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AHBN introduces health security accountability framework, scorecard to improve preparedness, transparency
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN), has introduced a Health Security Accountability Framework and Scorecard to improve preparedness and transparency amidst COVID-19 and ongoing crises like cholera, Mpox, and Lassa fever.
KANO FOCUS reports that the organisation said that In the wake of these health crises, there is an urgent need to enhance transparency and readiness across the continent.
Dr Aminu Magashi, Coordinator, AHBN, said this at the end of a three-day technical peer review retreat on strengthening accountability of health security finances in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Senegal, on Saturday in Abuja.
Magashi said that the framework, which was designed to track progress on health security efforts, would help governments, development partners, and civil society Organisations (CSOs) better monitor financial and non-financial commitments.
He said that by fostering greater accountability, the scorecard aimed to ensure that health security was prioritised at both national and regional levels.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in Africa’s health security, with many countries relying heavily on international donors to respond to the crisis,” said.
According to him, a lack of preparedness and poor coordination across African nations resulted in severe delays in detecting and responding to the pandemic.
He said that this new accountability framework seeks to address those gaps, urging African countries to invest more in Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR).
“The framework underscores the need for local production of vaccines, improved infection prevention control (IPC) measures, and bolstering research in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR),” he said.
Dr Opeyemi Adeosun, Programme Manager of Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria, said that one of the key challenges highlighted by the framework was the inadequate budget allocation to health security.
“An analysis by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) found that many countries, including Nigeria, allocated little or no funding to health security efforts in their national budgets.
“The AHBN’s new scorecard aims to reverse this trend by encouraging increased budgetary commitments and prudent spending,” he said.
In addition, he said that the framework advocates for greater involvement of CSOs in health security planning and implementation.
“CSOs play a vital role in community outreach and advocacy, yet they are often excluded from crucial decision-making processes, including the Joint External Evaluation (JEE), a WHO tool used to assess national health security capacities.
“Civil society organizations are closer to the grassroots and can help ensure accountability, particularly in underserved communities where government oversight may be limited.
“Their involvement is critical to the success of this framework,” he said.
He said that the Health Security Scorecard would provide a transparent way to measure progress on key indicators such as financing, governance, vaccine production, and biosafety.
“It will also track the relationship between public health authorities and security forces, ensuring a coordinated approach to tackling health emergencies.
“The scorecard will be updated quarterly, with data presented to key stakeholders, including government agencies, legislative bodies, and the media.
“This approach is expected to promote collaboration and ensure that commitments made by governments and development partners are honoured,” he said.
Hon. Mohammed Usman, Founder of the Lafiya Wealth Initiative, said that the Africa CDC has been instrumental in strengthening the capacity of African nations to respond to health crises.
“Through the creation of Technical Working Groups (TWGs), the CDC has enhanced the ability of public health institutions to act quickly in the face of disease outbreaks.
“However, the AHBN framework calls for greater participation of CSOs in these groups to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping health security policies,” he stressed.
As African countries continue to face threats from diseases like Ebola, cholera, and Mpox, Ms Ndi Nancy Saiboh,
Executive Director Actions for Development and Empowerment, Cameroon, agreed that a robust accountability system was essential to preventing future pandemics.
“It’s not just about responding to crises when they happen; it’s about being prepared and having a transparent system in place to track progress,” Saiboh said.
She said that the introduction of the African Regional Accountability Framework and Scorecard marks a significant step toward building stronger, more resilient health systems across the continent.
She said that with greater collaboration between governments, CSOs, the media and international partners, African nations can improve their preparedness for future health emergencies while ensuring that health security remains a top priority.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government says it has executed 1,508 development projects worth more than N928 billion across the state’s 44 local government areas since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf assumed office, with about 80 per cent of constituency projects awarded between 2023 and 2025 already completed.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji Sumaila, disclosed this during an international press briefing on the administration’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Comrade Sumaila, the projects cover critical sectors including roads, urban renewal, education, healthcare, security and other social infrastructure.
He said 799 of the projects have been completed, while 709 are at various stages of execution. He added that the state is also implementing 619 constituency projects through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The commissioner noted that about 80 per cent of the constituency projects have been completed. However, he said some projects remain unfinished because of rising construction costs caused by inflation.
He said the government has submitted a request to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for an upward review of contract sums to enable contractors complete the affected projects.
Breakdown of projects
Comrade Sumaila said the administration spent over N169 billion on urban renewal projects, including road rehabilitation, drainage construction and other metropolitan infrastructure.
