Governor Yusuf Charges 27 Special Advisers on Loyalty, Commitment Ahead of 2027

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has charged the newly appointed 27 Special Advisers to demonstrate loyalty, commitment and steadfastness in the discharge of their responsibilities.

According to the statement by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor urged them to support the administration in achieving the objectives of the Kano First Agenda and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governor Yusuf gave the charge on Thursday during the swearing-in of the appointees at the 41st Executive Council Meeting held at the Government House, Abuja.

The Governor said 21 of the appointees were newly appointed, while six were reappointed after resigning from their positions to pursue political ambitions.

He said the reappointed advisers retained their portfolios based on their performance and contributions to the administration.

The reappointed officials are Hon. Gambo Sallau, Musa Ado Tsamiya, Dr. Danyaro Yakasai, Usman Bala Muhammad, Danladi Karfi and Umar Musa Gama.

Governor Yusuf said the 21 new appointees were selected based on merit, proven track records and commitment to the objectives of his administration.

The new appointees include Bello Nuhu Bello, Yahuza Adamu Yankaba, Ahmad Muhammad Aruwa, Buhari Sule Kura, Mustapha Buhari Bakwana, Hajiya Aisha Tamburawa, Abdulkadir Auwalu, Alawiyya Farouk and Ibrahim Hamisu Rimi.

Others are Ahmad Tijani Musa, Nasir Abdullahi Karaye, Mustapha Abdullahi Rabiu, Engr. Abdullahi Kutama, Hon. Ado Rabiu, Barr. Munir Dahiru Rimin Gado, Engr. Magaji Lambu, Muhammad Bashir Baffa, Auwalu Ibrahim Danzabuwa, Bello Lawan Bello, Abdulsamiu Tiamiu and Arc. Hauwa Hassan.

Governor Yusuf congratulated the appointees and urged them to give their best in the service of the people of Kano State.

Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Engr. Abdullahi Kutama and Arc. Hauwa Hassan assured the Governor of their commitment to their responsibilities.

The inauguration was witnessed by former Deputy Governor Abdullahi Gwarzo, former Secretary to the State Government Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, and the Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, among others.

Governor Yusuf Receives Multiple Awards for Good Governance and Sectoral Performance

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has received multiple awards and recognitions in honour of his administration’s achievements in good governance and development across various sectors of the state.

According to the statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the awards were presented during the 41st Executive Council Meeting held  At Governor’s lodge, Aminu Kano House, Abuja, where Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation to the various organisations for recognising the efforts of his administration.

The Governor assured the people of Kano State that his administration would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy through people-oriented policies, transparency, accountability and sustainable development.

He noted that the organisations and institutions presenting the awards had assessed various physical development projects and initiatives being implemented by his administration, as well as the administration’s efforts to promote accountability and transparency in governance.

Presenting four of the awards received by the Governor on different occasions, Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo said the recognitions reflected the appreciation of various organisations for the administration’s performance across different sectors.

Among the awards presented by the Deputy Governor were an Award of Excellence from the Northwest Veteran Foundation, the BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award, an Award of Excellence from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its National Day celebration, and an award from the National Qur’anic Memorisation Association.

The BusinessDay Governor of the Year Award was presented to Governor Yusuf under the States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA), in recognition of his administration’s achievements in governance, economic development and investment readiness.

Another award recognising good performance in revenue generation was presented to Governor Yusuf by the Chief of Staff, Dr. Sulaiman Wali Sani, on behalf of the Nigerian Revenue Service, following a recent retreat held in Kano.

The Chief of Staff also received an Award of Excellence on behalf of Governor Yusuf from the Forum of Islamic Secretaries of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State during the launching of the Islamic Calendar by the Kano State Sharia Commission.

The award recognised the administration’s support for Islamic activities across the state.

The National Bureau of Statistics also honoured the Governor in recognition of Kano State’s hosting of a conference and its performance in the sector. The award was received on his behalf by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.

In the health sector, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, presented a letter of appreciation to Governor Yusuf from the Dental Workers Union in recognition of his administration’s support and interventions in the health sector.

In the education sector, principals and volunteer teachers of the Kano State Agency for Mass Education also honoured the Governor for his support and commitment to adult and literacy education.

The award was jointly received on behalf of the Governor by the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner for Education during the International Adult and Literacy Conference held recently in Kano.

Governor Yusuf dedicated the recognitions to the people of Kano State, members of the State Executive Council, the legislature, judiciary, traditional and religious institutions, civil servants, development partners and other stakeholders contributing to the development of the state.

The presentation was witnessed by several personalities, including the member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa; Hon. Alhassan Rurum; Abdullahi T Gwarzo and Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, 

the 27 newly appointed Special Advisers; and other government functionaries.

Governor Yusuf Celebrates ATM Gwarzo at 66

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated the former Deputy Governor and State Coordinator of Arewa For Asiwaju (A4A) in Kano State, His Excellency Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, on the occasion of his 66th birthday.

Governor Yusuf described Gwarzo as an experienced leader, mentor and grassroots politician whose years of service have contributed significantly to the political and social development of Kano State.

The Governor acknowledged his wealth of experience, generosity, tolerance and ability to build relationships across different sections of society, describing these qualities as valuable attributes of responsible leadership.

