In the spirit of the Salah celebrations, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has pardoned 136 inmates.
The inmates were freed from the Goron Dutse Medium Correctional Centre on Wednesday following what the governor described as a positive change in their behavior.
He also explained that the move is in line with the government’s efforts to decongest the correctional centres.
Governor Ganduje challenged the freed inmates to keep up their good behavior.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano.
The vaccine was administered to him by his personal physician, Dr Fakhraddeen Muhammad, in the presence of some members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Kano Emirate, and some frontline health workers, among others.
Governor Ganduje registered officially for the vaccine before his personal physician administered it to him.
He called on the residents of the state to cooperate with health officials in the course of exercise.
The governor gave an assurance that the state government would not relent in making sure that COVID-19 was adequately tamed in the state.
In his brief remarks, the Commissioner for Health in Kano, Dr Ibrahim Tsanyawa, thanked the governor for the investment of his administration in the fight against COVID-19 in the state.
“Sir, we are very grateful that you provided many things needed in this area; we are glad for your good leadership in the fight against the pandemic,” Dr Tsanyawa told the governor.
He gave an assurance that the state Ministry of Health was ready for the vaccination exercise in the state.
“As His Excellency is having his vaccine now, it shows that the vaccine is safe and exclusively meant for the purpose it is provided for – that is to prevent people from contracting the pandemic.
“We want people to be aware that His Excellency, the governor, is taking the lead in the state,” the commissioner added.
The vaccination of the governor, which marks the beginning of the exercise in the state, comes two days after he held a series of sensitisation meetings with different sections of stakeholders, including the security agencies and healthcare professionals.
During the meetings, Governor Ganduje made it very clear that the state government would follow all possible strategies to ensure that the fight against the pandemic was stronger.
With the governor taking his vaccine, the exercise has commenced officially in Kano.
The Kano State government has rolled out its COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and identified 509 health facilities that will be used as vaccination centres.
Some of the centres proposed for the exercise include the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, and Dala Orthopaedic Hospital, among others.
Speaking at a stakeholder sensitisation meeting on Monday, the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, explained that the exercise would follow the same pattern used during the polio vaccination in order to reach the entire people of the state.
“We also need to follow the same pattern with that of our effort during the first wave of the COVID-19 and to achieve this, our health workers are well trained for that and they are recognised to be one of the best in the country.
“They performed wonderfully well before and during the first wave of the pandemic; they are still sustaining the tempo,” the governor said.
He noted that for effective administration, all categories of people would be involved in the sensitisation programmes, especially the health-related professional associations.
Governor Ganduje also gave an assurance that the state government, along with all the stakeholders, would ensure they win the fight against the pandemic.
On his part, the Technical Coordinator of the Kano State COVID-19 Response Team, Dr Tijjani Hussaini, noted that there would be four phases for the proposed vaccination exercise in the state.
“The first phase will focus on frontline health workers, the second phase focuses on the remaining health workers and people above 50 years, the third phase will focus on people with underlying health issues, and the fourth phase will focus on other target population,” he outlined.
Dr Hussaini, however, stressed the need for people to come forth and register online, using the link – http://t.co/85Rj6MbZYU.
He explained that this was important for the Federal Government to make the vaccines available as much as possible for the state.
A Professor of Public Health at the Bayero University in Kano, Mukhtar Gandanya, made a presentation titled ‘COVID-19 Vaccine: Facts, Misconception and Myths’.
He insisted that the vaccine was safe and condemned the insinuations that it was not safe for use.
Others at the meeting included heads of security agencies in the state, such as police, army, air force, civil defence, and immigration service.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje on Saturday ordered the closure of four tertiary institutions in the state.
On Friday Ganduje had ordered the closure of ten boarding schools in the state.
The closures were preceded by the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in neighbouring Zamfara State.
“The Kano State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has directed the closure of some tertiary institutions in the state with immediate effect,” a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Higher Education Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, said.
The schools involved are RMK College of Advanced and Remedial Studies, T/Wada; School of Environmental Studies Gwarzo; School of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Dev (SORTED), Rano and ABCOAD, Dambatta.
All students of the affected schools were also advised to vacate the campuses as soon as possible.
Dr. Bunkure said the date for school re-opening will be communicated later, noting that all inconveniences are regretted.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, says a presidential slot should be given to the southern region.
Ganduje stated this in Kano during an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today which aired on Friday.
“The Southern part of the country but there should be a consensus of the members,” he said in reaction to which zone should produce the 2023 presidency.
