Why Gov Abba Deserves Another Tenure - By Abba Anwar

Let us be honest with ourselves. When Abba Kabir Yusuf took over on 29th May, 2023, many people were doubting. Today, even his worst enemies cannot deny that Kano has moved.

I went through the project registry at the Office of the SSA Publicity. As at May 29, 2026, this government has 1,493 projects on its table. 799 completed and delivered, 694 are ongoing at advanced level. You can go and verify in any of the 44 LGAs. That is not audio project.

EDUCATION FIRST, SECOND, THIRD

Abba did what many avoided. On June 8, 2024, he declared State of Emergency on Education. And he backed it with money nobody has done before in Kano.

2024 budget - 29.95% to education. 2025 budget - 31% to education. 2026 budget - N405.3 billion out of N1.368 trillion, which is 30% of the whole budget. UNESCO asks for 26%, Abba is doing 30% plus.

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THE MONEY ALLOCATED AND SPENT?

He recruited over 15,000 teachers. That includes 2,000 volunteer teachers who were regularized. He renovated more than 3,500 classrooms and built hundreds of new ones across the state. Free uniforms, furniture, textbooks distributed.

At tertiary level, he cut registration fees by 50% in all state-owned institutions. He paid N4.45 billion examination fees for NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS for Kano students. Go to Ministry of Education and ask.

And about the scholarship the former Governor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso started, Governor Yusuf revived it fully. First batch 418 students, they all completed their studies. Second batch 1,001 students flagged off at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, 350 to India, 240 to private universities inside Nigeria. He also paid the debt left behind over N3 billion, N2.4bn to Near East University Cyprus, N500m to 5 private universities, plus N2 billion support for Kano indigenes in public universities. And for those 150 first class graduates that came back, he gave them automatic employment.

Today Kano students are Best in NECO 2024 and 2025 consecutively. An achievement celebrated across. 

HEALTH - LAFIYA DOLE IS REAL

You remember how our General Hospitals were? No drugs, no light. Our able leader renovated 340 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across 44 LGAs. He upgraded over 200 PHCs to run 24 hours. He renovated General Hospitals in Wudil, Bichi, Gaya, Rano and others.

He built 10 new General Hospitals, 6 more are in the pipeline. He established Kano Centre for Disease Control (KCDC) for the first time. He revived the Drug Revolving Fund - now 90% of prescribed drugs are available.

And for our mothers - free antenatal, free postnatal, free CS for pregnant women, free healthcare for children under 5 and elderly. Over 2,000 health workers employed - doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists.

ROADS, WATER, LIGHT - YOU CAN SEE IT. 

Dan Agundi Flyover and Underpass completed, only finishing touches. Tal'udu Cloverleaf Flyover completed, finishing touches also. These two alone decongested many parts of the city.

Then 5km roads in each LGA, though not promise, but they are on ground. Tarauni-Hotoro-Kwanar Dawaki dualization, BUK Road, Zaria Road, Katsina Road. Panshekara Underpass to Madobi Bridge N5.2bn. Dambatta to Gwarabjawa N2.63bn.

Water: He rehabilitated Challawa and Tamburawa Water Treatment Plants. The biggest Goron Dutse Reservoir that was dead for 30 years, now back with 40.4 million litres capacity and 15.6km transmission line from Challawa. Test run already on board before the main supply. 

PEOPLE-ORIENTED POLICIES THAT TOUCH THE POOR

This is where many governors fail. Our Governor went to the grassroots.

(1) Agriculture - subsidized fertilizer, improved drought-tolerant seeds, tractors, harvesters. Kano divided into three zones for mechanization.

(2) Empowerment - KEEP programme: sewing machines, grinding machines, freezers, noodle machines, soft loans for women and youth.

(3) Girl-child - He created Office of SSA on Girl-Child Education, appointed 88 girl-child advocates across 44 LGAs. Through AGILE, 148,000 girls trained in life skills, 100,000 girls got cash transfer, free school shuttle buses for girls, re-entry policy for married adolescent girls. No other governor has done that.