He said another N118 billion was committed to constructing five-kilometre roads in 38 local government areas to improve connectivity across the state.
According to him, the government also awarded contracts worth over N6.8 billion for the construction of Kano State Neighbourhood Watch security divisions in 36 local government areas.
He added that rural infrastructure projects covering education, healthcare and other social interventions across the 44 local government areas account for contracts valued at more than N397 billion, while other ongoing projects have a combined value of about N255 billion.
Commitment to transparency
The commissioner said the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation would continue to ensure compliance with due process and technical standards in the execution of government projects.
He said the ministry’s mandate includes monitoring projects to ensure value for money and prudent utilisation of public resources.
According to him, the administration’s investments in infrastructure are intended to improve mobility, strengthen security, expand access to education and healthcare, improve water supply and stimulate economic growth across the state.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosque in Okene, Kogi State, Sheikh Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, has cautioned Muslims against allowing football and other forms of entertainment to distract them from the primary purpose of their existence, which he said is the worship of Allah.
Delivering his Friday sermon titled, FIFA World Cup Match: Allah Did Not Create Us, The Universe, For Idle Sport, Amusement, Or Play!, the cleric reminded Muslims that while Islam permits lawful recreation, it must never overshadow religious obligations or become the central focus of a believer’s life.
Quoting several verses from the Qur’an, Imam Gusau said Allah created mankind for a clear purpose and not for amusement or idle pursuits.
He cited Qur’anic passages, including Surah Al-Anbiya (21:16), Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:115), and Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:56), to emphasise that the ultimate purpose of human existence is to worship Allah and prepare for the Hereafter.
The Islamic scholar explained that recreation is permissible in Islam when it helps refresh the mind and body for acts of worship and productive living. He referenced traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), including his encouragement of archery and his tolerance of lawful sporting activities.
However, the cleric expressed concern over what he described as the commercialisation and globalisation of football, arguing that modern international competitions have evolved beyond sport into massive economic and ideological enterprises.
According to him, major tournaments are driven by powerful commercial interests involving broadcasting rights, sponsorships and advertising, which, he said, often promote values inconsistent with Islamic teachings.
Imam Gusau warned that excessive devotion to football clubs and players could lead to misplaced priorities, personality worship and unhealthy fanaticism.
He lamented that many young people now regard footballers as their greatest role models while neglecting scholars, innovators and other individuals whose contributions are more beneficial to society.
The cleric also criticised the promotion of gambling, alcohol advertising and other practices associated with some international sporting events, urging Muslims to remain vigilant and uphold Islamic values.
While acknowledging that physical exercise and sports are beneficial, he stressed that Muslims should engage in them within the limits prescribed by Islam and without neglecting obligatory acts of worship.
He called on Muslim youths to balance recreation with their religious and social responsibilities, urging them not to allow entertainment to define their lives or distract them from their ultimate purpose.
Imam Gusau concluded the sermon with prayers for peace, righteous leadership, the protection of Muslim communities worldwide, and relief for oppressed people, particularly those in Gaza.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State has emerged as the highest-ranked sub-national government in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for education spending, according to the latest Sub-National Education Spending Index developed by the University of Paris.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ranking places Kano State first among 209 first-level sub-national governments across 15 ECOWAS member countries, underscoring the state’s growing reputation for prioritising investment in education.
According to the published index, Kano topped the rankings with an overall S-WAESI score of 87.21, outperforming other leading regions, including Dakar and Saint-Louis in Senegal. Lagos State was the second Nigerian state on the list, ranking 16th overall.
The assessment evaluated states and regions using the S-WAESI (Sub-National Weighted Aggregate Education Spending Index) methodology, which measures government commitment to education through indicators such as actual education expenditure, spending per student, budget execution, education priority, transparency and evidence-based reporting.
The methodology assigns 35 points to actual education spending, 25 points to spending per student, 20 points to budget execution, 10 points to education priority and 10 points to transparency.
The report indicated that Kano excelled largely due to its strong actual education spending and budget execution, making it the best-performing sub-national government in the region.
The ranking covered states, regions, districts and municipalities across Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.
Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) said the recognition reflects Kano State Government’s sustained investment in expanding access to education, improving school infrastructure and strengthening educational planning and budget implementation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the achievement is expected to further boost the state’s profile as a leader in education reform within West Africa and provide additional momentum for ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes across the state.
The latest ranking comes amid renewed attention on education financing across ECOWAS, with experts increasingly emphasising transparent budgeting, efficient resource utilisation and sustained public investment as critical drivers of quality education.
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