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Category: Kano Update

  • Kano-Morocco partnership may attract $10b in energy sector

    Kano-Morocco partnership may attract $10b in energy sector

    The Kano state government says it will attract over 10 billion dollars investment in renewable energy and solid minerals development from its partnership with Moroccan companies.

    The state government also said the stage was set for the signing of a series of investment Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Kingdom of Morocco.

    This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Kano  by Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the media aide to Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf. 

    He said the agreements cover a period of five years and would focus on renewable energy, agriculture and commerce to reposition its economy.

    Dawakin-Tofa said the development was sequel to a high level investment mission to Morocco led by the governor.

    He said the delegation held strategic meetings with key Moroccan institutions including the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).

    Others are the Moroccan Agency for Africa (OCP Africa) and the Casablanca Chamber of Commerce.

    According to Dawakin-Tofa, the agreements will also explore areas such as investor identification, financing models, and cutting-edge technologies for energy storage, distribution, and industrial use.

    He said the Casablanca Chamber of Commerce, one of Africa’s leading private sector platforms, expressed its willingness to collaborate with the state in areas of renewable energy and solid minerals development.

     “This partnership is expected to boost the state’s economy and contribute to the projections of attracting up to $10 billion in investments over the next five years in line with the state’s strategic investment plan,” he said.

    Dawakin-Tofa said the delegation also met with OCP Africa, one of the world’s largest fertiliser producers.

    “OCP welcomed the partnership, proposing new agricultural development projects that include fertiliser blending plants, advanced supply chain systems, and support for smallholder farmers through modern farming technologies.

    “The visit marks a major milestone in the state’s pursuit of global partnerships to fast-track industrial growth, clean energy transition, and sustainable agricultural development.” 

     According to Dawakin-Tofa, one of the major outcomes of the visit is a proposed partnership with MASEN, which included technical collaboration to support Kano’s transition to clean energy.

     “MASEN, renowned for managing one of Africa’s largest solar power plants in Ouarzazate generating 500 megawatts has pledged to share its expertise, lessons learned, and offer technical support for Kano’s Light-Up Kano Initiative, which aims to generate 2,000 megawatts of solar energy within five years.” 

  • Shake-up: Kano Judiciary sacks corrupt officials 

    Shake-up: Kano Judiciary sacks corrupt officials 

    The Kano State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has dismissed one official and forced another into retirement for taking bribes.

     The decision was made during the commission’s 79th meeting on February 6, chaired by Chief Judge Dije Aboki.  

    According to the judiciary’s spokesperson, Baba Jibo, the disciplinary action followed an investigation by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee (JPCC). 

    The probe was triggered by a complaint from Alhaji Sani Bozo Rimin Gado against Hudu Idris, a registrar at the Upper Sharia Court in Gwarzo, and Abba Bala Gwarzo, a watchman at the same court. 

    The two were accused of extortion and illegal monetary demands. After appearing before the JPCC, they admitted to collecting a total of ₦214,000 in bribes.  

    As a result, Hudu Idris was demoted and placed on immediate compulsory retirement, while Abba Bala Gwarzo’s contract was terminated.  

    The JSC also reinstated three officials—Bilya Abdullahi, Auwalu Khalil, and Ismaila Garba—who had been suspended over allegations of forging a court reversal order. 

    An investigation by the JPCC and a police inquiry found no sufficient evidence to prosecute them. Consequently, their suspensions were lifted, though Bilya Abdullahi received a warning to avoid unethical conduct.  

    The commission also approved several new appointments in the judiciary. Chief Magistrate Hajara Ahmad was named acting chief registrar of the High Court of Justice, while Musa Umar became acting deputy chief registrar for administration and general services. Other appointments included:  

    – Usman Adam as acting deputy chief registrar (Magistracy)  

    – Fatima Yakasai as acting deputy chief registrar (Legal)  

    – Chief Magistrate Hadiza Bello as acting director of the Judicial Service Commission  

    – Chief Magistrate Zuhura Madaki as acting director of the Training Department  

    – Senior Magistrate Malikatu Nuraini as acting assistant director of the Training Department  

  • Kano Emirate Tussle: Kingmaker appeals Court of Appeal Judgement

    Kano Emirate Tussle: Kingmaker appeals Court of Appeal Judgement

    Aminu Dan’Agundi, a kingmaker in Emir Ado Bayero’s cabinet says the faction will appeal the recent Court of Appeal judgement.

    Alhaji Aminu who is senior to the contending emir made the state state in relation to the suit regarding the Kano Emirship.

    In ruling on the matter, the Appeal Court said the Federal High Court, Kano does not have the powers to interfere in the matter, a judgement welcomed by Kano State Government.

    “This ruling validates the government’s lawful actions and clarifies jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, reinforcing the constitutional boundaries of courts in such affairs,’’ said Mr Haruna Dederi the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    However, addressing newsmen in Kano on Sunday, Dan’Agundi said he had instructed his legal team to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling at the Supreme Court.