(4) Economy - Created Kano State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KASA) to block revenue leakages. The Agency made N300m in just 3 months, now targeting N2bn. Under him Kano acquired majority shares in KEDCO, launched Kano Electricity Policy, and secured President Tinubu's approval for N1 trillion Kano Metropolitan Rail.

(5) Security - Kano remains peaceful. Neighbourhood security offices, support for police, DSS, Civil Defence.

And for workers - settlement of pension backlogs, which runs into Billions of Naira. After prolonged years of negligence from past administrations. With this he injected life into the near-dead families across the state. Establishment and construction of 50 low-cost houses in each of the 36 LGAs, an ongoing project. solar streetlights, 150KW solar backup.

In conclusion without taking much time to explain, let me say this, in three years, he has fulfilled over 90% of his campaign promises.

So when some opposition politicians gather and start shouting, ask them one question - where were they when schools had no roofs, hospitals had no drugs, and water was not running for 30 years?

Apart from projects and other infrastructural development, there are two major issues that are brought on board by His Excellency Governor Yusuf, in the last few months. 

The first and foremost is his choice of HE Murtala Sule Garo to become his Deputy after the resignation of the then Deputy, HE Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo. Personal interest and political differences apart, there was no better choice than Garo. Looking at the prism from all angles. But His Excellency, the Governor is in the best position to understand what I'm saying. What HE Garo is to him and his administration, can best be explain by the Governor. Yes him alone (Governor Yusuf) can put it succinctly clear. 

The second issue is that of the establishment of Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Other Related Crimes. As he appointed Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, as the Chairman. This agency is doing well in cleansing the state, especially the metropolis, from the activities of drug abuse among our youth. The nefarious activities of our derailed youth, popularly called 'Yandaba' are reduced drastically. Rimingado trails them down to their hideout. 

When it comes to real politics, His Excellency, the people's Governor, is a political unifier. A moulder of peace and tranquility among members and leaders of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC). While he promotes peace in party politics, he is a bridge between divergent political interests within the ruling APC. This needs no further explanation and instances. 

Abba deserves another tenure not because he is perfect, but because he has done what many could not do in many years, in just three years. The remaining 694 ongoing projects need him to finish them.

Kano First is not a slogan. It is visible remark hovering around us. His efforts, political will and delivery are visible for all to see. Let us allow him to finish what he started. The good work for a better legacy.

Anwar writes from Kano

Friday, 16th October, 2026

Gov. Yusuf Celebrates Senator Basheer Lado at 60

….Commends His Contributions to National Development….

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated Senator Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on National Assembly Matters (Senate), on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

In a statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor described Senator Lado as an experienced politician, accomplished legislator and committed public servant whose contributions to democratic governance, humanitarian services and national development remain commendable.

Governor Yusuf acknowledged Lado’s role in strengthening relations between the Executive and the Senate, noting that his political experience and maturity have continued to contribute to effective governance and national cohesion.

He recalled that Senator Lado represented Kano Central Senatorial District in the Seventh National Assembly from 2011 to 2015, where he served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works and facilitated important constituency projects, including the Kundila Bridge, popularly known as Gadar Lado, in Kano State.

The Governor also commended his contributions to humanitarian services through his previous positions as Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Governor Yusuf further praised the senator’s interventions through the Ladon Alheri Foundation in education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, rural water supply and support for disadvantaged communities.

He said Senator Lado’s record of public service reflects his commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians and advancing the development of the country.

The Governor prayed Almighty Allah to grant Senator Lado good health, wisdom and more years of fruitful service to the nation.

General Elections 2027: Abba Kabir Yusuf Traverses to Victory

By Mustapha Muhammad

As the 2027 general elections draw nearer, the signals indicating a victorious path for Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf’s second-term bid as Executive Governor of Kano State become clearer by the day. The road—once fraught with political obstacles, conflicts, and challenges—is rapidly being cleared. Victory is well within sight and increasingly assured, God willing. 