He also congratulated Gwarzo on his recent appointment as the State Coordinator of Arewa For Asiwaju (A4A) in Kano State, expressing confidence that his experience, maturity and grassroots acceptability would contribute to effective coordination and purposeful engagement in the new assignment.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Abdullahi Gwarzo many years in good health, wisdom, peace of mind and renewed strength to continue contributing to the development of Kano State and the nation in general.

He wished him a happy 66th birthday and continued success in his future endeavours.

Kwanitin Yaki Da Shan Muyagun Kwayoyi Na Kano, Ya Kama Mutane Fiye Da 380, Ya Samu Samu Hukuncin Kotu Kan Mutane 230 Cikin Watanni Biyu

Rundunar hadin gwiwar hukumomi da gwamnatin Jihar Kano ta kafa domin yaki da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da fataucin miyagun ƙwayoyi ta kama mutane sama da 380 tare da samun hukuncin kotu kan mutane fiye da 230 cikin watanni biyu da fara aiki.

Shugaban rundunar, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, ne ya bayyana hakan a ranar Talata, watanni biyu bayan da Gwamna Abba Kabir Yusuf ya kaddamar da rundunar domin daidaita matakan jihar na yaki da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi, fataucin miyagun ƙwayoyi, daba da sauran laifukan da ke da alaka da shaye-shaye.

Da yake magana a wani taron manema labarai a Kano, Muhuyi ya ce rundunar ta gudanar da samame na hadin gwiwa a wuraren da ake zargin ana sayarwa da shan miyagun ƙwayoyi da kuma wasu wuraren da ake aikata laifuka, lamarin da ya kai ga kama wadanda ake zargi tare da kwato miyagun ƙwayoyi daban-daban.

Ya ce wuraren da aka gudanar da ayyukan sun hada da Race Course, Filin Idi, Filin Mahaha, Tashar Rami da Kawo, da sauran wurare a cikin birnin Kano da wajen sa.

A cewarsa, an kwato abubuwa da suka hada da Cannabis Sativa, Exol-5, Diazepam, allurar Pentazocine, Tramadol, kapsul din Pregabalin, Rubber Solution da sauran miyagun abubuwa.

Muhuyi ya ce: “Wannan ba aikin tarwatsa wuraren bane kawai. Wadannan samame sun kai ga kama mutane sama da 380 tare da kwato miyagun abubuwa iri-iri.”

Rundunar ta kuma kwato makamai da aka kera a gida, ciki har da wuka, adda, takubba da sanduna, wadanda Muhuyi ya ce wasu daga cikin masu safarar miyagun ƙwayoyi da ’yan daba ke amfani da su wajen tsoratar da jama’a da kuma bijirewa jami’an tsaro yayin kama su.

Wani babban abin damuwa da aka bayyana a taron shi ne zargin karkatar da magungunan da aka kayyade daga hanyoyin rarraba magunguna na halal zuwa amfani ba bisa ka’ida ba.

Muhuyi ya bayyana cewa rundunar ta kwace kusan kapsul din Pregabalin 870,000 daga hannun daya daga cikin manyan kamfanonin magunguna a jihar bisa zargin karkatar da su zuwa amfani ba bisa ka’ida ba.

Ya gargadi kamfanonin magunguna, manajojin pharmacy, superintendent pharmacists da sauran ma’aikatan fannin da su kara karfafa tsarin kula da magunguna tare da ba da hadin kai ga bincike.

“Ba za mu bar kowa ba idan aka same shi da laifi,” in ji shi.

Shugaban rundunar ya kuma bayyana cewa an riga an samu hukuncin kotu kan mutane sama da 230 a cikin shari’o’in da rundunar ta kai gaban kotu cikin watanni biyu.

Daga cikin shari’o’in akwai hukuncin da aka yanke wa wasu dillalan Rubber Solution, Kabiru Isa, wanda aka fi sani da Mada, da Usman Hamisu, wanda aka fi sani da Mani, bisa zargin jefa yara 43 da ba su kai shekaru ba cikin amfani da abubuwan maye.

Muhuyi ya ce yaran, wadanda ke aikin kwashe shara a kan tituna, ana zargin ana ba su Rubber Solution da wasu abubuwa masu maye maimakon a biya su yadda ya kamata.

Ya ce an ceto yaran 43 tare da yi musu gwaje-gwajen lafiya, ba su shawarwari da kuma magani, yayin da ake ci gaba da kokarin gano iyalansu.

Ya kara da cewa an riga an mayar da wasu daga cikin yaran ga iyalansu.

Rundunar ta kuma bayyana ci gaba a yakin da take yi da Daba, inda Muhuyi ya ambaci wasu daga cikin ’yan kungiyoyin daba da aka samu da laifi, ciki har da Abdullahi Ahmad, wanda aka fi sani da Horror; Abubakar Sada, wanda aka fi sani da Daburi; Abdullahi Sani, wanda aka fi sani da Sarki Ale; da Umar Aliyu.

Ya ce wasu daga cikin wadanda ake zargin sun yi amfani da kafafen sada zumunta wajen daukaka dabi’un daba, tunzura jama’a da kuma karfafa wasu su shiga ayyukan laifi.

A wani samame kuma, rundunar ta ce ta kama tare da samun hukuncin kotu kan wani mamba na wata fitacciyar kungiyar masu satar wayoyin hannu da aka fi sani da “Yan Liya”, tare da kwace wani keke mai kafa uku (tricycle) da ake zargin an yi amfani da shi wajen aikata laifin.

