Headlines
Cleric urges Muslims to channel Ramadan charity to healthcare, maternal care
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A Nigerian-British cleric, Sheikh Mustapha Briggs, has urged Muslims to channel part of their Ramadan charity towards strengthening the healthcare system and reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Cross section of participants
KANO FOCUS reports that Sheikh Briggs made the appeal during a one-day engagement with clerics and representatives of Islamic organisations organised by Every Pregnancy in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), Bayero University, Kano.
Cross section of participants
The cleric said it was a religious priority for Muslims to mobilise resources to address maternal mortality, noting that such efforts align with Islamic principles of preserving life, lineage and intellect.
Some Participants at the event
He recalled the loss of his stepmother and her unborn child due to poor healthcare services in Nigeria, describing the incident as a personal tragedy that strengthened his resolve to support campaigns aimed at preventing avoidable maternal deaths.
Alhaji Ibrahim Galla
Also speaking, Ms Isra Chaker said Every Pregnancy is a coalition of over 50 faith-based organisations working together to raise awareness about the high rate of maternal deaths globally. She explained that Kano State was selected for the implementation of the project due to its high maternal and child mortality rates.
Ms Isra Chaker
According to her, the initiative would also focus on newborn care, immunisation and nutrition as part of efforts to improve overall maternal and child health outcomes in the state.
In her presentation, the Director of ACEPHAP, Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi, highlighted major causes of maternal deaths in Kano State based on findings from a social autopsy. She identified the high cost of medication and poor road infrastructure as key factors contributing to deaths during childbirth.
Prof. Hadiza Galadanchi
Prof. Galadanchi revealed that in some communities, pregnant women are forced to travel by canoe to reach healthcare facilities, while lack of bed spaces in hospitals poses a serious threat to safe delivery even when women manage to access medical care.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Salisu Kabara
She further observed that in some communities, families resort to Quranic inscriptions (rubutu) instead of taking pregnant women to hospitals, a practice she said contributes to preventable maternal deaths.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of the Kano State Zakkah and Hubsi Commission, Dr Ali Mustapha Quraysh, said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had approved the employment of medical doctors of Kano State origin to address manpower shortages in the health sector.
Cross section of Islamic clerics
He disclosed that he recently participated in the recruitment of 2,000 health workers aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
Group picture
The engagement, titled “The Critical Role of the Nigerian Muslim Community in Reducing Preventable Maternal Deaths,” was attended by Imams of Juma’at mosques, representatives of Islamic charity foundations (waqf), academics, and other stakeholders.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo on his emergence as the Deputy Governor of Kano State following his swearing-in on Tuesday.
KANO FOCUS reports that Garo was sworn in by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Garo’s appointment as a positive step toward strengthening unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The President noted that the 48-year-old politician has held several public offices, including Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He also served as the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu commended Governor Yusuf for the appointment, urging political stakeholders in the state to rally behind the administration to ensure stability and progress.
He also called on the new deputy governor to work closely with the governor in delivering effective leadership and accelerating development in Kano State.
The President wished Garo success in his new role.
Ibrahim Khalil
A dramatic political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the unexpected gesture occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, at Government House, Kano—an event attended by top political leaders and traditional rulers.
While delivering his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate attention from dignitaries at the ceremony. The audience responded with loud applause when he greeted the Emir and recognised his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The development is particularly significant given the long-standing rift between the two figures. Sanusi was removed from the throne during Ganduje’s administration, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted following the emergence of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Observers say Ganduje’s public acknowledgment signals a possible easing of tensions and may point to broader efforts at reconciliation within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.
The moment has since been described by analysts as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where former rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect among key actors.
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Ganduje acknowledges Sanusi II as Emir of Kano, 6 years after dethroning him
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