Gov. Yusuf Receives New POLAC Commandant, Pledges Continued Support

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has assured the Police Academy, Wudil (POLAC), of the continued support and cooperation of the Kano State Government towards strengthening its operations and enhancing its contribution to police training and national security.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano,Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf gave the assurance when he received the newly appointed Commandant of the Police Academy, Wudil, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Kano.

The Governor said the Kano State Government maintained a cordial relationship with security agencies operating in the state and would continue to strengthen such partnerships in the interest of protecting the lives and property of the people.

He described POLAC as a renowned institution that plays an important role in the training and development of senior police officers who contribute significantly to policing and national security across the country.

Governor Yusuf congratulated the new Commandant on his appointment and expressed confidence that his experience and professional background would further contribute to the development of the academy.

Earlier, the new Commandant of POLAC, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, said he visited the Government House to formally introduce himself to the Governor and commend the Kano State Government for its continued attention to security matters.

AIG Muhammad said the academy would intensify its efforts in providing professional training for police officers in line with contemporary security requirements and the changing nature of policing.

Before his appointment as Commandant of POLAC, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone IX, with headquarters in Calabar.

The Commandant expressed appreciation to Governor Yusuf for receiving him and for the cooperation extended by the Kano State Government to security institutions and agencies operating in the state.

Gov. Yusuf Commissions Water Distribution From Goron Dutse Reservoir

The Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially commissioned the commencement of water distribution from the Goron Dutse Reservoir, describing the development as a historic milestone for Kano State.

According to the statement by the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Muhammad Hashim,  the commissioning on Monday, September 28, 2026, marks the return of the Goron Dutse Reservoir to active service after it remained abandoned and largely unused for more than 30 years.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the revival of the facility as a significant achievement for his administration and an important development for the people of Kano.

“This is a historic project for Kano State. The Goron Dutse Reservoir has been abandoned for more than 30 years, and today we are bringing it back into operation to serve the people of Kano,” the Governor said.

Governor Yusuf said restoring the facility was part of his administration’s broader effort to revive critical infrastructure and address longstanding challenges affecting residents of the state.

He explained that the commencement of water distribution from Goron Dutse would contribute to improving access to potable water across Kano metropolis and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing other critical water projects across the state.

On his part, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, said the commencement of distribution represents an important step towards improving the reliability of public water supply in Kano metropolis.

He said the Goron Dutse facility has a combined storage capacity of approximately 39.8 million litres, comprising three reservoirs with capacities of 10 million litres, 7.3 million litres and 22.5 million litres.

He added that water is currently being pumped from the Challawa Water Treatment Plant into the Goron Dutse reservoirs for distribution to communities across different parts of Kano metropolis.

Dr. Hashim commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for prioritising the revival of the facility and providing the political and administrative support required to return the reservoir to service.

The ₦11 billion project, executed by CCECC, includes work on the Challawa Water Treatment Plant and the transmission system supplying Goron Dutse. The main transmission pipeline from Challawa to the Goron Dutse distribution station spans approximately 15.6 kilometres.

The project was originally scheduled for completion by December 2026, but the commencement of water distribution represents a major operational milestone achieved ahead of schedule.

The Commissioner reaffirmed his commitment to restoring critical infrastructure and expanding access to safe and reliable water for households, businesses and communities across the state.

Dry Taps Gone, Kano Flows Again: The Abba Yusuf Water Comeback - By Abba Anwar

It is evidently clear and on record to understand that Kano thirsty decade is ending, as how His Excellency the Governor of Kano State, Eng Abba Kabir Yusuf is turning 95 years of ruin into a N21.3 Billion revival. This is leadership, commitment, display of patriotic political will and understanding of complexities and peculiarities of human existence. 

What Kano is experiencing now, in terms of redirecting the water industry into human face, calls for global gist and account. For example in Cape Town, they called perennial shortage of water Day Zero - the day the taps would run dry. 

In Flint, Michigan, history tells us that it was a lead poisoning crisis that shocked America. While in Kano, Africa's most populous city, situated in Northern Nigeria, it was slower, quieter, and more painful. Very pathetic and heartbreaking, for over ten years, the taps simply stopped. No announcement. No Day Zero. Just air.

