2026

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano The Better Opportunities for Optimal Services Targeted (BOOST) Immunisation Project has intensified its community engagement efforts in Kano State through a strategic advocacy visit to the leadership of the Kano State Tricycle Associations Forum (KASTAF). The BOOST project, implemented by Save the Children International with funding support from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is designed to reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunised children across the state. The engagement was conducted in collaboration with the Kano State Community of Practice on Immunisation, Budget Tracking, Advocacy and Accountability (KN-CoP), as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with influential community groups capable of mobilising grassroots support for routine immunisation. The Kano State Tricycle Associations Forum (KASTAF), one of the largest male-dominated associations in the state with an estimated membership of about 100,000 tricycle operators, was identified as a strategic partner due to its members’ daily interaction with residents across urban and peri-urban communities. Read Also: BOOST Partners Seek Policy Backing, Sustainable Financing for Vaccination Drive During the meeting held at the KASTAF State Secretariat in Kano, the association’s leadership welcomed the initiative and pledged full support for the objectives of the BOOST project. The forum committed to assisting in raising awareness among tricycle operators and their passengers, promoting compliance with immunisation schedules across communities, and addressing issues of non-compliance, including restrictions from some household heads that continue to hinder routine immunisation uptake. Speaking during the engagement, representatives of the BOOST Project emphasised the importance of leveraging established community networks to enhance vaccine acceptance and ensure that children in underserved areas receive life-saving immunisation. The advocacy delegation was led by the BOOST Project Policy and Advocacy Officer, Umar Ibrahim, alongside the Co-Chair of the Kano Community of Practice, Comrade Salisu Yusuf, and other members of the team. Responding to the visit, the State Secretary of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORON), Abdulkarim Yusuf, expressed appreciation for the initiative and pledged the association’s commitment to supporting the mission. He noted that with thousands of members across the state, the association has the capacity to ensure that immunisation awareness messages reach a wide audience. Yusuf further called on members of the forum to begin sensitising their families and communities about the importance of vaccines and the role they play in preventing childhood diseases. The BOOST project, which commenced full implementation in 2023 will run until December 2027 across selected local government areas in Kano State. Stakeholders said the collaboration with the Kano State Tricycle Associations Forum (KASTAF) marks a significant step toward community-driven efforts aimed at reducing preventable childhood illnesses and ensuring that every child has access to life-saving vaccines.

The Kano State Government has provided financial relief to victims of a fire outbreak in Zago town, located in Dambatta Local Government Area. This was conveyed in a statement signed by Ibrahim Abdullahi, Director of Public Enlightenment at the Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. According to the statement, the assistance, amounting to N6,576,537.33, was distributed to 28 affected beneficiaries to cushion the impact of losses suffered during the inferno that occurred in February 2025. Speaking during the distribution exercise, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amina Yusuf Yargaya, said the government under Abba Kabir Yusuf remains deeply concerned about the welfare of its citizens, particularly those affected by disasters. Read Also: Ganduje, Wife in Saudi Arabia for Ramadan Lesser Hajj KASSOSA Holds 15th Ramadan Iftar, Reuniting Science School Alumni in Kano Salihu Sagir Takai and Kano’s Succession Debate She noted that the government would continue to provide support to communities facing such challenges in order to ensure the wellbeing and stability of residents, while urging the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the assistance. Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Abdullahi Isyaku Kubarachi, said an assessment was conducted to determine the extent of the damage caused by the fire before the relief support was approved. He advised residents to always ensure that fire is properly extinguished after domestic use, particularly at night before going to bed, assuring that SEMA would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to respond promptly to emergency situations and support affected communities. In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, Garba Ibrahim, urged members of the public to adopt preventive measures to avoid fire incidents, reiterating the government’s readiness to assist victims of emergencies whenever the need arises. Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Support, Muttaqa Sani Gaya, reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to improving the welfare of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and those affected by disasters. Expressing appreciation for the intervention, the Chairman of Danbatta Local Government Area, Jamilu Abubakar Danbatta, represented by Abdulkadir Muhammad, thanked Governor Yusuf for the support, noting that the assistance would help affected residents recover from the losses incurred during the incident. The beneficiaries also expressed gratitude to the Kano State Government for the intervention and support during their difficult time.