Humanitarian

By Umar Idris Shuaibu Kano State has taken the lead in advancing a coordinated social protection framework in the North-West following the unveiling of a Joint Action Plan by the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) to deepen collaboration among Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states. The Director General of KASPA, Dr. Fatima Abubakar, presented the plan at the first quarter 2026 two-day Joint Social Protection Technical Working Group meeting held in Kaduna, with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office. She said the initiative marked a shift from policy formulation to implementation, adding that it outlines priority actions for the next six to 12 months with clearly defined roles for participating states. According to her, the framework is designed to strengthen inter-state coordination through regular engagements, harmonised reporting templates and the designation of focal persons to drive implementation. Abubakar identified sustainable financing as critical to the success of the plan, noting that it incorporates dedicated budget lines, Islamic social finance instruments such as Zakat and Waqf, as well as Public-Private Partnerships. Related: UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Child Poverty as States Push Social Protection Reforms Kano Leads North-West Social Protection Drive With Joint Action Plan KASPA Implements Free Healthcare Programme for Vulnerable Kano Residents She added that the plan prioritises children and vulnerable groups through targeted interventions supported by data-driven systems, harmonised social registries and improved monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. She also said the framework integrates climate-responsive and child-sensitive strategies, while promoting collaboration with communities, civil society organisations and the media. The Chairman of the Social Protection Platform Kano (KASSOP), Comrade Salisu Yusuf, in his presentation, said inadequate funding remained a major challenge affecting programme delivery in the state. He said although policies and programmes were in place, implementation had been weak due to funding constraints. Yusuf urged the Kano State Government to prioritise the release of funds to enable KASPA to effectively execute its mandate. “The implementation of programmes cannot take place without adequate funding. If KASPA is to be assessed since its establishment, the performance is still very low due to these constraints,” he said. He also stressed the need for strict adherence to policy frameworks and measurable indicators to track progress in lifting people out of poverty. Also speaking, an Islamic cleric and Zakat distributor from Jigawa State, Malam Aminu Baba Waziri, called on wealthy individuals to support social protection efforts through proper payment of Zakat. He said effective Zakat distribution could significantly reduce poverty and improve the welfare of vulnerable groups. In his remarks, the Director of Social Protection at the Katsina State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Tijjani Umar, described poverty as a major threat to human survival. He said the persistence of poverty was largely due to unequal distribution of resources and called on state governments to take ownership of social protection programmes. Umar added that development partners, including UNICEF, were providing technical support, but stressed the need for improved coordination, capacity building and effective utilisaption of funds. He noted that Katsina State had taken steps to address some of the challenges through training of social protection focal persons at state and local government levels. He also advised Ministries, Departments and Agencies to adopt proactive measures, including proper documentation and timely submission of memos, to access funds allocated for programme implementation. Meanwhile, a Director in the Kano State Ministry of Livestock Development, Dalhatu Danladi, called for the review of existing social protection policies, noting that many were nearing expiration. He urged stakeholders to update the policies to reflect current realities and ensure sustainability of social protection programmes.

By Umar Idris Shuaibu Kano State has taken a leading role in advancing a coordinated social protection framework in the North-West, as the Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) unveiled a Joint Action Plan aimed at strengthening collaboration among Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States. The plan was presented by the Director General of KASPA, Dr. Fatima Abubakar, during the first quarter 2026 two-day Joint Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office in Kaduna. The initiative marks a shift from policy discussions to practical implementation, outlining priority actions to be executed within the next six to twelve months, alongside clearly defined roles and responsibilities for participating states. Dr. Fatima Abubakar explained that the framework is designed to promote a unified regional system through strengthened inter-state coordination, including regular quarterly TWG meetings, harmonised reporting templates, and the designation of focal persons to ensure effective collaboration. Read Also: UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Child Poverty as States Push Social Protection Reforms 112 Qur’anic Schools join formal education system in Katsina – UNICEF CITAD Distributes School Materials to Nomadic Pupils in Kano, Urges Increased Govt Intervention She further highlighted the importance of sustainable financing in driving social protection programmes, noting that the plan incorporates the creation of dedicated budget lines, mobilisation of Islamic social finance instruments such as Zakat and Waqf, and the exploration of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and donor funding opportunities. The KASPA Director General also emphasised the need to prioritise children and other vulnerable groups through the scaling of Universal Child Benefit programmes, with targeted interventions planned for selected local government areas to ensure inclusivity and impact. According to her, the framework places strong emphasis on data-driven governance through the harmonisation of social registries and deployment of digital systems to enhance transparency, improve targeting accuracy, and ensure efficient delivery of interventions. She added that mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation have been incorporated into the plan, including the development of Key Performance Indicators, periodic performance reviews, and improved grievance redress systems to strengthen accountability. Dr. Abubakar noted that the action plan also integrates climate-responsive and child-sensitive strategies, recognising the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and the need to build resilience within communities. She stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement, calling for stronger collaboration with community leaders, civil society organisations, and the media to drive awareness and support for social protection initiatives. The Director General further reiterated the need for continuous capacity building through training, peer learning, and development of operational guidelines to ensure sustainability and effective service delivery. Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the joint action plan would enhance collaboration among North-West states, accelerate progress in addressing poverty and inequality, and strengthen systems designed to protect vulnerable populations. The development reinforces Kano State’s position as a frontrunner in social protection, particularly with the establishment of KASPA as a dedicated institutional framework, even as Jigawa and Katsina continue efforts to finalise and domesticate their respective social protection laws.