The history of Kano water sector reveals that the city needs 700 million litres of water every single day to survive. Until last year, it was getting less than 300 million. A deficit of 400 million litres. That is not a shortage; it is a systemic collapse. Mothers woke up at 4 a.m. to queue at boreholes. Children trekked kilometres with jerry cans. Industries shut down. Cholera whispered in the background.

Identification of problem didn't match with problem diagnosis. For years, successive administrations applied plaster to a cancer. The current administration of Governor Yusuf has chosen to perform open-heart surgery. A better and neater option. Surgical operation not plaster application. Which catches and punches the right button. 

And the heart is now beating again as the Governor means business and genuine service delivery. 

Kano’s 95-year-old legacy, which I term as The Soul of a City, is a deliberate presentation for proper 

understanding of the magnitude of what is happening now. Hence we must understand what was lost.

Kano's water story did not start yesterday. It started in 1927, when the British colonial administration, under Emir Abdullahi Bayero, broke ground for what would become the first waterworks in Northern Nigeria - the Challawa Water Works. Completed in 1930, with a modest 20 million litres per day, it was an engineering marvel of its time. It supplied Dorayi, Kabuga, Kofar Fanfo, Jan Bulo, Rijiyar Zaki, and even the Army Barracks in Janguza. It ran non-stop for 86 years.

Then came its younger brothers. The Old Tamburawa in 1986 - 9.6 million litres, later upgraded to 20 million. Then the New Tamburawa, a behemoth with a 150 million litre per day capacity. And anchoring them all, the legendary Goron Dutse reservoirs - five massive underground and surface reservoirs built between 1930 and 1974, with a combined storage of over 40 million litres. They were the lungs of Kano's distribution.

By whatever standard and estimation this was a system built by visionaries, with clearly defined vision. But it was, unfortunately, killed by neglect. Year in year out all the donkey years witnessed terrifying reality when city's lifeline was utterly and irresponsibly looted. 

To tell my reader that, that experience was worrying our Governor deeply even before he came on board, before he took the oath of office on May 29, 2023, he set up a powerful Committee of Experts to look into the perennial nature of the water industry. Immediately after he came on board his engineers gave him a report on water that read like a war zone assessment. 

Since then, when I discussed the concern with a friend from Darmanawa he quickly commended the effort and called for public support of the entire process and procedures. 

It was fundamentally clear that in Challawa, the scene was "pathetic and disheartening," in the official words of the Ministry. Out of six giant industrial generating sets that power the entire plant when the national grid fails, only two were limping. Water Works No. 1 and No. 2 were dead. No. 3 was gasping at 30% capacity. A call for action at whatever rate. 

Worse than decay was destruction. Raw water pumps were gone. Electrical starters ripped from control rooms. Underground electrical facilities stolen. And in an act that shocked even veteran engineers, a 15-kilometre, 15.6 kilometre underground transmission pipeline - the artery that feeds Challawa - was excavated and stolen. Not vandalised. Stolen. Some individuals even walked into the premises claiming the federal government had sold the waterworks to them. A brazen dishonesty of the highest order. 

At Goron Dutse, the story was even more symbolic. The reservoirs that had quenched Kano for nearly a century had not received a single drop of water for over ten years. Ten years! They were dry, cracked, and filled with silt. As bad as economies during conventional wars. Abandonment amid need for attention. 

The total cost of decay was put at over N30 billion. An administration in the past had spent N5.6 billion in just 11 months for "maintenance" but it was maintenance without a soul. As pipes were not replaced, reservoirs were not desilted, pumps were not procured. The result? Tamburawa, designed for 150 million litres, was doing 27%. Challawa, designed for 220 million, was doing less than 30%. Together, they should produce 370 million litres. They were producing less than 90 million.

To revive just Challawa, an official told journalists that the state would need $3.5 million, later revised to over $10 million, because the 1930-era machines have to be custom-built in Europe on demand. They are not on any shelf in the world.

This is the rot Governor Yusuf inherited. To me, Governor Yusuf's political will is doctrinal with no match in sight. Unmatched political will. It is glaring for all to know that great cities are not revived by press releases. They are revived by political will. This is where His Excellency separates himself from every administration in the last decade.