“Zoning system even though it is not in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is a strategy for winning elections.”
When asked if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has done well for Nigerians since sweeping to power in 2015, the governor replied in the affirmative.
He said the APC under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership improved on Nigeria’s security situation as well as fixing the nation’s economy.
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Ganduje is therefore confident that the ruling party would win the 2023 general election and maintain its winning streak by holding to power at the federal level.
“I think in 2023, APC will win the election because more people are coming into the party. Though we lost some governors because of intraparty problems, at the same time some are coming into the party.
“Also there is a very strong movement now to reconcile the major actors and I think that is also making the party stronger,” he added.
The governor said he is hopeful that despite the wranglings within the APC, the party would resolve all differences and put its house in order before 2023.
He however advised the party’s leadership to do a lot of planning and research to adopt the best option and approach in winning subsequent polls in the country.
The Kano state government has announced the imposition of a fresh ban on the activities of viewing and event centres across the state following an increase in new COVID-19 cases.
The State Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, in a statement, said the measure was part of decision at a stakeholders meeting held at the Africa House, Kano on Monday.
He said all civil servants in the state have also been directed to stay at home pending further instruction.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Records 1,617 New COVID-19 Cases, 14 More Deaths
Garba, however, explained that workers on essential services such as the healthcare service providers, fire service, water board, teaching staff, security guards and the media are exempted from the ban.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders that included the Ulama, Islamic instructors, to ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols.
Garba’s statement also warned that security agents who were part of the stakeholders’ meeting would not hesitate to take stern measures to ensure compliance with the directive.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Kano recorded 26 new cases of the virus on Monday.
In total, the state has reported 2,617 cases of the novel coronavirus with over 70 deaths.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has ordered the immediate closure of all public and private schools in the state.
The Kano State Commissioner of Education, Sanusi Kiru, who disclosed this to Channels Television on Tuesday evening, said the state government also closed down “all public and private health training institutions, including schools of basic/postbasic nursing and midwifery, schools of health technology and school of hygiene with immediate effect.”
The commissioner asked parents whose children are in boarding schools to pick them on Wednesday.
“His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Kano State has approved the closure of all public and Private Schools in the State with immediate effect,” he said.
“Parents whose children are in boarding schools are to also arrange and convey their children/ wards back home from tomorrow, Wednesday, 16th December 2020.”
Although the state government did not give the reason for the immediate closure, it is believed to be connected to the abduction of 333 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in neighbouring Katsina State on Friday night.
READ ALSO: Like Kaduna, Jigawa Govt Orders Closure Of Schools Over Rising COVID-19 Cases
Following the unfortunate incident, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack, in what appears to be a major expansion of the jihadist group’s activities into new areas.
“I am Abubakar Shekau and our brothers are behind the kidnapping in Katsina,” the leader of Boko Haram said in a voice message.
More than 100 gunmen on motorcycles stormed the rural school north of Kankara town, forcing students to flee and hide in the surrounding bush.
The immediate closure of the schools comes three days to the end of the third term as schools in Kano were expected to vacate on Friday, December 18.
Meanwhile, the parents of the abducted GSSS, Kankara students have converged on the premises of the school patiently waiting for their children to return as promised by the government.
Their gathering is coming less than one week after the abduction took the nation by surprise.
The parents have also been recounting their experiences as they continue to hope for the return of their children.
Speaking to Channels Television, two of the parents said they couldn’t sleep, adding that they will continue to be spending the night at the school until their children are rescued safely.
Upon arrival at the school gate on Tuesday, Channels Television discovered that the Ƙanƙara school is located at the centre of a bush leading to some scattered settlements some of which are Zango and Dansabau in Zamfara border axis.
It also gathered that besides the school fence is a busy road leading to Ƙanƙara weekly Tuesday Market with daily business activities on the increase.
The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero said the creation of Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, and Rano Emirates council by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was to carry everyone along.
Bayero disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving his Karaye counterpart, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II on an allegiance visit over his confirmation as permanent Chairman, Kano State council of chiefs.
“The rationale behind establishing an additional four Emirates was to bring the subjects closer to the traditional leaders,” he said while reiterating his resolve to ensure justice and fairness for all.
“Nothing good will be achieved by going in isolation; my doors remain open for complimenting any effort that will go a long way in improving the lots of the teeming populace.”
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has commended ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting the outcome of the 2015 general elections where he was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a book launch in Jonathan’s honour, Ganduje said the acceptance of the poll’s result by the former President was a boost for Africa and democracy in general.
