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NAFDAC inaugurates Kano task force to tackle fake drugs, unsafe foods
Ibrahim Khalil
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a Kano State task force committee to combat fake, counterfeit and unwholesome processed food products and drugs.
Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday in Kano, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, described the initiative as a strategic step to strengthen enforcement and safeguard public health.
Adeyeye, who was represented by the agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Fraden Nantim-Mullah, said the task force would operate under NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate as a federal operational arm.
She warned that counterfeit drugs and unsafe food products pose serious public health risks, undermine confidence in the healthcare system, and threaten national development if not decisively addressed.
According to her, Kano’s position as a major commercial hub makes it particularly vulnerable to the production, importation and distribution of substandard and falsified products.
The NAFDAC boss said the task force would engage in intelligence gathering, surveillance, enforcement operations, seizure of illegal products, arrests, prosecution of offenders, and public sensitisation to curb the circulation of fake products.
She added that the initiative is backed by the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act, which empowers enforcement agencies to take legal action against offenders nationwide.
Also speaking, the Kano State Secretary to the Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the reconstitution of the task force was necessary to address rising cases of drug abuse and counterfeit products in the state.
He noted that drug addiction remains a major social challenge, particularly among youths who constitute a significant portion of the population, and called for urgent efforts to disrupt supply chains of illicit substances.
Farouk-Ibrahim assured the committee of government support and urged members to carry out their duties with integrity and resist any form of inducement or interference.
He announced Kamilu Mudi-Salisu as chairman of the committee, with members drawn from security, justice, health and regulatory agencies to enhance coordinated enforcement.
In his remarks, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, described Kano as a critical hub in Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit medicines, particularly anti-malaria drugs and other essential medicines.
He warned that many counterfeit drugs contain no active ingredients, posing a silent but deadly threat that contributes to avoidable deaths across communities.
Iluyomade disclosed that eight containers of cloned medicines were recently intercepted, with Kano identified as their intended destination.
He called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders and cautioned against attempts by vested interests to frustrate enforcement efforts.
The task force chairman, Mudi-Salisu, pledged the committee’s commitment to tackling fake drugs and unsafe foods, urging the public to support the initiative by reporting suspicious activities.
He said the task force is empowered to conduct raids, seize illegal products, seal premises and prosecute offenders in line with existing laws.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspects in separate operations targeting drug peddling and thuggery in Panshekara and Kunchi/Ghari Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the operations, conducted on September 9, 2026, were part of the command’s intelligence-driven efforts to tackle drug abuse, thuggery and violent crimes across the state.
It said operatives of the Surveillance Team attached to Panshekara Police Division, acting on credible intelligence at about 2:30 p.m., intercepted eight suspects, including a 21-year-old man identified as Samson Yakubu of Samegu Quarters, at a suspected criminal hotspot.
A search of the suspects reportedly led to the recovery of 15 Pregabalin capsules, five Diazepam tablets, 10 Exol tablets and some quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The police said the suspects were in custody and undergoing interrogation, while investigations were ongoing to establish the source of the suspected illicit drugs and identify other members of the alleged syndicate.
In a related operation conducted between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. the same day, operatives of the Kunchi/Ghari Division carried out a coordinated market patrol and raid at Matanfada Market.
The command said the area had been identified as a place where youths allegedly intimidate traders and residents during market sessions.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Abdullahi Isah of Dustin; Haruna Isah of Daqarawa Village; Habu Badamasi of Dan Taimu Village; Gambo Ya’u of Kura Village; and Abubakar Dahiru of Farau Village.
The police said investigation was ongoing to identify and arrest other suspected accomplices, while exhibits recovered during the operation had been taken into custody as evidence.
CP Bakori commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and swift response, assuring residents that the command would sustain its operations against drug abuse, thuggery and other violent crimes.
“In line with the IGP’s policing vision and our mandate to ensure a safe and secure Kano, we will continue to be proactive,” the commissioner said.
“We are sending a clear message to criminal elements that Kano State will not be a breeding ground for their activities.”
The command also appreciated members of the public, community leaders and vigilante groups for providing information that aided the operations.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
The command said all suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The funeral prayer for the late Shehu Kabir Bayero, Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Dorayi, was held on Thursday evening at Kofar Kudu, Kano Emir’s Palace.
KANO FOCUS reports that the prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Khamsus Salawati Mosque, Kofar Kudu, Malam Bello, and attended by hundreds of people from different parts of Kano State.
Among those who attended were the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk; representative of the Emir of Kano, Matawallen Kano, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Matawalle; Chief of Staff to the Kano State Government House, Dr Sani Wali; as well as district heads and members of the Muslim community.
Shehu Kabir Bayero died in a hospital in Egypt following a period of illness. He is survived by his wives, children and other relatives.
Until his death, the late Bayero served as Commissioner of Police in Gombe and Osun states before retiring from the Nigeria Police Force.
Following his retirement, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, appointed him as the Barde Kerarriya of Kano and District Head of Takai Local Government Area after the death of his father, the late Kabir Bayero, an elder brother of the former emir.
He later served as District Head of Gwarzo.
Due to his wealth of experience in security matters, the current Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, subsequently reassigned him as District Head of Dorayi, where he was expected to contribute to the sustenance of peace and security in the area.
The late district head was remembered for his service to the state and his experience in security and traditional administration.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, have mercy on his soul and grant him Jannatul Firdaus. Ameen.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Ministry of Education, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has held a planning meeting on the implementation and effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the meeting brought together relevant stakeholders from various ministries, agencies and development partners working in the education sector.
According to Malam Naziru Sirajo, deputy director EMIS and statistics in the Ministry of Education, the meeting was aimed at reviewing the current status of the Nigeria Learning Passport in Kano and developing a coordinated plan to strengthen its implementation, content utilisation, course completion, monitoring of learners’ progress and certification.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is a digital learning platform designed to provide Nigerian children and young people with access to curriculum-aligned educational content, including lessons, learning materials and assessments.
The platform is also designed to support learning continuity, including for learners facing limited or intermittent internet connectivity, while providing teachers and education stakeholders with digital resources to complement classroom instruction.
In Kano, the initiative is expected to strengthen awareness and utilisation of digital learning, while building the capacity of master trainers and technical teams to support schools, teachers and learners in using the platform effectively.
The effective utilisation of the Nigeria Learning Passport is expected to expand access to quality digital learning resources, promote independent learning, strengthen digital literacy and support improved learning outcomes and greater equity in access to educational opportunities.
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