He did not send a committee. He went himself. Since from the start of the good re-engineering touch of the water facilities. For example just yesterday, he and his able Deputy H.E. Murtala Sule Garo alongside other top government functionaries visited water projects that are almost ready for good operations. 

In a now-famous inspection tour, Governor Yusuf, in rain boots, walked the length of Challawa and Tamburawa with engineers from CGC Nigeria Limited and CCECC Nigeria Limited - the same Chinese engineering giants building Africa's biggest dams and railways. He saw the leaking pipes. He saw the obsolete clarifiers. He saw the dead high-lift pumps. And there, on the spot, he made a decision that will define his legacy.

He approved without any hesitation, the sum of N21.29 billion. Wow! the single largest water investment in Kano in 15 years. Leadership by example. Viva our dear Governor Viva. 

Not N21.89 billion in rumour. N21.29 billion in signed contracts. With N9.9 billion to CGC Nigeria Limited for the total rehabilitation of Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant and its raw water pump station. The sum of N11.39 billion to CCECC Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of Challawa Raw Water Pump Station, its treatment plant, and the total restoration of the Goron Dutse reservoirs. Action! Action!! Action!!! 

This is not rehabilitation on paper. This is what is happening on the ground right now, as confirmed by Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, Acting Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change. That:

1. The critical 15.6-kilometre transmission line to Goron Dutse has been restored with modern ductile steel pipes, replacing the 1970s asbestos pipes that were poisoning the system.

2. Goron Dutse reservoirs have been fully desilted and repaired.

3. Clarifiers, filtration units, manifolds, and high-lift pumps have been restored.

4. Ten high-capacity 110-kilowatt pumps have been procured.

5. A full test run was completed in mid-September.

And beyond the metropolis, the Governor is doing what no one did - reviving the dead. Nine out of Kano's 19 dormant regional water schemes are under restoration. Guzugu in Kabo is flowing. Joda in Gabasawa is flowing. Wudil Waterworks, dead for years, is alive. For the first time, rural Kano is part of the water equation. Government for all sections of the state. 

On September 21, 2026, the Ministry officially announced: expanded distribution of potable water would commence within few days to come. All are waiting patiently Your Excellency Sir! 

Why Kano must attract global communities? From London to Lagos, water is politics. The UN says water scarcity will displace 700 million people by 2030. What Governor Yusuf has done is a case study in how to reverse it without World Bank loans, without privatising your heritage.

He did not outsource the problem. He funded the solution. He did not blame the past. He fixed the future. Sometime in the past I spoke to Malam Musa in Tarauni, he was lamenting all over. When asked again, now, he simply smiles that Governor Yusuf is on the top of the situation. This is courageous. 

When the taps in Kofar Mata sputter and then gush, when a child in Dala drinks from the tap for the first time in his life, when Goron Dutse reservoirs hold water again after a 10-year drought, Kano will not just be celebrating water. Kano will be celebrating a Governor who proved that a 95-year-old dream, buried under silt, stolen pipes, and failed promises, can still flow. 

That is not just governance. That is unmatched and unwavering political will in action. 

KANO FLOWS AGAIN UNDER GOVERNOR YUSUF! 

Viva Kano. Viva Abba Gida-Gida.

Anwar writes from Kano 

Tuesday, 29th September, 2026

Ganduje congratulates Abba on NECO performance, says progress builds on solid foundation

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has congratulated the government and people of Kano on the state’s strong performance in the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, saying the achievement demonstrates the value of sustained investment and policy continuity in education.

According to statement by the Chief of Staff to former APC National Chairman, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Kano recorded the highest number of candidates meeting the benchmark of at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, with 74,413 candidates, ahead of Lagos with 72,496 and Oyo with 55,543. The feat marks Kano’s second consecutive year at the top of the NECO performance chart on this measure.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Chief of Staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the development as encouraging and a positive signal for the future of education in Kano and the wider northern region.

He said the latest result showed that “progress builds on a solid foundation,” noting that sustained investment, continuity of policy and commitment by successive administrations could produce measurable improvements in the education sector.

Ganduje acknowledged the efforts of the present administration in Kano, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly increased budgetary allocations to education, sponsorship of students for NECO and other examinations, recruitment of teachers and renovation of schools.

