Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

The Executive Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Engr. Abba Ganduje, has rolled out an empowerment initiative targeting youths and households across Dawakin Tofa, Tofa, and Rimingado Local Government Areas of Kano State. The event, held at the Amani Event Center in Kano, featured the distribution of motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, water pump engines for irrigation, fertilizers, and hundreds of bags of rice. According to the organizers, the initiative is aimed at improving livelihoods, supporting self-reliance, and easing the economic challenges faced by communities. In his address, Engr. Ganduje said the programme was designed to provide direct support to young people and families while also promoting skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and agricultural productivity. He emphasized that empowering citizens at the grassroots remains one of the most effective ways of tackling poverty and reducing unemployment. Related: Abba Ganduje Distributes Over 1,000 Solar Lights to 38 Wards in Kano “We are committed to ensuring that our youth are productive and engaged in ventures that will secure their future and contribute to the growth of Kano State and Nigeria as a whole,” he said. The gathering attracted prominent dignitaries and respected politicians, including the Managing Director of Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, the Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, and a Member of the House of Representatives representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency. Party leaders, community elders, and other stakeholders were also in attendance. Several beneficiaries expressed their appreciation, describing the intervention as timely and life-changing. They noted that the items received would not only support their families but also create opportunities for sustainable income generation. Political observers at the event commended Engr. Ganduje for his commitment to grassroots empowerment and described the initiative as a reflection of purposeful leadership and community service. The distribution exercise is expected to have a ripple effect in the benefiting local governments by boosting small-scale businesses, supporting agriculture, and alleviating economic hardship. Photo news:

The Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, has inaugurated a 44-member committee to screen 1,000 Hisbah personnel allegedly dismissed by the Kano State Government. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Dan Agundi underscored the importance of the committee’s mandate, which is to identify and verify the affected individuals and explore avenues for their reinstatement or reassignment. He explained that the initiative aligns with directives issued by former Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is also a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent leader of the ruling party. Read Also: Kano’s Political Probe: Ganduje’s Legacy Versus NNPP’s Scandals Dr. Dan Agundi urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, transparency, and fairness, stressing that the screening process must be thorough to ensure only genuinely affected personnel are considered for intervention. “We will work day and night to implement the directives of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,” he said, emphasizing the urgency and commitment behind the effort. The dismissal of the Hisbah personnel has generated concern among stakeholders, with many calling for a review of the circumstances that led to their removal. The Hisbah Corps, known for its role in promoting moral conduct and enforcing Islamic values in Kano, remains a significant institution in the state’s socio-religious landscape. The newly inaugurated committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations within a stipulated timeframe, paving the way for possible policy actions to address the grievances of the dismissed personnel.

The Kano State Government has restated its commitment to transparency and accountability, describing them as the bedrock of responsible governance. The Independent Mirror reports that the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, made this known while addressing journalists in Kano. He stressed that accountability relies on timely and ethical communication to keep citizens abreast of government policies, projects, and activities, adding that the media also shares responsibility by upholding professionalism and ethical standards in reporting. Read Also: 201 Kano CSOs Disown Protest, Distance Themselves from Politically Motivated Group Waiya expressed concern over what he described as repetitive and manipulative media reports targeting officials of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. He said such reports, often lacking objectivity, appear designed to discredit the government by portraying it as corrupt despite pending legal processes. He urged journalists to embrace fairness, accuracy, and balance rather than recycling stories to malign the government. Highlighting reforms introduced by Governor Yusuf, the commissioner noted that the administration has strengthened public procurement processes through the enforcement of the Kano State Public Procurement Law 2021, periodic procurement audits, and the near-completion of the digitalized Kano State Integrated Monitoring System (KSIMS). According to him, these measures are aimed at ensuring value for money, improving project delivery, and boosting citizens’ confidence in governance. He also outlined achievements of the Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, including mandatory public advertisement and opening of tenders, standardization of bidding documents, and strict vetting of payment certificates. Other initiatives include monthly project evaluations across local governments, training workshops for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and community engagement to involve citizens in project monitoring. On financial discipline, Waiya assured that all transactions from the Office of the Accountant General are processed independently, free from interference or kickbacks. He added that the Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) now operates without political influence, reinforcing the state government’s anti-corruption stance. To deepen transparency, he explained that the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs publishes details of all projects and budgetary approvals immediately after each State Executive Council meeting, using both conventional and social media platforms. This, he said, enables citizens to track government spending and follow up on projects in their communities. Waiya reiterated that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration is building strong foundations for good governance anchored on transparency, accountability, and prudent resource management to ensure public funds are utilized responsibly for sustainable development and the collective well-being of the people.