A cewar Muhuyi, wanda ake zargin ya amsa cewa ba zai iya kirga adadin wayoyin da kungiyar ta sata ba.

Ya kuma yi zargin cewa wasu masu tricycle din da kungiyar ke amfani da su suna sane da ayyukan laifin da direbobinsu ke aikatawa, har ma suna cin gajiyar hakan ta hanyar neman karin kudin da za a ba su.

Saboda haka, Muhuyi ya gargadi masu tricycle da kada su bari a yi amfani da motocinsu wajen aikata laifuka da gangan, yana mai cewa rundunar za ta nemi kwace motocin da aka yi amfani da su wajen aikata laifuka.

Baya ga matakan hukunci, rundunar ta ce ta tura kimanin mutane 125 zuwa Cibiyar Gyaran Halayya ta Kano da ke Kiru domin samun horo da gyaran hali.

Muhuyi ya ce karuwar bukatar samun kulawar gyaran hali ta sa cibiyar Kiru ta cika, lamarin da ya sanya gwamnatin jihar samar da wata sabuwar cibiyar a Karamar Hukumar Tofa.

Ya ce za a samar da kayan aiki a sabuwar cibiyar tare da fara amfani da ita domin karbar mutanen da ke bukatar gyaran hali.

Ya kara da cewa rundunar tana tattaunawa da masu ruwa da tsaki a masana’antu domin samar da ayyukan yi da koyar da sana’o’i ga matasan da aka yi wa gyaran hali.

“Manufarmu ita ce mu kawar da matasa 10,000 daga tituna, mu yi musu gyaran hali, sannan mu koya musu sana’o’i, domin su koma cikin al’umma suna da cikakken ilimi, an gyara halayensu, kuma su zama mutanen da al’umma za ta amince da su,” in ji shi.

Muhuyi ya ce rundunar za ta ci gaba da hada matakan daukar doka da rigakafi, wayar da kan jama’a, gyaran hali da kuma sake shigar da wadanda aka gyara cikin al’umma.

Ya ce shirye-shiryen wayar da kan jama’a sun kai ga al’ummomi, makarantu, kasuwanni, cibiyoyin addini da sauran sassan jihar.

Ya danganta nasarorin farko da rundunar ta samu da hadin gwiwar hukumomin tsaro da na tabbatar da doka, wadanda suka hada da Hukumar Yaki da Sha da Fataucin Miyagun Kwayoyi ta Kasa (NDLEA), Rundunar ’Yan Sandan Najeriya, DSS, NSCDC, Hukumar Kwastam, Hukumar Kula da Gidajen Gyaran Hali, KOSSAP, Hisbah, KAROTA da kungiyoyin sa-kai.

Shugaban rundunar ya kuma bukaci mazauna jihar da su rika bayar da bayanai cikin gaggawa game da shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi, fataucinsu da sauran ayyukan laifuka masu alaka da su, domin hukumomi su samu damar daukar matakan da suka dace.

SolaceBase ta rawaito cewa Gwamna Abba Kabir Yusuf ya kaddamar da rundunar a ranar 22 ga Yuli, 2026, a wani bangare na kokarin gwamnatin jihar na dakile shaye-shayen miyagun ƙwayoyi da laifukan da ke da alaka da su a fadin Kano.

Muhuyi’s 60 Days: Kano Intensifies the Fight Against Drug Abuse

Sixty days into his leadership of the newly established Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado is leading an expanded campaign that increasingly moves beyond conventional arrests and raids to intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, prosecution, rehabilitation, and community engagement.

Since the task force was inaugurated in July, a succession of activities reported by SolaceBase has shown an administration attempting to confront drug abuse not only as a criminal justice problem but also as a public health, youth and social development challenge.

The task force’s activities have included raids on suspected drug hotspots, arrests and prosecution of suspects, cooperation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the creation of specialised committees, plans to deploy artificial intelligence in tracking drug dealers and pharmaceutical sales, and proposals for rehabilitation centres across Kano’s three senatorial zones.Sports news

The breadth of the approach has also earned Muhuyi recognition from the NDLEA, which named him a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Ambassador in August, citing his efforts to promote inter-agency collaboration, public awareness, community mobilisation and coordinated action.Kano local news

The development is significant for Kano, where drug abuse has increasingly been associated with concerns about youth vulnerability, street crime, violence and social instability.

Muhuyi’s appointment came against the background of growing concern over the scale of drug abuse in the state.Government

A SolaceBase opinion published shortly before the task force’s inauguration cited the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, which estimated Kano’s prevalence at 16 per cent, representing about 1.07 million users.

The figures are historical rather than a current prevalence estimate, but they illustrate the scale of the problem that informed the government’s intervention.

After his appointment, Muhuyi quickly outlined a strategy that combined enforcement with intelligence, prevention, and rehabilitation.

One of the earliest indications of that approach came on August 3, when he announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence to track drug dealers and monitor pharmaceutical sales.

The proposed technology-driven system suggested that the task force intended to look beyond street-level enforcement and examine how drugs move through commercial and pharmaceutical channels.

SolaceBase reported the proposal as an initiative, meaning its announcement should be distinguished from evidence that the system had already become operational. The task force also moved to deepen cooperation with agencies already involved in the drug-control effort.