He, however, stressed that the latest achievement should be viewed within the broader context of successive investments and reforms in the state’s education sector.

According to him, his administration contributed to that foundation through the implementation of free and compulsory basic education, the establishment of Education Promotion Committees from the state to ward levels, strengthening of the State Education Trust Fund, infrastructure development and teacher training across the 44 local government areas.

“Kano’s performance is not accidental. It is the outcome of continuity in policy and deliberate investment, with the present administration building on what was already on ground. This is how development should work,” Ganduje said.

He congratulated the students, teachers, parents, school administrators and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the result, urging them to sustain the momentum and ensure that Kano remains competitive in national educational assessments.

Ganduje also called for education to be insulated from partisan politics, saying achievements in the sector should be regarded as a collective success belonging to the people of Kano rather than any particular political administration.

He urged successive governments to continue strengthening policies and programmes that improve access to quality education, teacher capacity and learning infrastructure.

Governor Yusuf Unveils 50 Vehicles Donated to APC Campaign in Kano

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has unveiled 50 vehicles donated by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to support the campaign activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

In a statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the vehicles were presented in Kano as part of efforts to support the party’s mobilisation activities across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

Governor Yusuf said the vehicles would be distributed to the 44 local government areas to facilitate campaign mobilisation and grassroots engagement.

He said mobility was essential to effective political campaigns and would enable party officials to engage with communities across the state.

The governor said the state government was also implementing infrastructure and other development programmes aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of residents.

In his remarks, Chief Pondi Kestin, who represented Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Door-to-Door Movement was established to promote awareness of the policies, programmes and projects of the Federal Government.

He said the movement was focused on grassroots engagement and explaining government initiatives to Nigerians.

Chief Kestin said the organisation would continue its mobilisation and engagement activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Gov. Yusuf Backs Rotational Presidency Between North and South

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has called for the continued rotation of presidential power between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

According to the Statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf made the call on Sunday at the Government House, Kano, while unveiling 50 vehicles donated by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, to support APC campaign mobilisation in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said his position was based on the principle that presidential power should rotate between the North and South, with each region given the opportunity to produce a president for two consecutive terms.

According to Governor Yusuf, allowing each region to complete two terms would provide sufficient time for an administration to implement major policies, programmes and development projects.

He therefore called for support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete a second term, arguing that this would allow the South to complete its two-term cycle before power returns to the North.

Governor Yusuf urged political stakeholders, particularly in the North, to exercise patience and allow the current political arrangement to run its course, saying power would return to the North after the completion of the southern region’s two-term cycle in 2031.

He said rotational presidency should be viewed as a means of promoting fairness, national cohesion, mutual trust and a sense of belonging among Nigerians from different parts of the country.

The governor also urged politicians and political parties to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He called on political actors to focus on policies, programmes and development plans rather than personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric or actions capable of undermining peace.

Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peaceful democratic engagement and urged all stakeholders to place the unity, peace and development of Kano State and Nigeria above partisan differences.

KNSG Restricts Durbar Procession And Horse - Riding Activities

The Kano State Government has henceforth, imposed a restriction on all forms of Durbar processions and horse-riding activities within the Kano metropolis until further notice.

According to the Statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the decision followed an emergency meeting of the State Security Council held at the Government House, Kano, where the security situation surrounding the planned activities was reviewed.

The State Security Council resolved to take precautionary measures to prevent any possible confrontation, preserve public order, and avoid any potential loss of lives or damage to property.

The Government stated that security assessments indicated significant mobilisation of supporters in connection with the planned activities, creating concerns about possible clashes and a breakdown of law and order.

In view of its constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property and maintain peace and public order, the State Security Council directed that the planned Durbar processions and horse-riding activities be suspended.

Accordingly, all relevant security agencies in the state have been directed to enforce the restriction and take appropriate lawful action against anyone found violating the directive or engaging in conduct capable of threatening public peace and security.

The Kano State Government urges all residents, traditional institutions, political actors, supporters, and other stakeholders to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and to comply fully with the directive.

The Government assures the people of Kano State that all necessary measures are being taken to protect lives and property and maintain peace and public order across the state.

Kano Tops Nigerian States in 2026 NECO Examination....