The foundation for Governor Yusuf’s political momentum stems from his administration's strong performance, astute political maneuvering, successful consensus-building during party primaries, and proactive reconciliation efforts. By uniting key political figures across Kano’s Southern, Northern, and Central Senatorial Districts under one umbrella—coupled with the declining influence of the Kwankwasiyya movement following widespread defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC)—Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has positioned himself firmly ahead of the curve for the upcoming election.

He stands out among contenders for the Kano governorship. His political resilience and strategic departure from the troubled waters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) demonstrate a leader capable of steering through complex political battles toward victory.

Below are the key factors driving Governor Yusuf’s momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Transformative Governance & Administrative Scorecard

Over the past three years, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has delivered people-oriented projects and policies that directly improve the lives of Kano residents across critical sectors:

1. Educational Revitalization

Historical Budgetary Allocation: Funding for education rose steadily from 29.5% in 2024 to 30.5% in 2025, reaching 31.5% in 2026 out of a total state budget exceeding ₦1.47 trillion.

Massive Recruitment: Nearly 20,000 new teachers, including personnel under the Kano State Better Education for All (BESDA) initiative, were recruited to address critical classroom shortages.

Infrastructure Upgrades: Across all 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs), nearly 400 schools have undergone complete renovation, alongside ongoing new constructions.

Academic Excellence: Kano State led national performance rankings in the NECO examinations in 2025 and 2026. In 2026, Kano produced 74,413 candidates obtaining at least five credits (including English and Mathematics), surpassing Lagos (72,496) and Oyo (55,543).

2. Healthcare Modernization & Pension Delivery

Primary Healthcare Overhaul: More than 340 primary health centers across the 44 LGAs have been renovated.

Hospital Expansion: At least 10 new General Hospitals have been constructed in underserved LGAs, with six additional facilities underway to ensure every LGA has a dedicated General Hospital.

Modern Equipment: Health facilities have been equipped with CT scanners, dialysis units, ultrasound machines, and automated laboratory analyzers.

Pension Backlog Settlement: Of an inherited ₦48 billion pension and gratuity backlog, the administration has successfully disbursed over ₦32 billion to retirees.

3. Agricultural Development & Rural Infrastructure

Farm Mechanization & Subsidies: The state procured 98 tractors and 48 combine harvesters while rolling out a 50% fertilizer subsidy program across all LGAs.

Irrigation Expansion: Rehabilitation of the Watari Irrigation Scheme expanded coverage by 1,000 hectares to boost year-round farming.

Road Networks & Urban Renewal: 18 out of 34 planned 5km rural road projects have been completed with solar streetlights. Additionally, 12 out of 24 urban renewal road projects (~76 km) have been delivered.

Bridge Reconstruction: The Kubaraci-Kura Bridge was restored, reopening key economic and transport corridors.

4. Empowerment & Skill Acquisition

Social Safety Nets: Monthly stipends of ₦50,000 are provided to 5,200 women, alongside ₦150,000 grants distributed to youth across the state.

Entrepreneurship: 26 technical and entrepreneurship institutes have been revitalized to provide practical vocational training.

Political Realignment & Party Unity

Governor Yusuf demonstrated political foresight by transitioning to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His decision was apt and timely with future vision. Moreover, the decamping of Kwankwasiyya from NNPP vindicated him. 

This realignment protected his electoral mandate and spared his supporters the legal and organizational uncertainties that beset other political movements in the region.

Furthermore, as state party leader, Governor Yusuf successfully managed the consensus process during the party primaries, ensuring a cohesive "no victor, no vanquished" outcome. His ongoing reconciliation drives have consolidated political gladiators across Kano’s three senatorial zones, securing a unified political front ahead of the 2027 polls.

No doubt, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf The Executive Governor of Kano State traverses to victory come 2027 General elections. 

Mustapha Muhammad is the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf. He writes from Kano.