During a familiarisation visit to the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command in August, the agency pledged stronger collaboration with the task force. NDLEA officials stressed that the drug problem required an approach beyond arrests and seizures, including prevention, education and community engagement.Kano local news

That partnership subsequently produced institutional recognition when the NDLEA Zone 5 Command honoured Muhuyi as a WADA Ambassador.

Rather than presenting the recognition as proof that the drug problem had been solved, Muhuyi described it as a greater responsibility and stressed that no single agency or individual could win the war against drug abuse alone.

Another feature of Muhuyi’s first two months has been the attempt to give the task force an institutional structure.

On August 22, he inaugurated nine subcommittees charged with strengthening different aspects of the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking.

The development is important because a drug-control campaign that depends entirely on the activities of one chairman or periodic security operations is unlikely to become sustainable.

The broader structure envisaged by the task force includes intelligence, public sensitisation, community participation, enforcement, rehabilitation and coordination with other institutions.

The proposed Forward Operating Base is another part of that strategy. According to information gathered in September, preparations were underway for a mechanism where information concerning drug abuse, marketing, production and criminal hideouts could be received around the clock, including through call centres.

Again, this remains a planned mechanism rather than an established achievement, but it illustrates the direction in which the task force says it wants to move.

The enforcement side of the campaign has been extensive. The task force has reported more than 200 raids and more than 200 convictions within 45 days, with four mobile courts established to facilitate quicker prosecution.

The operations have also targeted particular hotspots and alleged supply networks.

One of the most prominent cases involves Yahuza Musa, a former chairman of Rogo Local Government Area, who was arrested following an undercover operation over allegations concerning the illegal sale and administration of fentanyl injections to young people.

Muhuyi said the investigation began after the task force arrested a young man whose hand had allegedly deteriorated severely following injections.

The young man allegedly identified Musa as the source of the substance, leading to the undercover operation and subsequent arrest.

Musa was charged under Section 249 of the Kano State Penal Code in connection with allegations involving harmful or intoxicating substances.Kano local news

The task force has demonstrated an interest in pursuing alleged suppliers through investigation and prosecution rather than limiting its operations to street-level users.

Perhaps the most consequential aspect of the new approach is the recognition that arrests alone cannot resolve Kano’s drug problem.Government

The task force has proposed a programme to rehabilitate 10,000 youths affected by drug abuse within one year.

The proposed programme would involve drug testing, detoxification and rehabilitation, followed by vocational training in areas including garment production, shoemaking, bag making, electrical work and solar technology.

The thinking behind the programme is straightforward: people trapped in substance abuse cannot simply be removed from the streets and expected to become productive without treatment, skills and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

The proposed programme therefore attempts to distinguish between those who profit from drug trafficking and vulnerable people struggling with addiction.

That distinction is crucial. A trafficker deliberately supplying dangerous substances to young people presents a different challenge from a young person who has become dependent on those substances.

The first demands enforcement and prosecution; the second may require medical treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and economic reintegration. The task force’s proposed approach attempts to address both.

The rehabilitation strategy has also begun to take a geographical dimension. On September 4, SolaceBase reported that the task force was considering establishing ad-hoc centres across Kano North, Kano Central and Kano South to bring substance-abuse prevention and rehabilitation services closer to affected communities.Kano local news

The proposal emerged from discussions between the task force and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dawanau, and is intended to cover prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and community engagement.

The collaboration is significant because it places a health institution alongside security agencies in the response.

It also suggests that the task force is beginning to treat rehabilitation as a service that should be available within communities rather than something reserved for people already caught in the criminal justice system.

The human consequences of drug abuse have also featured prominently in the task force’s activities.

Among the cases reported during the period was the rescue of vulnerable children exposed to intoxicating substances and the prosecution of people accused of supplying such substances.

These cases underscore why the drug issue cannot be viewed solely through statistics on arrests and seizures.

Every arrest can represent a criminal case, but every affected young person also represents a family, a lost opportunity and potentially a future that could be recovered through timely intervention.

The experience of some families during the operations has also brought another dimension of the campaign into focus.

Some mothers were seen crying and pleading with Muhuyi after their sons were arrested, asking that their children be given another chance.

Their appeals highlight the difficult position of families confronting drug abuse. While parents may want authorities to take action against drug dealers and those who expose young people to harmful substances, they may also fear losing their own children to addiction, imprisonment or a life of crime.

This is why the rehabilitation and skills-acquisition component of the task force’s strategy is particularly important.

A young person who can be treated, rehabilitated, trained and returned to productive life represents not only an individual recovery but also relief for a family and a potential benefit to the wider community.

Muhuyi’s first 60 days have combined enforcement with institutional development in a way that has made the campaign highly visible.

His previous experience as chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is part of the background to his appointment.

Before taking charge of the drug task force, he had become associated with investigations and enforcement in the anti-corruption sphere. SolaceBase reported that background when examining his appointment to lead the drug crackdown.

In his new role, that enforcement-oriented experience has been applied to a different problem.

The approach has so far combined raids with intelligence, prosecution with rehabilitation, and security operations with community mobilisation.

The AI proposal points towards technology, while the nine subcommittees point towards institutionalisation. The NDLEA partnership demonstrates a commitment to inter-agency coordination, while the three-zone rehabilitation proposal points towards decentralisation.

The 10,000-youth programme, meanwhile, reflects an emphasis on rehabilitation, skills development and reintegration.

Together, these initiatives suggest that the task force is trying to construct a system rather than simply conduct operations.