....As Governor Yusuf Commends Students, Reaffirms Sustained Investment in Education 

Kano State has emerged as the leading state among the 36 su nationals of the federation in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the state recorded 74,413 candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, placing Kano ahead of other states, Lagos as second with 72,496 candidates and Oyo came third with 55,543 candidates. 

The performance marks the second consecutive year that Kano has topped the NECO national performance chart, after recording the highest number of candidates with five credits, including English and Mathematics in the 2025 examination.

Reacting to the development, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, commended the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the outstanding performance.

Governor Yusuf said the back-to-back performance was an indication that the state’s sustained investment in education was producing measurable results. 

Kano has maintained the first position in NECO twice in a row making the state as the leading SSCE performer for the two consecutive years, (2025 and 2026) respectively.

He assured the people of Kano that his administration would continue to prioritise education through increased funding, improved learning facilities, teacher recruitment and training, scholarships and support for indigent students.

As part of the interventions, the state government spent over N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly indigent students.

The Governor, said the intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.

He said the latest NECO result was a continuation of the improvement recorded by Kano students under the present administration.

Education has consistently received the largest share of Kano State’s budget under Governor Yusuf over shooting the UNESCO benchmark.

In 2024, education accounted for about 29.95 per cent of the state budget. The allocation increased to N168.35 billion, representing 31 per cent, in the 2025 budget.

For 2026, the state allocated N405.35 billion to education, representing about 30 per cent of the N1,478, 829, 666, 130. 71 trillion budget.

The Governor said the investment goes beyond examination sponsorship to include classroom renovation, teacher recruitment, learning materials, uniforms, scholarships and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education.

The administration’s education policies have also attracted recognition at national and international levels, with Kano fast becoming a leading education reform hub in sub-Saharan Africa. 

In 2024, Governor Yusuf received the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award for Education, while New Telegraph recognised him for educational development Governor of the year. The Nigeria Union of Teachers also named him its Teachers’ Friendly Governor of the Year for 2024.

In 2025, Blueprint Newspaper recognised Governor Yusuf as Governor of the Year for Education at the paper’s national conference in Abuja. While This Nigeria newspaper awarded him as courageous Governor of the year 2024.

His administration also received education-related recognition at International space in London and Paris 2026, for its commitment to education with international literacy and learning award and the education spending award by the Universal Learning Solution and City University, Paris respectively.

Other national recognitions include the Vanguard Governor of the Year Award for Good Governance in 2024, the BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award in 2025, and African Governor of the year award by the African Leadership Magazine in Casablanca-Morocco.

Governor Yusuf dedicated the latest NECO achievement to the students, teachers, parents and people of Kano State, assuring them that the government would sustain its investment in education.

He said the objective was to build an education system capable of providing Kano’s young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership as Kano has recorded over Five Million School children in the last annual school census.

Governor Yusuf Condoles with A.A. Zaura Over Death of Grandmother-in-Law

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has condoled with Alhaji Abdussalam AAbdulkarim (AA Zaura)and his family over the death of Hajiya Hauwa Waziri, popularly known as Mamaye, who passed away in Abuja at the age of 90.

In a statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Hajiya Hauwa Waziri was the grandmother of A.A. Zaura’s wife and was described as an elderly woman who lived a long and remarkable life.

Governor Yusuf paid a condolence visit to A.A. Zaura at his residence in Abuja, where he conveyed his sympathy to the family over the loss.

The Governor said the death of an elderly member of the family, particularly one who had lived for almost nine decades, was a painful moment for the family and loved ones.

He urged the family to take solace in the long life lived by the deceased and the memories she left behind.

Governor Yusuf prayed to Allah to forgive Hajiya Hauwa Waziri’s shortcomings, accept her good deeds and grant her Aljannatul Firdaus.

He also prayed to Allah to give A.A. Zaura, his wife and other members of the family the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

The Governor further extended his condolences to relatives, friends and all those who mourned the deceased, urging them to continue praying for her eternal repose.

