Headlines
Only 30% of school-age children attend school in Northern Nigeria – Prof. Shehu
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Executive Secretary of the National Educational Research and Development Council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, has disclosed that only 30 per cent of school-age children in Northern Nigeria are currently attending school.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Shehu made the revelation on Saturday while delivering a lecture at the 10th Ramadan Lecture organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria in Kano.
He said Nigeria presently has over 20 million out-of-school children, a figure he noted is rising due to armed banditry in the North-West and insurgency in the North-East. According to him, the closure of many schools in some states as a result of insecurity has further worsened the situation.
The educationist also expressed concern over the shortage of teachers in schools, despite increasing retirements, deaths, transfers and career changes among teaching staff. He lamented that examination malpractice, combined with weak oversight, has led to what he described as a collapse of the education system in Northern Nigeria.
“Products of examination malpractice are now becoming teachers and lecturers, thereby perpetuating the cycle,” he said.
Prof. Shehu warned that lack of access to education is contributing to thuggery and banditry in the region, stressing that education produces responsible citizens, while ignorance breeds irresponsibility.
He urged Northern governors to declare a state of emergency in the education sector and prioritise funding and reforms. He also advised citizens to establish education endowment funds, citing examples from Bangladesh and Malaysia where Muslim communities have addressed similar challenges through charitable initiatives.
The professor criticised what he described as misplaced priorities, questioning why some governors sponsor pilgrimages while many citizens lack access to basic education and quality healthcare.
Presenting a paper on the fate of Northern Nigeria in terms of security, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Kurawa linked climate change and global warming to the worsening security challenges in the North-East. He identified the longstanding farmer-herder conflict as a root cause of banditry in the North-West.
Kurawa noted that insecurity has contributed to making the North-East and North-West the poorest regions in the country. He expressed dismay that Northern Nigeria has failed to effectively address the issues of almajiranci and out-of-school children since the First Republic.
He called for sincerity in governance, political reforms and greater collaboration among Northern groups such as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), alongside the Islamic Forum of Nigeria.
On the economic outlook of the region, Prof. Kabiru Isa Dandago decried rising poverty, unemployment, overdependence and the high cost of living as major challenges confronting Northern Nigeria. He advocated for a strategic development plan and urged voters to elect credible leaders as a pathway to change.
In his address, the Chairman of the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, Gen. Ahmad Muhammad Daku, said the 2026 edition marked the 10th anniversary of the annual Ramadan lecture series. Represented by Alhaji M.T. Bello, he noted that the topics were carefully selected to address contemporary issues affecting Northern Nigeria.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Dalhatu Gwarzo, appreciated the lead presenters, particularly Prof. Shehu, for their contributions. He announced that a team of rapporteurs had been constituted to compile the papers and comments for a post-Ramadan roundtable discussion with stakeholders.
Gwarzo also revealed plans to publish a compendium of the ten Ramadan lectures delivered over the past decade for the benefit of the Muslim community. He urged Muslims to pray for Northern Nigeria, the country and the world amid prevailing challenges.
He further appealed to political leaders to ensure proper implementation of the new Computer-Based Test (CBT) policy for candidates sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) senior secondary school examinations.
Former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Sule Yahaya Hamma, said 80 per cent of Northern Nigeria’s problems could be addressed by governors, urging them to take decisive action in their respective states.
Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Malam Ibrahim Khalil, emphasised patriotic leadership as a solution to current challenges, citing the example of Khalifa Umar bin Abdulaziz as a model of responsible governance.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Emir of Rano, Amb. Muhammad Isa Umaru, and the Madakin Zazzau, Alhaji Munir Jafaru.
Hauwa Umar
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a device verification platform to strengthen regulatory compliance, protect consumers and curb the circulation of counterfeit, cloned and unauthorised communication devices in Nigeria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the commission said the NCC Device Checker Platform would enable consumers to verify the regulatory approval status of SIM-enabled devices before purchasing them, while helping ensure that devices connected to Nigerian telecommunications networks meet established technical standards.
The Kano Zonal Controller of the NCC, Engr. Maigana Gidado, disclosed this on Thursday during a media briefing at the commission’s zonal office in Kano.
Engr. Gidado said the initiative was part of the commission’s efforts to strengthen Type Approval compliance and improve the integrity of communication devices used on Nigerian networks.