Parents must join the fight

For the campaign to achieve lasting results, however, the responsibility cannot rest on Muhuyi and government agencies alone.

Parents have an important role to play, particularly because they are often the first to notice changes in the behaviour of their children.

The scenes of mothers crying and pleading for their sons after arrests should also encourage families to become involved much earlier, before a young person reaches the point of arrest.

Parents should pay attention to sudden behavioural changes, new associations, unexplained spending, school absenteeism and other signs that may indicate that a child is becoming vulnerable to substance abuse.

Rather than waiting for security agencies to intervene, families should seek help from health professionals, counsellors, schools, religious institutions and other appropriate channels when they notice warning signs.

Schools also need to strengthen drug-awareness programmes, while religious and traditional leaders can use their platforms to educate young people and families about the dangers of substance abuse.

Communities, meanwhile, can support the task force by providing credible information about drug trafficking and distribution networks while allowing security agencies to conduct proper investigations.

The government should equally continue providing the resources needed for rehabilitation, treatment, intelligence gathering and public sensitisation.

The proposed rehabilitation centres across the three senatorial zones could be particularly valuable if properly funded and staffed by qualified professionals.

The planned 10,000-youth rehabilitation programme should also be supported with transparent monitoring, vocational equipment and opportunities for beneficiaries to become economically independent after treatment.

The fight against drug abuse should therefore not end with arrest or conviction. It should also create a pathway for vulnerable young people to recover, acquire skills and return to their families and communities as productive citizens.

Muhuyi’s first 60 days have put considerable energy behind Kano’s response to drug abuse.Government

The task force has moved from its inauguration to raids, arrests and prosecution while simultaneously building partnerships, establishing committees, exploring technology and developing plans for rehabilitation.

The NDLEA’s recognition of Muhuyi as a WADA Ambassador has further highlighted the emphasis being placed on collaboration and community mobilisation.

The proposed AI system needs to move from announcement to implementation. The intelligence and call-centre mechanism needs to become functional.

The proposed rehabilitation centres need adequate funding, qualified personnel and medical support. The 10,000-youth programme needs to be properly implemented and monitored.

Most importantly, parents and communities need to remain part of the campaign. Muhuyi’s first 60 days have demonstrated a clear willingness to confront drug abuse through both enforcement and broader social intervention.

The next phase should deepen that approach by strengthening rehabilitation, supporting families, expanding public enlightenment and ensuring that young people who can be helped are given a genuine opportunity to recover.

For Kano, the fight against drug abuse is ultimately a fight for its young people. And if government agencies, parents, communities, health institutions, schools, religious and traditional leaders continue to work together, the momentum generated in Muhuyi’s first 60 days can become the foundation for a sustained response to one of the state’s most pressing social challenges.

(SolaceBase)

OGP: The Kano Model - Institutionalizing Transparency - By Abba Anwar

For many years, OGP was just another fine acronym in Nigeria. You saw it on workshop banners, you heard it in donor meetings, and then nothing happened on the ground. That story is changing in Kano. Under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, OGP is no longer a slogan. It is becoming an institution.

That institutionalization is deliberate. Governor Yusuf understands that for OGP to survive beyond press releases, it must be anchored in government structure, in people, and in process. It cannot thrive on rhetoric. It needs intention, it needs commitment, and it needs follow-through.

What has happened since 2023 is what some governance people call institutional renewal. Kano OGP moved from being a donor-driven programme to a state-owned governance architecture. The focus is simple: transparency, accountability, and citizens participation.

Two things made this possible. First, political will that is practical, not just spoken. Second, a Secretariat that knows how to convert that will into structure and that structure into results. That is why result-driven engagement is now the language in Kano OGP.

The difference between this administration and past ones is clear. Before, a lot of time and donor money went into talking shops. Today, the emphasis is on building structures. The shift is from statements to structures. Other states talk about open government. Kano is building the mechanisms to enforce it.

How did the Governor do it?

First, he appointed a Senior Special Assistant on OGP, Comrade Musaddiq Kabir Adam. As far as we know, this is the first dedicated SSA on OGP at sub-national level in Nigeria. Bureaucratically, it gave OGP a direct line to the highest level of government. Politically, it sent a message that transparency has a seat at the table. This became even clearer with the inclusion of Commissioners in the process.

Second, he made a smart bipartisan move. He appointed Comrade Nura Iro Ma'aji, a well-known civil society activist who is also Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, as Government Co-Chair of OGP. This brought credibility and continuity. It helped bridge the old suspicion between government and civil society. It rebuilt trust.

Third, he broadened ownership inside government. Today, five Commissioners, four Permanent Secretaries and a Director sit on the OGP Steering Committee. OGP is no longer seen as a civil society project that reports to government. It is now a whole-of-government responsibility. Government is assessing itself, evaluating itself, and reporting on itself. That ownership matters.

Fourth, and this is the most important for sustainability, the administration established Integrity and Compliance Desk Officers, ICDOs, in all MDAs. Every ministry now has a person and an office responsible for integrity and compliance. That is how accountability stops being a slogan. If you look at why Governor Yusuf is today counted among the most prudent governors in the country, this is one of the reasons. I stand to be corrected, but the facts and the records are there.

For anyone who wants to understand how the structure works, a look at the Steering Committee will help. Kano OGP follows the standard OGP co-creation principle of 50/50 between government and non-state actors.

