Headlines
NWDC seeks CSO support to monitor projects, combat insecurity in North-West
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Managing Director of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to support the commission in monitoring projects, promoting transparency and ensuring effective implementation of development interventions across the region.
Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Ma’aji made the call on Saturday during a meeting with civil society representatives in Kano, where he outlined the commission’s plans to address insecurity, improve education and healthcare, develop infrastructure and stimulate economic growth across the seven states of the North-West.
He described the NWDC as a Federal Government intervention agency established to accelerate socio-economic development, reduce poverty and unlock the region’s human and natural resources.
The commission covers Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, which Prof. Ma’aji said collectively account for about one-third of Nigeria’s population.
He explained that the commission was established under the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2024, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 24, 2024.
According to him, the initiative was conceived by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during the ninth National Assembly and achieved during the 10th Assembly. The commission’s pioneer governing board was inaugurated in September 2024, while it received its first take-off grant in January 2026.
Prof. Ma’aji said the commission was established to address development gaps in the region rather than compete with state and local governments.
He identified its seven areas of intervention as security; education and health; industry and energy; agriculture; infrastructure; environment; and youth and women development.
On security, the managing director disclosed that the commission had procured 49 Hilux vehicles, bulletproof jackets, helmets, walkie-talkies and whistles to support community policing and assist vigilante volunteers in tackling banditry across the seven states.
He added that the commission was also providing capacity-building programmes for vigilante volunteers to strengthen their role in community security.
On education, Prof. Ma’aji said the commission was undertaking school construction projects featuring six classrooms, four toilets for male and female pupils, concealed roofing, five solar-powered streetlights and motorised boreholes.
He said the projects formed part of efforts to improve access to educational infrastructure and provide a more conducive learning environment for children across the region.
The commission is also implementing healthcare interventions, including the construction of 10-bed model primary healthcare centres in each of the seven states, alongside the provision of mobile clinics.
Prof. Ma’aji disclosed that plans were in place to introduce telemedicine services across clusters of five wards, with a resident medical doctor supporting service delivery.
He added that periodic medical outreaches would be conducted in communities and schools, while 14 ambulances had been procured for tertiary hospitals, teaching hospitals and federal medical centres across the region.
In the energy sector, the managing director said the commission planned to construct solar mini-grids with capacities ranging from 120 to 124 kilowatts at teaching hospitals and federal medical centres to improve electricity supply and support healthcare delivery.
He also highlighted the commission’s commitment to local content development and community participation in project execution.
According to him, the commission has signed agreements with service providers requiring at least 25 per cent of their products to be locally produced, while unskilled workers are to be recruited from the communities where projects are located.
Prof. Ma’aji said community-based organisations were being engaged as whistleblowers to report contractors who abandoned project sites, failed to maintain a presence at construction locations or executed substandard work.
He urged civil society organisations to collaborate with the commission in monitoring projects and reporting irregularities to promote accountability and ensure value for public funds.
The managing director further explained that the commission could access loans from financial institutions, subject to the required presidential approval, to finance development initiatives. He added that its mandate also permitted commercial ventures, including the establishment of banks and airlines.
He assured the stakeholders that the commission was committed to interventions that would address existing development gaps and improve the living conditions of people across the North-West.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Director of Democratic Action Group, Dr Mustapha Muhammad, commended the commission for initiating the engagement and called for sustained consultations with civil society organisations.
Dr. Muhammad assured the commission of the support of CSOs in achieving its mandate, noting the importance of cooperation between public institutions and citizens in addressing development challenges.
Similarly, the Co-chair of the Open Government Partnership in Kano, Abdurrahman Abdu, advised the commission to replicate the engagement in other North-West states to strengthen collaboration and broaden stakeholder participation.
Safiyanu Bichi of the Kano Budget Working Group called for citizens to be involved from the budget conception stage through preparation and implementation.
He said early and continuous citizen participation would promote transparency, accountability and ensure that government interventions reflected the actual needs of communities.
The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration between the NWDC and civil society organisations in monitoring projects, strengthening accountability and ensuring that development interventions deliver measurable benefits to communities across the North-West.
Ibrahim Khalil
Former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has ruled out withdrawing from the presidential race in favour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing its campaign team of engaging in unnecessary attacks against him, presidential candidate Peter Obi and their party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso stated this in a post on his Facebook account on Saturday, insisting that the NDC presidential ticket remained committed to contesting the election and offering Nigerians an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He accused the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) of attempting to create the impression that the NDC ticket was working for the ruling party or planning to withdraw from the race at the last minute in favour of the ADC candidate.
