Headlines
Polio Vaccine: UNICEF campaign records success in Hotoro community
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) campaign on Polio vaccine has recorded a positive response in Hotoro North, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that this a result of a renewed collaboration between the Kano State Government, the UNICEF and key community stakeholders with officials reporting a sharp decline in cases of parental resistance.
The campaign comes on the heels of a disturbing resurgence of circulating variant polioviruses in three local government areas, Warawa, Bunkure, and Nassarawa, where three new cases were detected earlier in 2025. These incidents underscored lingering gaps in immunization coverage, largely due to misinformation and resistance from a fraction of parents who previously declined to vaccinate their children.
However, a recent visit by journalists to Hotoro North revealed a striking turnaround in public response. Field reports indicate that growing awareness efforts, powered by religious and traditional institutions, are yielding impressive results on the ground.
Alhassan Iliyasu, Chairman of the Ward Development Committee (WDC) and a member of the local polio taskforce, confirmed that community resistance has significantly dropped.
He recounted that on the third day of the campaign, health teams encountered only four resistant households. After intervention by community leaders, three of the families willingly presented their children for vaccination.
He said “We’re seeing real change.Thanks to continued sensitization and involvement of respected community figures, more parents are seeing the importance of immunization and allowing their children to be vaccinated.”
Umar Ahmad, the Wakilin Hotoro North and representative of the village head, also praised the collective effort. According to him, awareness campaigns are now embedded in local religious and social structures.
“We make announcements in mosques, engage community leaders, and partner with Voluntary Community Mobilizers (VCMs). When there’s a case of non-compliance, we intervene immediately—and by the grace of God, people are now cooperating,” he said.
The campaign’s success has been further echoed by Hauwa Ibrahim, the Assistant Ward Vocal Person, who described the ongoing immunization round as the most positively received in recent years.
“It’s encouraging to see parents themselves approach us to ask why their children haven’t been vaccinated yet. There’s a new wave of awareness, and while a few still hesitate, most become receptive after sensitization,” she explained.
Stakeholders have applauded the multi-tiered approach that combines medical outreach with traditional authority and faith-based messaging. Marked houses and updated immunization records in Hotoro North now serve as tangible proof of progress in a region once burdened by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
With Kano State intensifying efforts to achieve a polio-free status, Hotoro North now stands as a shining example of what community-driven health campaigns can achieve—highlighting the power of partnership, education, and persistence in defeating one of the world’s most preventable diseases.
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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