President Tinubu Praises Gov. Yusuf’s Symbolic Cap Promoting Renewed Hope Agenda

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s distinctive maroon cap, adorned with a broken-shackle emblem, describing its symbolism as a message of freedom from poverty, illiteracy, insecurity and other barriers to national development.

In a statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the President made the remarks while addressing supporters at the inauguration of his 2027 presidential campaign council, where he expressed admiration for the symbolism behind Governor Yusuf’s cap.

President Tinubu said he liked the symbol because it conveyed a clear message of liberation from the challenges that have continued to hinder the progress and development of society.

According to him, the broken shackle represents the determination to break the longstanding cycle of poverty and free people from the social and economic difficulties that have held them back.

He explained that poverty, illiteracy and insecurity remain major challenges confronting the country, stressing the need for deliberate efforts to overcome them and create a better future for Nigerians.

The President noted that the broken shackle was more than a mere symbol, as it represented hope, freedom and the possibility of a new beginning for the people.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration at the Presidential Villa, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said he was elated by the President’s recognition of the efforts made in Kano to promote his administration and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We rejoined APC with a good heart, with an intention to do our best in supporting Mr. President’s reelection bid,” said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

VP Shettima To North: You Have Nothing To Fear In President Tinubu's 2nd Term

As northern think tank, Arewa for Asiwaju, storms Aso Rock, declares full support for president's reelection

According to the statement by the Senior Special Assistant To The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice) Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has issued a rallying cry to the North for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reelection in the 2027 presidential election, declaring that the region has absolutely nothing to fear from a second term for the President.

With urgent intensity, he implored northern leaders and citizens to unite behind the President's re-election bid, framing the administration's second-term agenda as a secure, bulletproof guarantee for the region's future prosperity and stability.

Senator Shettima made the call on Monday when he received on a courtesy visit, a delegation from the Arewa for Tinubu (A4A) - a northern-based think tank -:working for the reelection of President Tinubu.

He called on leaders across the region to unite into a single front and work for the progress of the area and the wellbeing of its people, which are top priorities for the Tinubu administration.

According to the VP, the North has no reason to be scared of the re-election of President Tinubu, as it has benefitted immensely in terms of appointments and game-changing projects and programmes.

His words: "Let's unite as a people and work for the development of our region and the progress of our people through the re-election of this administration. We are benefiting and we stand to benefit more from this government in many ways.

"The Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria and about 70 percent of the beneficiaries are from the north. 

"The present administration is working towards completing landmark and ground breaking projects in parts of the country. I can assure you that the president loves the north and the president will work for the north."

The Vice President thanked the group for their steadfast support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all times and appealed to them to work harder and galvanize across wards, communities and local governments in the northern region for the President's re-election.

Earlier, the Director General of the Area for Asiwaju and former Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, said the organisation will not rest on its oars untill they make the North proud by reelecting President Tinubu.

He said the group plans to meet with religious leaders, including Muslim and Christian clerics, as well as other prominent Nigerians to explain to them the need to support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in 2027. 

"On discussions with the high profile, we have gone far. We have met them severally and the BoT is meeting them again to consolidate our gains and to tell them why there is need to support this ticket.

"We are also supporting the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) with whatever they want us to do that is micro in nature because they are so big and we really don't want to lose sight of the bigger arrangement that is there. We want to focus very well on the contacts at the grassroots - the local government areas and the wards."

Also, Chairman of the organisation's Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the think tank which worked for President Tinubu's election in the 2023 general election will repeat the same feat in 2027.

He said the organisation had been meeting with northern governors and other stakeholders to compare notes and collaborate on areas of working together to achieve the President's reelection.

He noted that the organisation has concluded plan to have a full-fledged secretariat for purposes of coordination, where there will be offices for directors and state coordinators will compare reports, analyse them, and give out instructions to its members. 

The BoT Chairman formally invited the Vice President to officially commission the A4A office complex on Saturday, October 17, 2027.