Under Governor Yusuf, the Steering Committee has 20 members. Ten from government, ten from civil society. It is equality in composition and equity in operation.

The government side is chaired by Government Co-Chair Comrade Nura Iro Ma'aji, Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation. The other members include four other Commissioners, the Solicitor General of Kano State, the Secretary and Legal Adviser of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, PCACC, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Musaddiq Kabir Adam, who many in Kano know as a committed civil society person, now serving as SSA on OGP, Head of Secretariat and Secretary of the Steering Committee.

The non-state actors side has 10 members. They were elected on August 6, 2026. The team has Comrade Abdurrahman Abdu as Co-Chair and lead for Anti-Corruption, Hassan Ibrahim Gama for Service Delivery, Peter Hassan Tijjani for Access to Information, Mustapha Chiroma for Fiscal Transparency, Barrister A. A. Haruna Ayagi for Access to Justice, Dr. Kabiru Hamisu Kura for Climate Change, Zuwaira Omar Muhammad for Citizens Engagement, Abdulrahman Uba Daushe for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, plus one member from Labour and one from a professional body.

Together, the committee takes decisions jointly. Their work covers seven thematic areas. These are anti-corruption, fiscal transparency, service delivery, citizen engagement, access to information, access to justice, and climate change.

Add to this the sustained work on implementing and reviewing the Kano State Action Plan, and you will see why a platform that used to meet once in a while is now systemic. The work has moved from screen to script, and from script to action.

We must also talk about the civil society space itself. For a long time, that space had its own problems. There were leadership tussles, representation disputes, and competing interests. At some point it was pure conflict of interest. Many partnerships in Nigeria collapse at this stage. I have been in the civil society circle since 1998, with special interest in good governance, so I speak from experience.

Under State Coordinator Musaddiq Kabir Adam, the Secretariat took a different approach. Instead of directives, it chose dialogue. Instead of partisanship, it chose neutrality. Instead of convenience, it chose strict adherence to OGP principles. Rather than take sides in the disagreement, it institutionalized the process of resolving it.

This is why the Governor's choice of Musaddiq was strategic. It was careful, well-thought-out, and based on information, not speculation. It was not by accident.

One of the biggest results of this approach is the renewal of the non-state actor structure. We now have a broader, more inclusive, and more legitimate platform. Old and new organizations now sit on the same table. The rules of engagement are clear to everyone. Confidence has returned, and without confidence, no multi-stakeholder platform can work.

Once that table was fixed, participation grew. In the last one year alone, over 290 CSOs from across the country have engaged with Kano OGP. That is a vote of confidence in the new direction. It is also a morale booster for the national open government movement.

From that repair work came what I want to call One Kano OGP. It is a simple but powerful idea. OGP does not belong to government alone. It does not belong to civil society alone. It belongs to both, plus citizens, the media, youth, and development partners, all co-creating reforms in one common space. A space built on hard work, goodwill, and genuine commitment to the people.

This idea is now being implemented through initiatives like the Open School Initiative, which explains governance to students, and through citizen observation and voter education programmes. The plan is to expand platforms for youth and media participation. The goal is to take OGP from hotel conference halls to classrooms, markets, and wards.

That local credibility has brought back global confidence. Today, the Secretariat, working with the indispensable Steering Committee — I call it indispensable because of how the Governor restructured it — has re-engaged strategic partners. These include the United Nations system, ROLAC and UNODC, International IDEA, and the European Union. These engagements are not ceremonial jamborees. They are structured around six critical pillars: institutional capacity building, anti-corruption and accountability, citizen participation, youth and gender inclusion, digital governance, and technical support for OGP commitments.

This commitment has changed Kano's standing nationally. Today, on the national OGP dashboard, KANO IS RATED HEALTHY WITH A 90% SUBNATIONAL PERFORMANCE SCORE. That is one of the strongest turnarounds among OGP states in Nigeria. Kudos to Governor Yusuf, bravo to Musaddiq, and viva to the Steering Committee.

There is also the forward-looking side. Kano OGP is embracing technology and Artificial Intelligence, in line with Governor Yusuf's modernization agenda. But AI is not being used as a buzzword. It is being positioned as a tool to track service delivery, improve citizen feedback, and deepen transparency. That means more inclusion and better service for the citizen.

So what has changed the most? It is not a document or a workshop. It is institutional restoration. That is the real achievement.

Kano now has a credible, inclusive, and functioning multi-stakeholder platform where government and citizens can disagree, co-create, and co-implement. That platform did not exist two years ago. Today it exists because there is a captain steering the ship, and that captain is the Governor himself.

Two things made this restoration possible. One, the political will of Governor Yusuf, who decided to make transparency a pillar of governance, not just a PR statement. Two, the quiet, strategic, and methodical coordination of the Secretariat under Musaddiq.

The challenge now is to turn these institutional gains into real benefits that people can feel. A trader in Kantin Kwari market, a farmer in Gwarzo, a student in Dawakin Kudu — they should all feel the difference when they interact with government. That is transparency reloaded.

The foundation has been laid by Musaddiq and the Steering Committee, with close monitoring from the Governor. The structure is standing. What Kano does with this joint effort in the next two years will decide whether this becomes the national model for sub-national open governance.

For now, the lesson is clear. Open government does not grow on workshops and talkshops. It grows on political will. And in Kano, that will has been provided.