A Social Protection Specialist with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Field Office Kano, Fatimah Musa, has emphasised the critical role of social protection in addressing poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups. Fatimah Musa made this known during a presentation at a two-day Joint Social Protection Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, for Katsina, Kano, and Jigawa States, with support from the UNICEF Kano Field Office in Kaduna. She described social protection as a set of policies and programmes designed to prevent and reduce poverty and inequality throughout an individual’s life cycle, with special focus on vulnerable populations. According to her, social protection ensures stable access to income and essential social services such as healthcare and education, thereby reducing exposure to the risks associated with poverty. She noted that children living in poverty often suffer severe deprivation, including lack of access to nutrition, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter, education, and protection. Quoting the United Nations General Assembly, Musa stressed that deprivation is most harmful to children, as it limits their ability to realise their full potential and participate meaningfully in society. Read Also: KASPA Implements Free Healthcare Programme for Vulnerable Kano Residents NSE Kabuga Branch Supports Nasarawa Children’s Home, Plans Career Guidance Initiative UNIJOS Orders Students to Vacate Hostels Amid Rising Tension in Jos She further explained that a child is considered monetarily poor if they live in a household lacking sufficient financial resources to meet basic needs, while multidimensional child poverty occurs when a child experiences deprivation in at least three key areas of wellbeing. Providing data to underscore the severity of the situation, Musa stated that the national monetary child poverty rate currently stands at 47.6 per cent, with Kano at 59.5 per cent, Jigawa at 89.4 per cent, and Katsina at 61.2 per cent. She added that according to the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, the national rate stands at 67.5 per cent, while Kano records 69.2 per cent, Jigawa 85.6 per cent, and Katsina 75.2 per cent, highlighting the scale of deprivation across the region. Musa stressed that the figures reflect the urgent need for strengthened social protection systems to safeguard children and vulnerable populations. In his remarks, the Katsina State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Malik Anas, reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening social protection policies aimed at reducing poverty and protecting vulnerable populations. He said the meeting provided an opportunity for states in the North-West region to deliberate on shared challenges and develop strategies to address poverty and inequality. The commissioner explained that key components of social protection include social assistance, health insurance, and market development, all of which are essential in addressing the unequal distribution of resources among citizens. He cited data from the World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that poverty remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West region, where poverty rates exceed the national average. According to him, the rising level of poverty underscores the need for comprehensive social protection policies that promote equity, fairness, and improved living standards. Anas warned that extreme poverty exposes young people to risks such as recruitment into banditry and other criminal activities, while also increasing the vulnerability of children to abuse, gender-based violence, and harmful traditional practices. “These challenges have made many children vulnerable in places where they should ordinarily feel safe, including homes, schools, and communities,” he said. He noted that the Katsina State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved several intervention programmes aimed at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable groups. The commissioner also called on participating states to share implementation strategies and strengthen collaboration to achieve sustainable social protection outcomes. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting programmes that promote a just, equitable, and inclusive society where all citizens, particularly children and women, can live and thrive. Anas urged participants to actively contribute to discussions to ensure the success of the meeting. Findings by ‘The Historica Nigeria‘ indicate that Kano State Government has already taken a significant step by establishing the Kano Social Protection Agency (KASPA) to drive its social protection agenda. However, members of the Technical Working Group from Jigawa State revealed that the state’s Social Protection Law is still awaiting final processes, while Katsina State is also awaiting the Governor’s assent for the law to become fully domesticated. The development underscores varying levels of progress among North-West states in institutionalising social protection frameworks, even as stakeholders continue to advocate for stronger policies and coordinated implementation to address poverty and inequality across the region.