“The attacks directed at me, our presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, and our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are unnecessary and unhelpful,” he said.
According to Kwankwaso, political parties should concentrate on presenting their candidates’ competence, credibility and capacity to Nigerians rather than attacking their opponents.
He argued that the ADC campaign team would be better served responding to allegations reportedly levelled against its candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting the NDC leadership.
Kwankwaso also warned that the ADC campaign might attempt to mislead NDC supporters shortly before the election by claiming that his party intended to withdraw in favour of its candidate.
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria,” he declared.
He further denied any alliance with the APC, stressing that the NDC ticket, which he referred to as the “OK ticket,” was neither working for the ruling party nor acting on behalf of any of its candidates.
The former governor maintained that there was no reason for the NDC to abandon the presidential contest, describing reports suggesting otherwise as unfounded.
Assessing the political alternatives available to Nigerians, Kwankwaso criticised the APC-led government, saying it had failed the country, while arguing that the ADC did not offer a better alternative.
He described the NDC ticket as a credible and viable option, citing its record, capacity and support across Northern and Southern Nigeria.
According to him, the ticket is committed to promoting national unity and addressing major challenges confronting the country, including insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and economic development.
Kwankwaso also described the NDC as the country’s most formidable and viable opposition party, urging supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to its cause to remain committed to its electoral success.
He concluded his message with the slogan, “Nigeria will be OK.”
Kidnapped victim freed unharmed in Falgore Forest
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has reported the killing of two suspected bandits and the recovery of N10 million ransom following the rescue of a kidnapped victim in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area of the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, when three suspected bandits allegedly emerged from the forest to collect the ransom demanded for the release of a 45-year-old man, Kabiru Aliyu, of Falgore village.
Aliyu was reportedly kidnapped on September 11, 2026, and had spent days in captivity before his abductors secured the N10 million ransom.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the victim was released unharmed after the suspects collected the money.
However, the suspects were reportedly ambushed by local hunters, popularly known as Yan Bula, while returning to their hideout in Falgore Forest.
The police said two of the suspected bandits were killed during the encounter, while the third escaped with injuries.
The entire N10 million ransom was recovered intact from the deceased suspects, according to the statement.
Preliminary investigations identified one of the suspects as Dogo Isah, a commercial motorcycle operator from Maigwanda village in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the local hunters for their efforts in complementing the police-led Operation Kukan Kura in tackling kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in the Falgore Forest axis.
Bakori also directed the Area Commander, divisional police officers and tactical teams operating in the area to intensify searches to apprehend the fleeing suspect and recover any weapons used by the gang.
The police said the rescued victim had been debriefed, medically examined and reunited with his family.
The command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against criminal elements.
The statement was signed by CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Police Public Relations Officer, Kano State Police Command, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
Nura Abdullahi
The Senior Special Reporters and Special Reporters, SSR/SR Forum has accepted the apology tendered by the Kano State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Wing, Hon. Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, following discussions over his earlier remarks.
KANO FOCUS reports that Amir Abdullahi Kima, Chairman of the SSR/SR Forum, announced the decision in a statement published on his Facebook account on Saturday.
According to Kima, the decision followed a meeting between representatives of the forum, Hotoro and other stakeholders in media-related affairs, during which the APC youth leader apologised for his remarks.
He said Hotoro had also published an apology on his Facebook page.
Kima explained that the forum subsequently convened a special meeting on October 18, 2026, to deliberate on the matter and hear the views of its members before agreeing to accept the apology.
“The forum has accepted the apology tendered by Hon. Salisu Yahaya Hotoro. This means the matter has been laid to rest, paving the way for continued peace, mutual understanding and unity,” the statement said.
The forum urged its members, supporters and well-wishers to exercise restraint and allow the matter to rest, warning against actions that could create division or misunderstanding among stakeholders.
It reaffirmed its commitment to unity and peaceful engagement, as well as its continued efforts to publicise the programmes and activities of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The forum said its activities would continue to be guided by mutual respect, peace and understanding.
Kima also expressed appreciation to individuals who contributed to resolving the disagreement, commending their efforts in facilitating an amicable settlement.
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