Anwar writes from Kano

Tuesday, 22nd September, 2026

Governor Abba Mourns the Passing of Sani Lawan Kofar Mata

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed deep condolences to the family, relatives, associates and the people of Kano State over the death of Alhaji Sani Lawan Kofar Mata, former Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Sunday.

Governor Yusuf described the death of Alhaji Sani Lawan Kofar Mata as a great loss to Kano State, noting his contributions to public service and the welfare of the people, particularly in the area of pilgrims’ affairs.

The Governor said the deceased would be remembered for his service to the state and his contributions to the development of the pilgrims’ welfare system.

Governor Yusuf prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, grant him eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus and give his family, friends and the people of Kano the strength to bear the loss.

He urged the family to take solace in the fact that death is inevitable and prayed that Allah reward the deceased for his service to humanity.

Governor Yusuf Greets First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at 66

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has congratulated the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of her 66th birthday.

This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Monday.

The governor described Senator Oluremi Tinubu as a compassionate and dedicated leader whose contributions continue to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governor Yusuf, on behalf of himself, the First Family, Government and the good people of Kano State, extended warm felicitations and best wishes to Senator Oluremi Tinubu as she marks another year of her life.

He commended the First Lady for her commitment to initiatives focused on improving the welfare of women, children, vulnerable persons and other Nigerians, noting that such interventions complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The governor particularly acknowledged her efforts in promoting education, healthcare, social development and economic empowerment, as well as programmes aimed at providing opportunities and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.

Governor Yusuf prayed to Almighty God to grant Senator Oluremi Tinubu continued good health, wisdom and strength to sustain her service to the nation and humanity.

He wished the First Lady many more years of fruitful service, peace, fulfilment and happiness.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Mourns Late Alh. Mustapha Mahmud, Pays Condolence Visit in Gaya

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Alhaji Mustapha Mahmud, a 68-year-old retired civil servant who passed away recently following an illness.

Governor Yusuf conveyed his condolences during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Gaya, where he commiserated with the bereaved family, relatives and associates over the loss.

This Was contained in a statement issued by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad in Kano on Saturday.

 Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the late Alhaji Mustapha Mahmud as a dedicated former civil servant who served the Kano State Government with high sense of decorum and commitment before his retirement.

He said the deceased’s years of service to the state represented a valuable contribution to the development of Kano and expressed sympathy to his family over the loss of their father, husband and loved one.

Governor Yusuf urged the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that death is an inevitable part of human existence, while praying Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

He also prayed Allah to grant the seven children left behind by the deceased and other members of the family the strength, patience and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Muhuyi’s Assignment, Abba's Edge: How Anti-Drug War Reshapes Kano's 2027 Race - By Abba Anwar

A triple alliance of faith and state could have been the best caption for this piece. When I talk of triple alliance, I am referring to the genuine support Barrister Muhiyi Magaji Rimingado's assigned responsibility in the Kano State Task Force Against Drug Abuse and other Related Crimes is getting from our moral bases, the Ulama, Imams and Hisbah. 

The fight against drug abuse and other related crimes is now gaining more support in the state and beyond the state. At first, few people started coloring the effort with political sentiment. But now, even at the level of comments sections of the Task Force social media handles, you begin to understand that, more and more people are supporting the move, without any recourse to political party affiliation or other human sentiments. 

In the last two to four days, I observed that, over 98% of those making comments in the comments sections of the Task Force social media handles are supporting, praying, engaging and canvassing more support for the state government in this all-important effort. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's genuine political will is appreciated. While Barrister Rimingado's is applauded and encouraged. 

It is very safe and logical to say that, when you have the Council of Ulama of Nigeria, the Association of Kano State Friday Mosques Imams, and the Hisbah Board all speaking with one voice in support of a government committee, you are no longer looking at ordinary politics. You are looking at a moral consensus that is translating into political capital. A tripartite moral support with strong link to state. 

That is exactly what is happening today in Kano around the Kano State Task Force Against Drug Abuse and Other Related Crimes, what many on the streets now simply call "Muhuyi's Assignment."

And from mosque pulpits to market stalls to social media comment sections, the verdict is blunt and the same. That is with this patriotic effort, Governor Yusuf is gaining more ground, winning more hearts, and inching ever closer to a second term in 2027. Morality overtakes politics. In this calculation, the chances for the Governor's reelection for a second tenure, is tilted more to the moral side than political engagement. 

Under this analogy, the Governor's achievements in the infrastructural development, the feats he achieved in the health sector, the visible results in the education sector, the good outcomes in the agricultural sector, improved beautification of the urban areas, roads networks in the rural areas, unwavering commitment towards a united APC the ruling party, and encouraging budget implementation, among others, are not the watch words here. The watch word is one, that is MORALITY. 

Which eventually led to what I call A Triple Alliance of Faith and State. Meaning the support from the religious institutions. Which is not accidental; it is structured. That is when the Council of Ulama of Nigeria, Kano State Branch, under its Chairman Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, provided the theological seal. Drug abuse, in Islam, is not just a crime. We are told by scholars that it is indeed the mother of all evils. It destroys hankali (intellect), which Shari'ah came to protect. When the Ulama publicly commend the Task Force, they are telling the faithful that fighting drugs is ibadah. And it is by all standard. In their part the Association of Kano State Friday Mosques Imams, under Sheikh Muhammad Nasir Adam, took it directly to the people. With over 2,000 Friday Mosques under its umbrella, reaching millions of worshippers every Friday, the Imams use the Minbar into a platform for advocacy. In the last few Fridays, Sermons  (Khutbahs) across Kano Municipal, Gwale, Dala, Tarauni and other LGAs have focused on the dangers of drug abuse (shaye-shaye) and the parental responsibility to protect children. 

