A Professor of History at Bayero University, Kano, Tijjani Naniya, has attributed Nigeria’s lingering security challenges to the neglect of the core values of traditional administration. Naniya made the assertion on Sunday during the second anniversary celebration of the Kano Patriotic Front, popularly known as Rundunar Kishin Kano, held at the Kano Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair Complex. According to him, the modern political system has sidelined traditional rulers, with political leaders no longer recognising them as partners in the administration of public affairs. He argued that the exclusion of traditional institutions from governance has weakened grassroots administration and community-based security mechanisms, thereby worsening insecurity across the country. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Northern Reform Organization, Alhaji Gidado Mukhtar, urged Kano residents to reflect on how the state’s long-standing values have been eroded. Mukhtar recalled that under the former Native Authority system, Kano recorded significant achievements in governance and service delivery. He said the Native Authority owned and managed public institutions such as native courts, police, printing press, schools, agricultural and grazing reserves, abattoirs, industrial zones, hospitals, cattle vaccination centres, water treatment plants, and forest resources, all under the supervision of the Kano Emirate system. Read Also: Tinubu’s Forest Guards Initiative Takes Off as 7,000 Personnel Graduate Lere: A Historic Fulani Settlement and Cultural Crossroads in Kaduna End of an Era: Prominent Nigerians and Global Icons We Lost in 2025 He attributed the success of the Native Authority system to trust, justice, accountability, and contentment among leaders at the time, noting that traditional rulers now largely serve ceremonial roles, as many of their responsibilities have been transferred to constitutional governments. Mukhtar called on the public to re-examine past governance structures in order to identify where mistakes were made and how recurring problems can be addressed. Also speaking, a private security expert, Dr. Yahuza Getso, said Nigeria’s security challenges have not been given the attention they deserve. He advocated strengthening local and community policing to curb drug abuse and trafficking, stressing the need for residents to monitor activities within their communities and report suspicious movements to security agencies. Getso noted that security is a collective responsibility and urged citizens to know their neighbours and remain vigilant. He cited examples from some Asian countries where community-driven development and local security structures have proven effective in addressing crime. He also raised concerns over security threats in some Kano markets, including Kurmi Market, and certain motor parks, while commending the Kano State Government for taking steps to address the situation. In his presentation, Dr. Sulaiman Isyaku Muhammad of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Federal University Dutse, called for a return to traditional security systems as a viable strategy for addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges. He explained that indigenous security structures, which were rooted in community participation and local intelligence, played a significant role in maintaining peace in the past. According to him, adapting these traditional mechanisms to complement modern security frameworks would strengthen crime prevention and enhance grassroots security across the country. In his address, Major General Ibrahim Sani (rtd.) said the Kano Patriotic Front was established to restore Kano’s historic role as a major economic, commercial, and cultural hub in sub-Saharan Africa, recalling the state’s past prominence as a key trade centre in Africa. He explained that the association focuses on interventions in security, water and sanitation, education, healthcare, tree planting, and digitisation. He noted that the group has made progress in curbing Daba activities in parts of Kano metropolis through youth empowerment and skills acquisition programmes. Sani added that the association has also supported agricultural activities, water projects, women empowerment, and environmental sustainability, while urging residents to preserve the legacy of late General Murtala Mohammed and embrace digitisation for relevance in the modern era. Meanwhile, Khalifa Aminu, a beneficiary of the Kano Patriotic Front, said the Chairman of the association played a crucial role in nurturing his innovation skills. With the encouragement and mentorship of the retired military officer, he was able to develop sensor-based space glass and other technological solutions, describing the support as vital to his personal growth and creative development. He further urged wealthy individuals and government officials to emulate this gesture by supporting the younger generation, noting that such initiatives would help address community challenges and empower youths to become self-reliant.