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    He cited errors in the interpretation of the ruling on the side of government which backs Emir Muhammad Sunusi II for the throne.

    He said it was wrong for the Appeal Court to interpret the case as a chieftaincy matter rather than a fundamental human rights violation.

    Dan’ Agundi said he was not contesting the constitutional power of the Kano State House of Assembly to enact or repeal laws but that the Kano Emirate Council Law 2024 (Repeal) did not follow due process.

    He said as a kingmaker in the Emirate Council he should have been accorded a fair hearing before the emirate council law was repealed.

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    “I went to the Federal High Court Kano to challenge the Kano State Government’s decision.

    “After hearing from all the parties, the trial judge, Justice AM Liman, assumed jurisdiction to hear our case on merit.

    “While delivering its judgment, the Appeal Court heavily relied on Supreme Court citation on Emir of Muri’s case, upholding that any issue relating to chieftaincy affairs has to go back to State High Court.

    “But our case and that of Emir of Muri are different.

    “Since the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain our case, there is nothing I can do than to appeal the judgement,” he said.

    He said challenging the Appeal Court verdict meant that all actions regarding the Emirship be suspended pending the Supreme Court’s final judgment.

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    He, therefore, urged the public to remain calm and wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue.

  • Kano Emirate Tussle: The rumpus is far from over

    Kano Emirate Tussle: The rumpus is far from over

    As a Coalition for Justice and Rule of Law, convened by Dr. Bashir Danmalam faults the interpretation of the Appeal Court judgement by Kano State Government, which implies that the judgement is a validation of the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    They fault the Kano State Government’s interpretation of the judgement of the Court of Appeal regarding the Emir of Kano throne, saying it was concerned with the government’s stance on the court ruling.

    Danmalam said contrary to the opinion of the government, the Court of Appeal never validated the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    Similarly, he said, the Court of Appeal did not validate the disputed current government’s actions regarding the chieftaincy appointments and reforms in the state’s traditional institutions.

    He argued that the Court of Appeal never validated, legalised or upheld the disputed actions of the Executive Governor of Kano State pursuant to the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    “Independent and unbiased minds appreciate the fact that the judgement of the Court of Appeal are two in numbers.

    “One overturned the ruling of the Federal High Court on jurisdiction and the other overturned the entire judgement of the Kano State High Court,” he said.

    Aminu Ado Bayero (l), Muhammadu Sanusi II (r)

    According to him, the judgement of the Court of Appeal in respect of the Federal High Court ruling held that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters.

    “The judgement is not in support of any of the postulations of the Kano State government.

    “On the other side of the divide, the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the sister appeal is clearly in favour of His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero and the other 4 Emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye.

    “This is because the Kano State High Court had earlier declared them improper by virtue of the new Emirate Law of 2024 and further directed the removal of His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero,’’ he said.

    He said the suit before the High Court was instituted by the government seeking nullification of the Emirship of Bayero, which the court granted to pave way for legitimacy of Alhaji Muhammad Sunusi II.

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    Danmalam said the implications of the Appeal Court judgement was that the continuous occupation of the throne by Bayero remained legitimate while the attempted enthronement of Sunusi remained questionable.

    “We extend our appreciation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of justice and fairness.

    “We therefore strongly advise the Kano State Government to stop misleading itself and the public that the judgement of the Court of Appeal is in its favour,” he said.

    Most news organisations, including the Nigerian Anchor recalls that the Kano State Government welcomed the judgement as a validation of Sanusi’s Emirship,

    “This ruling validates the government’s lawful actions and clarifies jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, reinforcing the constitutional boundaries of the courts in such affairs,“ said Mr Haruna Dederi the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    However, the Bayero camp has indicated that it would appeal against the Appeal Court judgement at the Supreme Court.

    “I have already instructed my lawyers to obtain a certified true copy of the judgement.

    “Once an appeal is lodged at the Supreme Court, the decision of a lower court is stayed until the case is fully resolved,” said Aminu Dan’Agundi, senior counsel to Bayero.

    The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was first crowned Sarki Muhammadu Sunusi II (anglicized as Sanusi) on 9 June 2014, the fifty-seventh monarch of the ancient-city Kano.

    He was however, ousted in 2020 by then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state after being accused of showing “insubordination” to the authorities.

    His supporters were however, of the believe that he was sacked as he showed signs of opposing the re-election of the governor.

    After his dethronement, Governor Ganduje influenced the Kano state house of assembly to pass a law that created five new emirates in the state and appointed Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the new Emir in Kano.

    The Emir of Kano, hierarchically is the fourth-most-important Islamic traditional ruler in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto, Shehu of Borno and Emir of Gwandu.

    Informed sources in Kano opine that the current ping pong represents power play between the federal government and the kano state government, with each favouring a particular candidate as emir.

  • Sanusi Speaks On Sealing Of Kano Palace By Security Operatives 

    Sanusi Speaks On Sealing Of Kano Palace By Security Operatives 

    The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed confusion over the recent blockade of the Gidan Rumfa Palace in Kano, which took place last week. 