The Governor was accompanied by former Kano state governor Sen. Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Member, Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Hon. Dr. Ghali Mustapha Tijjani 

Task Force to Movement : Inside Muhuyi’s Exco Presentation - By Abba Anwar

- As parents take their wards to Muhuyi for behavior correction 

Without cutting corners, when the Chairman of Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and other Related Crimes, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, made an excellent presentation of the Task Force's scorecard before the State Executive Council meeting, Thursday, in Abuja Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the effort with unwavering kudos. 

The former Deputy Governor of the state Engineer Abdullahi T. M. Gwarzo and former Speaker of the State Assembly, Right Honourable Kabiru Alassan Rurum, alongside the 44 LG Chairmen through the Chairman of Gaya LG, Mahmoud Tajo Gaya endorsed all the operations so far. They all praised the Task Force for its courage and visible impact.

Another milestone in Barrister Rimingado's patriotic operations and engagements, is how parents started entrusting him with their children. They have started accepting the fact that, the Task Force is here to correct anomalies in the behavior of their wards.

One of such confidence was a case of one mother who took her child of less than 20 years of age to the office of the Chairman, Barrister Rimingado and lodged a serious complaint against her own biological son. She handed him over to the Task Force seeking for help from government, to force her son sit up. This scenario shook many. 

Of good result, was how the Chairman accepted the request and assured that government would do everything possible to rehabilitate the son. He promised that the boy would not be taken to court for conviction. May be probably he wasn't caught in action. But would be taken to rehabilitation centre for behavior rehabilitation purpose. 

Also adding a grassroots voice, the Chairman of Gaya during Barrister Rimingado's presentation at the Council Chamber rcommended the feat but urged the Task Force to design strategies that extend beyond metropolitan Kano to rural local governments. They assured that they all appreciate the good result seen in the metropolis. As such open vices are drastically reduced in just two months period of the Task Force operations.

When he addressed the State Executive Council he came with more than a speech. He came with results. His presentation indicated that his assignment is more than a Task Force, but a movement. His isn't a political movement, but far beyond that. 

His is a well coordinated social movement. That changes long held diluted way of thinking. With Barrister Rimingado's unwavering and committed effort, and with Governor Yusuf's patriotic political will, Kano is winning the war against drug abuse and other related crimes. 

What he presented was a holistic scorecard before the State Executive Council. The faces and comments of the Exco members informed my decision of naming it "A Council Of Endorsement." They follow the exact footsteps of His Excellency the Governor in this all-sides fight against the long disturbing menace. 

Principally the Governor commended the Task Force for breaking inter-agency walls and replacing rivalry with synergy - bringing NDLEA, Police, DSS, NSCDC, Correctional Service, Hisbah, KAROTA and other agencies under one roof to achieve a drug-free Kano in line with his "Abba Gida-Gida and Kano First Agenda." That is taking societal reorientation to individual households, Gida-Gida methodology. Which becomes a model. 

The endorsement of the Task Force by the Governor and Exco members was a clear call for the citizens to always cooperate and support the effort. That call aligns perfectly with the Task Force's own roadmap. As Rimingado stated in his briefing, "We have taken our message to the nooks and crannies of the state - schools, markets, motor parks, religious houses - because prevention is better and cheaper than cure."

It is important to note that, two months after its inauguration on 22nd July 2026, the Task Force has delivered what many administrations only promised - a coordinated, aggressive and humane offensive against drugs and related crimes. As natural and committed as it appears, this fight gives sense of direction and ownership to Governor Yusuf's administration in setting pace for progress and development. 

The figures, of seizure and achievements listed before the Council members, are unprecedented. 

It is important to note that, a series of joint strategic dislodgment operations across notorious black spots - Race Course, Filin Idi, Filin Mahaha, Tashar Rami, Kawo, Tashar Rimi and many others across the metropolis and beyond - the Task Force did an examplary engagement of forces against the menace. 

It has arrested over 380 suspects and recovered a frightening cache of illicit substances: Cannabis Sativa, Exol-5, Diazepam, Pentazocine Injection, Methamphetamine designer drugs, Tramadol, Suck and Die, Rubber Solution and Pregabalin capsules. This is what I term From Black Spots To Courtrooms. 

More telling is the speed of justice. The Task Force Chairman disclosed to the hearing of the Governor and other Exco members that, over 230 convictions have already been secured in just two months. A clear signal to display that this is not business as usual.

