Kano

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, on Sunday reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system as he inspected seven major health projects he facilitated at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). The inspection, which drew attention to the federal government’s investment in specialized healthcare infrastructure, was conducted alongside four Senators — Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream), Muntari Dandutse (Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND), Babangida Hussaini (Chairman, Senate Committee on North West Development Commission), and Abdulhamid Malam-Madori (Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs). The projects include the construction and equipping of a cardiothoracic centre, internal road construction at the College of Health Sciences (BUK-AKTH premises), construction of a student hostel at the College of Nursing Sciences, interlocking works at the Department of Radiology, S. S. Wali Centre, and Speciality Clinic Annexe, as well as the construction of classrooms and offices at the School of Health Information Management (SHIM), and the establishment of a pediatrics complex. Read Also: FG Clarifies: English, Mathematics Still Compulsory for O’Level Students In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau said the projects align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for improved healthcare delivery, noting that they aim to reduce medical tourism and enhance Nigeria’s healthcare capacity. “What we are doing now, in terms of developing this institution into an advanced, specialized hospital, is in line with the President’s vision,” Barau said. “The President’s cardinal priority is to ensure sound healthcare delivery at a specialized level. With the investments being made, Nigerians will no longer need to travel abroad for treatment.” He emphasized the National Assembly’s support for the President’s reform agenda, assuring continued legislative backing to strengthen the health sector and other critical areas of national development. “We are all members of Mr. President’s family. We are working based on his teachings and commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges. What you have seen is only the beginning. We shall continue to develop this hospital until it becomes the best in West Africa,” he added. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of AKTH, Professor Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, commended Senator Barau’s consistent support, noting that his contributions were helping to position AKTH as the best teaching hospital in Nigeria. On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, expressed appreciation for Senator Barau’s intervention, stating that within two months of his tenure, the institution had already benefited from two major projects facilitated by the Deputy Senate President.

The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Kano State Chapter, in collaboration with El’s Empowerment Foundation, has organized a health check-up and awareness campaign to promote wellness and discourage illicit drug use among women in Kano. This was conveyed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who noted that the event was designed to encourage women to prioritize their health and sensitize them on the dangers of substance abuse and criminal activities. Read Also: The Power of Innuendo: Inside Dan’uwa Rano’s “Letter of Malam Imalu” and the Role of Subtle Truth in Journalism The event, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bompai, featured collaboration with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Women Wing, targeting women across the eleven Police Area Commands in the state. The Chairperson of POWA, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim Bakori, urged women to embrace regular medical check-ups, focus on moral upbringing of their children, and avoid involvement in social vices. Similarly, the President of El’s Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. Adesuwa, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering women through health and skills development initiatives. In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, commended POWA, PCRC, and El’s Foundation for their commitment to promoting community welfare and security, describing the initiative as a step toward strengthening police-community relations in the state.