Also present at the meetig were former Governors of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye and Senator Simon Lalong; Taraba, Rev. Jolly Nyame; Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello; Katsina, Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema; Bauchi, Mallam Isa Yuguda; Special Adviser to The President on Policy ad Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman; Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), some top officials of government, and other members of the A4A BOT and Secretariat.

Gov. Yusuf Attends 2026 SAN Swearing-In Ceremony at Supreme Court,

…….Congratulates 68 New SANs, Kano’s Candidate Sagir Gezawa…..

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has attended the 2026 swearing-in ceremony of 68 newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja, where he congratulated Kano State’s candidate, Barrister Sagir Gezawa Suleiman, on his elevation to the prestigious rank alongside 67 other lawyers.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the 68 recipients comprise 67 legal practitioners and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri. 

The ceremony also marked the commencement of the 2026/2027 Legal Year.

Governor Yusuf described Gezawa as a competent and incorruptible legal practitioner whose achievement has brought honour to Kano State.

He urged him to remain a worthy ambassador of the state by upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity and justice in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The Governor noted that Gezawa’s elevation was a source of pride and encouragement to Kano’s legal community, urging young lawyers to draw inspiration from his achievement through hard work, discipline and commitment to the rule of law.

He recalled that Kano State has continued to produce distinguished legal practitioners, citing Barrister Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude and Barrister Aminu Gadanya, who attained the SAN rank in 2025, as well as Barrister Sunusi Musa and Barrister Abdul Adamu Fagge who was elevated in 2024.

Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting institutions and initiatives that promote professional excellence, justice and human capital development in Kano State.

Gov. Yusuf Launches Career Guidance Programme to Prepare Students for UTME in Kano

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has launched a statewide career guidance workshop aimed at helping secondary school students make informed career choices and prepare adequately for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the initiative would strengthen career counselling in schools and equip counsellors and career masters with the knowledge needed to guide students towards suitable academic programmes and future professions.

He stressed that education goes beyond providing classrooms and teachers, noting that students must also understand their abilities, interests and available career opportunities before choosing courses and tertiary institutions.

Governor Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, highlighting investments in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, scholarships, learning materials and other interventions aimed at improving the quality of education across Kano State.

He urged school counsellors and career masters to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, patience and dedication, while encouraging parents and guardians to guide their children rather than impose career choices on them.

The Governor also emphasised the importance of moral and religious guidance in schools, calling for collective efforts by teachers, parents, community leaders and religious institutions to address drug abuse and other negative behaviours among young people.

On emerging career opportunities, he noted that technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, were transforming the world of work, stressing the need to prepare students for future employment opportunities.

He urged students to study diligently, seek professional advice and make informed decisions rather than allow peer pressure and popular opinion to determine their career paths.

Governor Yusuf subsequently declared the statewide career guidance workshop officially open, calling on education stakeholders to ensure that its benefits reach secondary school students across all 44 local government areas of Kano State.

Kano Health Sector Under Abba: From Crisis To Example (2) - By Abba Anwar

If you really want to know whether a government cares about its people, don't go and count the number of garden per school. Go to a Primary Health Centre in Shanono by 1am. Watch what happens when a woman in labour is brought in with no money in her pocket. That is where government is tested.

When Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf took oath on 29th May, 2023, that test was almost nothing to write home about. Because of cumulative experiences of administrations before him. I remember following the transition committee reports. I also went round myself. The Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency at Sharada had empty shelves. I am not exaggerating. Drug availability was about 30 percent. Suppliers had blacklisted Kano because we were owing them over N1.2 billion. Many General Hospitals - Wudil, Bichi, Gaya - looked tired. Paint peeling, beds broken, no running water. The health insurance agency, Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), had less than 500,000 people enrolled in a state of over 15 million. Doctors were leaving. Nurses were leaving. People used to say, "asibiti ba magani."

What happened in the last three years is not magic. It is work. Quiet, amazing work. This is where Abba Gida-Gida's feeling for his people takes the lead. In responsive and responsible leadership. 

First, the money.

