Independence Day: Gov. Yusuf Urges Kano Residents to Shun Violence Ahead of 2027 Elections

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has urged residents of the state to maintain peace, unity and mutual respect as the 2027 General Election approaches.

In a statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf made the appeal on Thursday while addressing citizens at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano.

The Governor called on political actors, community leaders and citizens to reject violence, division, intolerance and criminality, stressing that peace and security are essential for sustainable development.

He urged the people of Kano to pray for a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, while exercising their civic responsibilities responsibly.

“Let us shun violence and anything that may threaten the peace and stability of our dear state,” Governor Yusuf said.

He stressed that nation-building requires unity, sacrifice and collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to turn the country’s diversity of languages, cultures, traditions and faiths into strength through mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The Governor also called on citizens to obey the law, protect public property, reject violence and criminality, pay legitimate taxes and contribute to the peace and development of their communities.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the Federal Government, Local Governments, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector and development partners in the service of the people.

Governor Yusuf urged residents to support farmers, traders, teachers, entrepreneurs, women and young people, saying an environment of peace and stability would enable every citizen to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.

He said his administration would remain focused on consolidating its achievements in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, security and human capital development.

The Governor called on the people of Kano to renew their commitment to peace, unity and responsible citizenship as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Over 380 Arrested, 230 Convicted in Kano Drug Crackdown — Gov. Yusuf

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, says more than 380 suspects have been arrested while over 230 convictions have been secured in the first two months of the state’s intensified campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while delivering his address at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano.

He said the state government established the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in July 2026 and issued an Executive Order to strengthen the fight against illicit substances, thuggery and related criminal activities.

According to him, the Task Force has also dismantled drug joints and criminal hideouts across the state since its establishment.

Governor Yusuf described the fight against drug abuse and criminality as a shared responsibility involving government, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders, communities, parents and citizens.

He appealed to young people to reject drugs, violence and criminality, urging them to embrace education, agriculture, technology, enterprise, vocational training and the creative industries.

The Governor said his administration would continue to support security agencies, strengthen community-based intelligence and address the social challenges contributing to crime and insecurity.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a safer environment where young people can pursue lawful enterprise and contribute meaningfully to the development of Kano State.

Gov. Yusuf Warns New Health Workers Against Patient Abuse, Illegal Charges

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has warned the newly recruited 2,037 health personnel against maltreating patients or demanding money from them before providing medical consultation or emergency care in public health facilities across the state.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor gave the warning on Wednesday during the official launch and presentation of appointment letters to the newly recruited health personnel, saying the recruitment was aimed at addressing manpower shortages in healthcare facilities across Kano State.

The 2,037 newly recruited personnel include 250 medical doctors, 40 pharmacists, 250 nurses, 250 midwives, 150 Community Health Officers, 50 Junior Community Health Extension Workers, 50 medical laboratory scientists, among other health professionals.

Governor Yusuf said the recruitment became necessary due to the shortage of healthcare workers in the state, which has been worsened by the migration of doctors, nurses and other professionals to other locations in search of better opportunities.

He urged the new health personnel to discharge their responsibilities with compassion, integrity, discipline and professionalism, while respecting the rights and dignity of all patients irrespective of their social status, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.

The Governor stressed that no patient should be denied timely medical attention or subjected to unnecessary hardship because of inability to pay before receiving care.

He therefore charged the newly recruited personnel to see their appointments as a responsibility to serve the people of Kano State and contribute to improving the quality of healthcare delivery across the state.

Kano Business Community Endorses Gov. Yusuf for Second Term

The leadership of the Kano business community, comprising representatives of 25 major markets across the state, has endorsed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for a second term in office.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the endorsement was made on Monday, 28th September 2026, during a dinner held at the Africa House, Government House, Kano.

The business community, led by elder statesman and business mogul, Alhaji Sabiu Bako, pledged its support for Governor Yusuf’s re-election bid under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The endorsement was facilitated by Alhaji Munzali Mazaf, who brought together representatives of the various markets across the state.

Members of the business community gave the Governor a special standing ovation and declared their total support for his re-election in the 2027 governorship election.

The business leaders expressed confidence in the Governor’s policies and programmes, particularly those aimed at strengthening economic activities and creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

They cited reference to the modernization of some markets through access roads and solarization in some of the markets. The urban renewal projects, ease of doing business and tax reforms were some of the reasons for the endorsement.

They assured the Governor of their continued cooperation and support towards the development of Kano State.

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.