Kano-based broadcast journalist Ibrahim Ishaq, popularly known as Dan’uwa Rano, has regained his freedom after being detained for several days at the Zone 1 Police Headquarters in Kano. His release followed mounting pressure from rights groups, including the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Amnesty International, and several civil society organizations, who condemned his arrest as unlawful and an attempt to suppress press freedom. Dan’uwa Rano was arrested after a petition filed by Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, Director-General of Protocol to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who accused the journalist of defamation over an online audio commentary aired on Dan’uwa Rano TV. Read Also: CITAD Condemns Arrest of Journalist Dan’uwa Rano, Calls It an Assault on Press Freedom Sources said the commentary, which referenced alleged corruption involving government officials, did not directly mention Rogo’s name but was widely interpreted as pointing toward him. Court and investigation documents previously reviewed by Daily Nigerian revealed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have linked Rogo to the diversion of over ₦6.5 billion in public funds. The funds were allegedly laundered through companies such as H&M Nigeria Limited, A.Y. Maikifi Petroleum, and Ammas Oil and Gas Limited. Investigations have so far led to the recovery of ₦1.1 billion, while a Federal High Court in Kano ordered the forfeiture of ₦142.2 million linked to Rogo to the ICPC. The CITAD, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y. Z. Ya’u, said Rano’s arrest was “unwarranted and represents a dangerous trend of intolerance and misuse of power to intimidate journalists.” The organization reminded authorities that freedom of expression and media rights are protected under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution. Similarly, Amnesty International described the journalist’s detention as “a violation of constitutional rights and a misuse of law enforcement to silence dissenting voices.” Rano’s arrest and detention drew widespread criticism across Nigeria’s media and civic space, with many describing it as an embarrassment to democratic governance. He was finally released on Tuesday evening after intense public pressure. Speaking briefly after regaining his freedom, Dan’uwa Rano expressed gratitude to journalists, rights defenders, and the public for standing by him, saying: “This is not just about me — it’s about the freedom of the press in Kano and Nigeria as a whole. The truth cannot be silenced.” Civil society organizations have called on the Nigeria Police and Kano State Government to respect journalists’ rights and ensure that future grievances are addressed through lawful and transparent processes.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has condemned the arrest of digital journalist Ibrahim Ishaq, popularly known as Dan’uwa Rano, describing it as an attempt to silence the media and suppress free expression in Kano State. Dan’uwa, founder of Dan’uwa Rano TV, was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police, Zone One Command, over an online audio commentary in which he allegedly suggested that a government official was collecting money from individuals seeking access to the Kano State Governor. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y. Z. Ya’u, CITAD said the police action was “unwarranted and represents a dangerous trend of intolerance and misuse of power to intimidate journalists.” Read Also: Police Yet to Release Dan’uwa Rano After Petition by Kano Government Official According to Ya’u, the journalist did not mention any names in his commentary, but it was alleged that the Director-General of Protocol to the Kano State Governor filed a complaint that led to his arrest. “The arrest of a journalist for performing his constitutional duty of informing the public is a gross abuse of power and a violation of democratic norms,” the statement read. CITAD described the incident as part of a broader assault on press freedom and civic participation in Nigeria, reminding authorities that freedom of expression is protected under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Ya’u stressed that the Nigeria Police should act as “a protector of rights, not an instrument of oppression.” The organisation therefore called for the immediate and unconditional release of the journalist and urged both the Nigeria Police and the Kano State Government to desist from further acts of intimidation against media practitioners. CITAD also appealed to civil society groups, media organisations, and human rights defenders to speak out against what it described as “a growing pattern of press suppression.” “A society that silences its journalists denies citizens access to truth and accountability,” Ya’u added. The group reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom, digital rights, and journalists’ safety in Nigeria, pledging to continue resisting any form of censorship or intimidation targeting the media or citizens exercising their right to free speech.

The Nigeria Police, Zone One Headquarters, Kano, have questioned popular broadcast journalist Ibrahim Ishaq, popularly known as Dan’uwa Rano, over allegations of defamation and operating an online television channel without approval from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Report says that the interrogation followed a petition by the Director-General of Protocol at the Kano State Government House, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, who accused the journalist of defaming him through reports aired on Danuwa Rano TV, an online media platform. The journalist was invited to the Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano on Saturday, where he was grilled over the allegations. Read Also: Northwest University Kano Appoints Professor Aisha Garba Habib as Acting Vice Chancellor The development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Rogo, who is reportedly under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged financial irregularities involving contracts worth about ₦6.5 billion. According to an earlier report by Daily Nigerian, the ICPC had recovered over ₦1.1 billion from Rogo as part of its probe into alleged misappropriation of public funds. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also said to be investigating related transactions linked to fictitious contracts and fund diversions through corporate and personal accounts. However, the Kano State Government has denied the corruption allegations, describing them as politically motivated. In a statement signed by the Governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the government said the reports were “a work of fiction aimed at tarnishing the image of government officials.” Meanwhile, journalists and civil society organizations in Kano have condemned the police interrogation of Dan’uwa Rano, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the media and silence critical voices in the state. As of the time of filing this report, neither the police nor the NBC had released an official statement regarding the interrogation or the alleged licensing violations.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, has tied the knot with Safiya Tofa in a quiet wedding ceremony that took place earlier this week. Report says that the wedding fatiha was conducted discreetly and attended by a small circle of family members and close associates, with no official public announcement made beforehand. PSC Appoints DIG, Elevates Kankarofi to CP, 481 Other Senior Officers The private ceremony, observers say, reflects the Chairman’s preference for modest celebrations despite his political prominence in Kano State.