They are not only praying for the Task Force — they are naming and shaming the act, and calling on parents to report dealers hiding in their neighbourhoods. That is grassroots mobilization no police van can achieve.

While the Hisbah Board provides the street-level muscle. Hisbah operatives know every black spot, every uncompleted building where substances are abused. Their collaboration with the Task Force means that enforcement is no longer a game of hide-and-seek. It is coordinated, intelligence-driven, and faith-inspired. It is very clear for all to understand that when faith and state align like this, criminals lose their hideout. 

This piece is only concern with these religions groups, faith-based platforms, that is why there isn't any mention of other primary and other relevant agencies. The relevant agencies are equally important as these bodies. And sometimes above faith-based platforms. Because they are empowered by Law to enforce law and use force where necessary. My intention with this piece is only religious bodies and comments sections. 

I observed and said that Governor is gaining ground. Let's see how Muhuyi's assignment becomes Gov Abba's political advantage. In Kano politics, popularity is not built in Government House. It is built in homes where a mother is worried about her son coming home high. It is built in wards where fathers fear their daughters are being lured with codeine. It was an open secret that for decades, Kano was accused of being a transit route and a dumping ground. Dealers operated with impunity at notorious spots. Parents whispered, they prayed, but they saw no action.

The Task Force changed that narrative. Under Barrister Rimingado the committee adopted a model that is not just about arrest, it is about disruption, prevention, and justice. Then reformation also follows. That is why Kiru Reformatory Centre is extremely important and relevant. As more of such Centres are needed. 

In recent weeks alone, we had a situation where the government was able to secure the conviction of notorious suppliers who were administering intoxicating substances to vulnerable underage children — sentenced to nine years without an option of fine by Magistrate Court No. 44, Gwammaja. That single judgment sent a message: Kano's children are not for sale. When over 200 drug abusers were also convicted by the recently established mobile courts attached to the Task Force. 

Drug marketers, abusers and their connivers are no longer at ease in the state. Let me say this to the hearing of all that, these are not abstract achievements. These are kitchen-table issues. And kitchen-table issues win elections. Go and make a research on political behaviors and public engagement. 

That is the main reason why the comment sections of the Agency's Facebook and TikTok handles are no longer toxic — they are full of "Allah ya taimaka," "Allah ya saka da alheri," "A cigaba da wannan aiki," and crucially, "Abba ya yi kokari, sai second term." Market leaders at Dangwaro Market themselves are now cooperating to track illegal drugs. This is leadership by example. 

The people have connected the dots: clean hospitals plus clean streets equals a governor who cares. I was at an Agency's engagement effort. What I witnessed was superb. The reform in Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) — from 30% drug availability to over 90%, clearance of N1.2 billion debt, elimination of fake drugs from public hospitals — and the crackdown on illicit drugs are now seen as two arms of one policy of Governor Yusuf to clean Kano's health system. To me Governor Yusuf is Sarkin Tsaftace Kano. 

Reason why a Task Force becomes a political movement. That is how Muhuyi's assignment gives Abba more ground, more clearance for victory, more faith in his style of leadership, more loyalty from his people in the government, more courage in discharging responsibilities on the shoulders of the Task Force and more prayers and commitment for the Governor's second coming. 

We all believe and want it this way that, Continuity is the Real Issue. 

The way I see it is this, that those calling for second tenure are not just being political. They understand a bitter truth about Kano, that good initiatives die after elections.

I suggest that our Governor should break the cycle. We need institutionalization of the process and the effort. For example when a committee seizes drugs, destroys N1.5 billion worth, then after May 29th, dealers return with N3 billion worth because there is no institutional memory. Your Excellency Sir you need to institutionalize this success in the following three ways:

1) Enact a Law: Transform the Ad-hoc Task Force into Kano State Drug Control Agency with statutory powers.

2) Fund It: Sir give it a budget line in the 2026-2027 budget, just as health now enjoys over 15% above the Abuja Declaration.

3) Kindly link it to DMCSA: Let the clean drug supply chain and the dirty drug blockade work as two arms of one policy.

As a Call to Action procedure let our people know that support is more than a comment. Report a dealer. Protect a child in your street. Your support today is what makes Kano safer tomorrow. Intel is very important and impactful. 

To the Friday Imams and Ulama, please keep the khutbahs coming. The war against drugs is won in the home before it is won on the street.

To the Task Force please understand that this public love is a trust. Remain fair, remain transparent, publish every seizure and every conviction.

To the Governor, Your Excellency Sir you have found something rare — an intervention that unites Ulama, Imams, Hisbah, and the common man. It is giving you ground, it is giving you popularity, and it is giving you a strong moral case for 2027. Protect it Sir. 

The fight against drugs is not ADC or NDC or PDP versus APC. It is whether the 12-year-old in Fagge today will become a pharmacist or a patient in a rehabilitation centre.

For the first time in a long time, Kano believes it will be the permanent former drug abuse have. And it credits Muhuyi's assignment and Abba's leadership for that hope.

Anwar writes from Kano 

Sunday, 20th September, 2026