According to him, the commission has made progress in implementing the initiative through the regularisation and licensing of device dealers, as well as sensitisation engagements with importers and other industry stakeholders.
He said the commission had streamlined its licensing and regularisation processes, enabling a significant number of device dealers in Kano State to obtain licences.
The NCC had also conducted stakeholder sensitisation engagements in Lagos and other parts of the country to improve awareness of Type Approval requirements and obligations under the Device Checker framework.
“These initiatives have strengthened accountability across the device supply chain and improved compliance with regulatory requirements,” he said.
Engr. Gidado added that the commission had developed a user-friendly Device Checker application that allows authorised stakeholders to scan device International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and upload information directly to the platform.
He said the application was designed to simplify compliance procedures, improve efficiency and make the verification process more accessible to relevant industry participants.
The zonal controller urged consumers to verify the status of devices before purchasing them through the commission’s *Check Your Device* portal at [www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker](http://www.ncc.gov.ng/devicechecker) by entering the device’s IMEI number.
He also directed manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers to consult the Type Approval and Device Verification Guide available at [www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceCheckerGuide](http://www.ncc.gov.ng/DeviceCheckerGuide) to understand their responsibilities under the regulatory framework.
According to him, organisations seeking Equipment Type Approval can access the relevant application requirements and procedures through the Type Approval section of the commission’s website.
Engr. Gidado, however, clarified that the Device Checker Platform was not a surveillance tool and would not access users’ personal data, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other private content stored on their devices.
He explained that the platform’s purpose was limited to device identification and verification of regulatory compliance.
The NCC urged consumers to patronise reputable and licensed dealers and take advantage of its online resources to make informed purchasing decisions.
It also encouraged industry stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the commission’s Type Approval requirements and ensure full compliance.
Engr. Gidado said consumers requiring assistance or wishing to lodge complaints could contact the commission through its 315 toll-free consumer line.
He reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to consumer protection, fair competition and network integrity, adding that the commission would continue to promote a trusted communications ecosystem in Nigeria.
Suspect returned to Kano to face investigation, prosecution
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader and sponsor, Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 27-year-old suspect, from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, is accused of sponsoring violent gang clashes that have claimed lives and heightened insecurity in parts of the state.
The task force disclosed this in a statement, saying the suspect was arrested following intelligence-led operations after allegedly fleeing Kano as security operations against gang violence intensified.
According to the statement, operatives tracked him to Port Harcourt and arrested him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe. He has since been returned to Kano.
The task force alleged that Malam Keya played a leading role in orchestrating and financing hoodlums involved in violent attacks in Dala and other affected communities.
The areas reportedly affected by the gang violence include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kukar Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.
Confirming the arrest, the task force chairman, Barr Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to pursue suspected sponsors of violence beyond Kano State.
“Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them. This arrest is only the beginning. We will not rest until peace is fully restored,” he said.
The task force said the suspect remained in custody for further investigation and would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation.
It added that its operations would continue in accordance with the law, with all suspects entitled to due process.
The agency also pledged to sustain efforts to dismantle criminal gangs, identify their alleged sponsors and disrupt drug supply networks linked to criminal activities.
It urged residents, community and religious leaders, parents and youths to support security efforts by reporting suspicious persons and activities, monitoring their neighbourhoods and discouraging young people from being recruited into criminal gangs.
The task force described public cooperation as essential to restoring peace and security across the state.
It also acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers state police commands and other law enforcement agencies in the operation.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnapping plot in Gezawa Local Government Area and arrested two 20-year-old suspects over threats to abduct a village head.
KANO FOCUS reports that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Naziru Garba and Bashir Alhasan, were arrested following intelligence-led operations by police operatives attached to the Gezawa Divisional Police Headquarters.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on October 26, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. by the village head of Bangare, Mallam Idris, who told the police that he had received a threatening phone call from an unidentified person on October 24 at about 9:33 p.m.
The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap him.
Following the report, police operatives launched a follow-up operation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime,” the statement said, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Gezawa Division for their swift and professional response.
Bakori reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities and said the operation aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which prioritises intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, professionalism and proactive crime prevention.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station.
The command also provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting security concerns: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926.
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