You see, in 2001, African Heads of State gathered in Abuja and said, let us give at least 15% of our budgets to health. Since then, Nigeria as a country has never met it. Kano before this administration was doing 6%, 7%. Even Lagos today does about 8%. Ghana as a country does 6.32%. Senegal less than 4%.

But Abba did it. In 2024, he gave health N77 billion, that was 16.46% of the entire state budget. In 2025, he gave N90.6 billion, 16.5%. Two years, back to back, above Abuja Declaration. No Kano governor has ever done it. Now the 2026 budget proposal has taken it to N214.8 billion for health repositioning, including N500m for a Cancer Centre at Giginyu, N1.5bn for free hernia surgeries across all zones, and N473.5m for ICUs in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Wase Teaching Hospital.

And the money was not just on paper. He paid the N1.2bn debt. Once he paid, suppliers returned. Today, drug availability in Kano public hospitals is over 90%. Go to Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital today, you will see drugs. Go to Murtala Muhammad, you will see drugs. That singular move has reduced the habit of patients being given prescription to go and buy drugs outside.

Second, the hospitals themselves.

The government did not try to build new ones everywhere. He said, let us fix the ones we have. Over 20 General Hospitals were fully rehabilitated - Hasiya Bayero, Murtala Muhammad, Wase, Wudil, Dambatta, Gaya, Bichi and others. New theatres, new wards, new labs.

For the grassroots, more than 200 PHCs across the 44 LGAs were upgraded. Solar light, borehole, staff quarters, delivery beds. Then he did something I personally like. He gave one ambulance to each of the 44 LGAs, and 484 mini-ambulances, one for each ward. So if there is an emergency in any ward in Kano today, you can move a patient. Before, people died on the way because there was nothing to carry them.

He also created what we never had before - the Kano Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC. And on 3rd August, 2026, he commissioned the Sickle Cell Centre that now offers free diagnosis, free hydroxyurea, free blood transfusion and counselling for thousands of families.

Third, and most important, the people to work in these hospitals.

You can buy equipment, but if there is no doctor or midwife, it is useless. The biggest challenge was human resource. Many left because of poor pay. The governor first restored dignity. He reinstated 926 health workers on full CONHESS salary structure, reviewed hazard allowance, and deployed 65 residency doctors to secondary hospitals. That is why NMA gave him their National Award for Service Excellence. They don't give that award for nothing.

Then he recruited. Massively. And in phases, not audio.

Phase 1, which we just witnessed, was the distribution of appointment letters to 2,367 health personnel. Officially, core clinical is 2,037, but total with other cadres is 2,367. Let me break it down as announced at Government House: 250 medical doctors, 40 pharmacists, 250 nurses, 250 midwives, 150 Senior Community Health Extension Workers, 50 Junior CHEWs and 50 epidemiologists, plus hundreds of other cadres. All permanent and pensionable. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, was clear that it was on merit, not for sale.

In a separate special effort, which many people mix up, the government also employed 250 Doctors, 150 Nurses, 75 Midwives and 50 Pharmacists to immediately close gaps in our secondary hospitals. This separate effort has already improved the doctor-patient ratio, especially in places like Dambatta and Gwarzo.

What is coming next is bigger. Phase 2 is being prepared where 1,600 additional health workers will be employed for state hospitals. And in a very creative way, Local Governments will be allowed to employ 3,900 health workers for PHCs. This is key. It means LGAs will employ their own sons and daughters to stay in their communities. By the time that is done, no ward in Kano will say we have a PHC without staff. That is how you solve retention.

Fourth, insurance for the poorest. This is where the governor's philosophy shows.

Before he came, KSCHMA had 497,262 people enrolled. Mostly civil servants. As of February this year, it is 910,862. That is 413,600 additional people, an 83% increase in less than two years. And within that, 231,293 are vulnerable - children under five, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, and retirees.