“After the 2015 presidential election, suddenly we learned that you congratulated the President-elect then, Muhammadu Buhari. Not only that we were shocked, we were also marvelled. We said this must be a true Nigerian,” Ganduje was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary.
“We salute you for that Sir. You did not make the name for yourself, but for Nigeria, Africa and other developing nations of the world and for democracy as a whole.
“During the United States of America’s presidential election, it was around 2 am, when I was watching the result of the election when President Donald Trump was refuting the results.
“A friend of mine said to me ‘Goodluck Jonathan must be an Angel.’ I asked ‘why? He said ‘Look President Trump is refuting election results.”
READ ALSO: I Was Never Under Pressure To Sack Ex-Army Chief, Ihejirika – Jonathan
The governor also hailed Jonathan for the establishment of Tsangaya schools across many northern states, adding that it was a good initiative to wipe away social problems from the society.
According to him, it was during the ex-President’s tenure that the curriculum was widened and deepened to produce more quality people with various types of skills to earn their living.
“Almajiri issue has been a problem for us; the system was adulterated from its original position when pupils learned the Holy Qur’an without this issue of begging, as it is obtained now. During your time, you just decided to create Tsangaya schools.
“As we also modified the system, we are now establishing more Almajiri schools in Kano State. So we have to thank you for that important legacy,” he added.
The Kano State Governorship concluded plans to build 5,000 housing units for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state, under the first phase of a scheme aimed at providing decent accommodation for teachers and their families.
According to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, the scheme tagged Teachers Reserved Areas (TRA) will be implemented jointly by the state government, Family Homes Funds and the Federal Mortgage Bank.
Ganduje who announced this late Saturday evening during a stakeholder’s meeting at the Government House in Kano explained that “each of the 36 rural local governments will have 100 housing units while the remaining eight metropolitan local governments will have 150 housing units each.”
He said the state government “would provide the land, auxiliary facilities such as water, electricity and roads while other aspects would be handled by the partners.”
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The governor, however, pointed out that participation in the scheme, which would commence next year, is optional and the beneficiaries would pay for the houses in easy instalments.
To Ganduje, his administration is concerned about ensuring affordability of and access to houses for the teachers so that they do not become destitute when they retire from active service.
He said a technical committee under the Executive Chairman of the State Policy Coordination and Policy Implementation Directorate, Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi has been set up to fashion out modalities for smooth implementation of the project.
On his part, Bichi maintained that the teachers housing initiative was to complement the state Free and Compulsory Education Policy.
“The last time houses were built for teachers in Kano was during the days of the Native Authority”, he said, stressing that the government would tap into available resources at Federal financial institutions, to make the dream a reality.
The East Carolina University has apologised to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje over an appointment that stirred controversy.
A worker of the university had sent a letter to the governor appointing him as a Senior Mentoring Scholar and Visiting Full Professor of e-governance and International Affairs on of the institution.
The school had subsequently denied the appointment, making the state government demand an apology.
However, the university expressed regret and also acknowledged the governor’s educational accomplishments, saying, “You have appropriate credentials generally held by those appointed to faculty positions.”
READ ALSO: Kano Govt Launches Anti-Corruption Documents, Commissions Institute
The letter, signed by the Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. B. Grant Hayes, said the content of the letter earlier forwarded to the governor was not the intention of the university to ignite any embarrassment.
“I regret that this situation has caused you some measure of embarrassment, as that was neither the intention of Carolina University nor was it the reason for the letter,” it added.
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has asked the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to be neutral in the forthcoming local government elections slated for early 2021.
This call was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar.
According to the statement, the governor made the demand during the swearing-in of the newly screened and appointed Commissioners of the electoral umpire, during the State Executive Council meeting.
He gave the assurance that nobody would interfere in the operations of the Commission before, during or after the election coming up soon.
“As our Electoral Commission is bracing up for the local government election coming up early next year, we resolved to make the Commission complete for immediate operation,” he said.
“We have the remaining of only one Commissioner now, who will also be screened by the State House of Assembly. We all believe that KANSIEC must be complete for good and smooth operation.
“Even though you are appointed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, but when it comes to work, don’t be partisan. You have to, in fact, you must maintain neutrality in whatever you are doing.”
The newly appointed and sworn-in Commissioners are Ahmad Rufa’i Yalwa, Idris Haruna Geza and A’isha Abubakar Bichi.
He also charged them to be diligent and transparent in their official engagements, stressing “You should do everything possible to make sure that you remain as independent as your name suggests.”
