles weave unpredictably and stop arbitrarily to pick up passengers. The policy addresses these issues by proposing driver training, route regulation, and the establishment of official bus stops to restore order and improve safety.
A Vision for Integrated and Sustainable Transport
The new policy aims also to improve access to transport for all Kano residents by integrating multiple transport modes, including road, rail, water, and air. It focuses on aligning urban planning with transport infrastructure to reduce congestion and promote environmental sustainability. Additionally, it calls for the professionalization and digitalization of traffic enforcement agencies, including KAROTA, to reduce corruption and improve service delivery.
Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement
To ensure the policy meets real-world needs, the government plans a two-day stakeholder consultation. This engagement will bring together transport operators, civil society, experts, and government agencies to review and refine the draft policy.
Beyond Policy: Changing Culture and Behavior
While the new traffic lights and policy are critical, real success depends on changing the culture of road use in Kano. A professional, transparent KAROTA and a regulated, well-trained commercial transport sector are key to achieving a safe, efficient, and world-class transport system.
A Call to Action for All Kano Residents
The safety of Kano’s roads concerns everyone. Reform is no longer optional; it is an urgent necessity. Only through collective effort, from government to drivers to everyday commuters; can we build a traffic culture grounded in respect for the law, human life, and mutual responsibility.
Dr Ruqayyah Hamidu Muhammad
Executive Director
Network for Awareness for Socio-economic Rights and Sustainable Development (NASSDeV).
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