The flagship is ABBACare. You remember ObamaCare. This is AbbaCare. Over 300,000 vulnerable people - pregnant women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, inmates and people living with sickle cell - were given completely free health insurance, paid by the state. Today, 39,000 people living with sickle cell are receiving free care at Murtala Muhammad, Hasiya Bayero and Wase under this.

For mothers, delivery and CS are free in over 30 hospitals. Government spends over N60m monthly on that. That is why maternal mortality, according to ministry records, dropped from over 1,300 in 2023 to about 300 in 2026. Free eye camps, free cataract surgery, free hernia surgery for thousands have become routine.

Now, when you compare Kano with many other states, you understand why people are talking.

Look around. A national report on PHC delivery by ONE Campaign ranked Zamfara as the worst performing state in PHC, followed by Sokoto, Taraba, Kebbi, Katsina, Borno, Yobe and others as weak performers. In some of those places, capital performance for PHC was as low as 0 to 6.5%. There are documented cases of multimillion naira hospitals lying abandoned while people travel kilometres for paracetamol.

While some states are still struggling to put cotton wool and gloves in their clinics, Kano has moved to Cancer Centre, ICUs, Disease Control Centre, Sickle Cell Centre, 90% drug availability, and close to one million people on insurance.

That is not by accident. It is because of 16.5% budget to health.

I was in Wudil last week. A nurse named Aisha came forward and said in Hausa, "Abba ya kawo mana rayuwa, a harkar lafiya." She was one of those reinstated on CONHESS. Before, she wanted to leave for Federal. Now she wants to stay.

In Takai, a PHC that used to close by 2pm now runs 24 hours because there is staff and solar. This is what governance looks like.

Governor Yusuf did not bring a new textbook theory. He just did the basics that others refused to do: give health money, clear its debt, bring back its workers, and pay for the poorest to get care.

With 1,600 coming in Phase 2 and 3,900 PHC workers to be employed by LGAs, Kano is walking practically towards universal health coverage, not on PowerPoint, but on ground.

If you want to show a state that is doing well in health today in Nigeria, you will show Kano. Not because everything is perfect. But because it is moving, and it is moving in the right direction for the talakawa.

And history will record it.

Anwar writes from Kano

Saturday, 10th October, 2026

Peter Obi's Election Claims Troubling Display Of Delusion - APC PCC

Mr Peter Obi continues to demonstrate a troubling lack of character, candour, and dignity. One would expect his latest twaddle to come from overzealous supporters rather than a presidential candidate who is becoming a veteran of the race. Perhaps the master and his followers are two sides of the same rotten coin.

According to the APC Presidential Campaign Council Spokesperson, Dele Alake, nothing is more annoying than Obi's recent claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, while simultaneously admitting he lacks the evidence to support it.

In a recent interview on the BBC, Obi stated: "I don’t like going back to the past. I won the last election. There’s no evidence, but I won the election. Everything is not based on evidence."

By Obi's logic, it is acceptable to make outrageous claims without a shred of evidence or verisimilitude. For him, it is in order and acceptable to make allegations without substantiation or to act on impulse by airing unsubstantiated conjectures.

This is deeply troubling. There is simply no end to Obi's posturing and no end to his shenanigans and farce. 

For a candidate who placed a distant third in the presidential poll to persistently insist he won — without evidence and contrary to all official records — reflects a deep and troubling disconnection from reality and absolute disregard for facts and truth.

This constant habit of exaggerating facts is unbecoming of a man who aspires to lead our great country. 

Where is Obi sourcing his facts? Could it be from his infamous adviser at Upper Iweka Junction or from one Obedient punching the laptop for the next post from California or Dallas?

At the pain of restating the factually obvious, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the 2023 election decisively. There can be no doubt about it. The Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed his victory. The election tribunal and the country's highest court affirmed it. 

President Tinubu has continued to discharge his mandate, advancing key reforms that have stabilised the economy, expanded infrastructure, supported businesses and youth, upgraded education and healthcare, and created job opportunities.