The operations also yielded in seizing dangerous locally made weapons - knives, cutlasses, daggers and clubs - used by drug dealers and thugs to terrorize citizens and resist arrest. Rimingado charges the narrative. What is needed now is continuous support from the Governor, for sustainable operations and achievements. As people also need to be cooperative and supportive. 

It is highly terrifying to understand what the Chairman described as a matter of serious concern as a result of their deeply rooted operations. As he disclosed that the Task Force seized about 870,000 capsules of Pregabalin from a leading pharmaceutical company in the state, suspected to have been diverted for illicit use.

Rimingado warned that no pharmaceutical company, pharmacy manager or superintendent pharmacist found culpable in diverting controlled drugs to the streets will be spared.

In what can best be describe as features of urbanization and sound more chilling was the conviction of two rubber solution dealers, Kabiru Isa (Mada) and Usman Hamisu (Mani), for exposing 43 underage children engaged in street scavenging to intoxicants instead of paying them. The 43 children have been rescued, medically examined, and are undergoing counselling and treatment while efforts are on to reunite them with their families.

Barrister Rimingado touches areas that are more disturbing and frustrating in the related crimes. 

That is in line with its expanded mandate against related crimes, the Task Force has taken the war to the heart of thuggery (DABA). Notorious gang members including Abdullahi Ahmad (Horror), Abubakar Sada (Daburi), Abdullahi Sani (Sarki Ale) and Umar Aliyu - some of whom brazenly promote violence on social media - have been arrested and convicted.

In another landmark breakthrough, the Task Force smashed the notorious phone-snatching syndicate known as "Yan Liya" which uses Tricycle (A Daidaita Sahu) for operations. Beyond conviction of the suspects, the Task Force secured forfeiture of their operational tricycles. He as well issued a stern warning to tricycle owners who knowingly double their daily returns by releasing their machines for criminality: the rider will be arrested and the machine forfeited.

In what displays a no-nonsense posture, the Task Force also charged the former Chairman of Rogo Local Government, Yahuza Musa, before a competent court for illegal administration of Pentazocine Injection to a 63-year-old woman, following a complaint corroborated by a 24-year-old youth who claimed he spent over Ten Million Naira and a plot of land on the same injection from the former Chairman.

The other side of enforcement that sheds more light on Kano’s model and other interventions elsewhere is the issue of rehabilitation. What distinguishes this Task Force is its balance of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. While enforcement is aggressive, prevention and healing remain central. Modern technique of operations. 

Barrister Rimingado disclosed before the Council members that about 125 individuals have been referred for rehabilitation at the Kano Reformatory Institute, Kiru, and that due to massive public acceptance - with families now voluntarily bringing their wards - the Kiru facility is filled to capacity.

Responding to this situation swiftly, Governor Yusuf has provided an additional facility in Tofa Local Government as an extension to ensure no one who seeks help is turned away.

The ultimate target, according to the Chairman, is "... to sweep 10,000 youths off the streets, rehabilitate them, equip them with skills acquisition and reintegrate them as reformed, trusted members of society. Stakeholders in the industrial sector are already being engaged to create employment pathways for them."

Of much interest is the understanding that the feats in the last two months indicated that the war on drugs can be won when there is political will, inter-agency synergy, and leadership with integrity.

Look at it this way, 380 arrests. Over 230 convictions. 870,000 diverted capsules intercepted. 43 children rescued. Notorious DABA gangs convicted. YAN LIYA syndicate dismantled. 125 youths in rehabilitation. A new facility in Tofa. And a target of 10,000 youths for full reintegration. Reason why I said it is no longer just a Task Force. It is a movement.

If sustained, from the look of things it will, Kano will not only become drug-free; it will provide Nigeria with a template on how to confront drug abuse head-on - with justice, compassion, and resolve.

Just as his first intention that clearly indicates, His Excellency the Governor assured the Task Force that he would continue playing his role very well to make sure that the Task Force succeeds. Political will at its best position.

As gratifying as it appears a situation where parents are taking their children to authorities for either conviction, rehabilitation or both, is a clear case of public acceptance and support.

Viva Governor Yusuf 

Viva Kano State

Viva Muhuyi 

Anwar writes from Kano 

Saturday, 26th September, 2026