We again call on Peter Obi to act honourably and honour his earlier pledge to exit the 2027 presidential race if it is proven that his administration left behind liabilities in Anambra State—a fact now clearly established by the state's financial records.

Kwamitin Kar Ta Kwana Kan Yaki Da Shan Muyagun Kwayoyi Na Kano da Ofishin Jakadancin Amurka sun tattauna ƙarfafa yaƙi da miyagun ƙwayoyi

Rundunar haɗin gwiwar hukumomi da dama ta Jihar Kano kan yaƙi da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da safarar su ba bisa ƙa’ida ba, ta gana da Ofishin Jakadancin Amurka da ke Najeriya, domin ƙarfafa haɗin gwiwa wajen yaƙi da miyagun ƙwayoyi tare da duba wasu hanyoyin tallafawa ci gaban jihar.

SolaceBase ta ruwaito cewa, a cikin wata sanarwa da Rundunar Task Force ta fitar ranar Alhamis, Shugabanta, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, Esq., ya jagoranci tawaga zuwa Ofishin Jakadancin Amurka, inda ya gana da Daraktan Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Mista Tolliver Derrick, tare da wasu jami’an Ofishin Jakadancin Amurka.

Sanarwar ta ce taron ya mayar da hankali ne kan ƙarfafa tsarin haɗin gwiwar hukumomi wajen yaƙi da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da safarar su ba bisa ƙa’ida ba.

Tattaunawar ta kuma shafi amfani da bayanan sirri wajen aiwatar da doka, inganta ƙwarewar hukumomi, ba da tallafin fasaha, shirye-shiryen wayar da kan al’umma da kuma samar da shirye-shiryen musamman na gyaran halayen masu fama da matsalar shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi.

An kuma ba da muhimmanci na musamman ga shirye-shiryen da za su taimaka wa ƙungiyoyin da ke cikin haɗari, musamman matasa.

Bangarorin biyu sun kuma tattauna hanyoyin haɗa ayyukan yaƙi da miyagun ƙwayoyi da sauran shirye-shiryen gwamnatin Amurka da ake aiwatarwa a Kano.

Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado ya ce ba za a iya samun nasara a yaƙi da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi ta hanyar ɗaukar matakan hukunci kaɗai ba, yana mai cewa rigakafi, gyaran hali da kuma haɗin gwiwar al’umma suna da muhimmiyar rawa.

“Yaƙi da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi yana buƙatar fiye da aiwatar da doka kawai. Yana buƙatar hukumomi masu ƙarfi, sa hannun al’umma, ingantaccen gyaran hali, ƙaƙƙarfan matakan rigakafi da kuma haɗin gwiwar ƙasa da ƙasa mai ƙarfi,” in ji shi.

Ya ƙara da cewa Rundunar Task Force na da niyyar amfani da shirye-shiryen tallafin Amurka da ake gudanarwa a Kano domin inganta tsaro mai ɗorewa da kuma kare rayuwar jama’a da tattalin arzikinsu.

Ofishin Jakadancin Amurka, ta hannun INL Bureau, ya bayyana aniyarsa ta yin aiki tare da Rundunar Task Force tare da duba hanyoyin haɗa ayyukan yaƙi da miyagun ƙwayoyi da sauran shirye-shiryen tallafin fasaha da ci gaba na Amurka a yankin.

Taron ya kuma tattauna wasu fannoni da suka haɗa da shugabanci nagari, tsaron jama’a da ƙarfafa juriyar al’umma, inda tawagogin biyu suka amince da muhimmancin samar da tsari na musamman domin ƙarfafa haɗin gwiwar.

An kammala taron ne da ƙudurin kafa hanyoyin da za su taimaka wajen tsara haɗin gwiwar fasaha a hukumance da kuma aiwatar da shirye-shiryen haɗin gwiwa a Jihar Kano.

Idan kana so, zan kuma iya sake tsara shi cikin salon labaran Hajj Chronicles/SolaceBase, tare da kanun labari mai jan hankali da Hausa mai sauƙin karantawa.