    Despite the police and Department of State Services (DSS) blocking the entrance and restricting movement, the reasons for the action remain unclear.

    Sources revealed that the blockade might be linked to the appointment of Munir Sanusi as the new District Head of Bichi or a planned discussion on controversial tax reforms.

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    The Kano State Government has criticized the Federal Government for the security action, but the Emir emphasized that it should not distract from the important affairs of the palace. 

    Speaking to a delegation from Bichi, Sanusi reassured the people that the event would be rescheduled, and the District Head would be installed peacefully. 

    He urged Bichi residents to remain calm and peaceful, reflecting on his personal connection to the area where he spent much of his childhood vacations.

    Sanusi, who has deep ties to the Bichi community, highlighted the area’s peaceful nature and strong educational and religious values. 

    He also mentioned the respect the people have for the Wambai Abubakar, further reinforcing his belief in the unity of the Bichi people.

  • Emir of Kano Palace Barricaded By Security Operatives

    Emir of Kano Palace Barricaded By Security Operatives

     

    Tensions have flared in Kano as the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, faced restrictions reportedly imposed by armed security forces. 

    The Emir’s palace was cordoned off, allegedly preventing him from attending a royal ceremony in Bichi Local Government Area.  

    The ceremony was meant to mark the presentation of a staff of office to the new District Head of Bichi. 

    However, heavily armed security personnel, including armoured vehicles, blocked the palace entrance, halting all movements. 

    Reports revealed the Emir, prepared to travel, was compelled to remain indoors as the situation unfolded.  

    Attempts by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to mediate were reportedly thwarted, as his representatives were denied access to the palace. 

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    Additionally, the Bichi event venue was similarly barricaded, leaving attendees and organizers in limbo.  

    The reasons for the actions remain unclear, fueling widespread speculation of political motivations. 

    Neither the Kano State Government nor the Emirate Council has released an official statement, while police authorities declined to comment on the matter.

  • Kano Governor Returns Minors Arrested For Protesting to Parents

    Kano Governor Returns Minors Arrested For Protesting to Parents

    Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has returned 76 minors detained during the August #EndBadGovernance protests to their families. 

    The handover took place on Thursday at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, where the children had been cared for after being arrested for their involvement in the protests, which called attention to governance issues in Kano and Nigeria at large. 

    Governor Yusuf, represented by his Chief of Staff Shehu Sagagi, acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s role in securing the minors’ release. In his address, he urged parents to collaborate with the state government in providing quality education for their children, which he believes is key to the state’s growth.

     He also cautioned parents against using any associations to solicit funds, as such behavior would not be tolerated.

    Kano’s Education Commissioner, Haruna Doguwa, shared that steps had been taken to support the minors’ educational journeys, including providing school uniforms for 50 of them. 

    Additionally, a final-year student protester would be assisted in completing their studies, and another with a National Certificate in Education would be given a job.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Abubakar Yusuf confirmed that the minors had all received medical treatment during their stay at the hospital before being reunited with their families.

     The event also saw former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, donate N50,000 to each child for their education.

  • New Minister Targets APC Victory in Kano 2027  

    New Minister Targets APC Victory in Kano 2027  

    Yusuf Ata, the newly appointed junior Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has set his sights on reclaiming Kano State for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. 

    During his maiden visit to Kano following his swearing-in, Ata emphasized his political mission to strengthen the party’s position in the state, particularly in Kano Central, his home base.  

    Ata’s appointment follows a recent cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu, which saw the dismissal of Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing. 

    Gwarzo has since criticized the decision, suggesting that Nasiru Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, would have been a better choice for the role to bolster the party’s influence in Kano Central.  

    Despite the controversy, Ata has vowed to balance his ministerial duties with frequent visits to Kano to spearhead APC’s efforts in regaining control of the state. 

    Gwarzo, meanwhile, has pledged continued support for the President’s administration, stating that his removal was politically motivated rather than performance-related.  

  • Fiscal 2025: Kano Gov proposes 31% for education 

    Fiscal 2025: Kano Gov proposes 31% for education 

    Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has presented the 2025 Fiscal appropriation of N549.16billion to the state house of assembly, with education accounting for 168.4 billion or 31 percent.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Governor on his X handle on Friday, November 8.

    He disclosed that Capital expenditure stands at N312,634,912,672.18 billion, while recurrent expenditure takes 236,525,504,990.82 billion.

    According to Yusuf’s statement, the budget aims for a capital-to-recurrent expenditure ratio of 57:43 upon approval.

    The statement reads: “This morning, I had the honor of presenting the Kano State 2025 Fiscal Budget, totaling N549,160,417,663.00 billion, before the Kano State House of Assembly. Capital expenditure stands at N312,634,912,672.18 billion, while recurrent expenditure takes 236,525,504,990.82 billion. 

    “This budget is projected to have a ratio of capital to recurrent 57:43 percent, respectively, when approved. Important sectors of the economy have their share as follows; Education: 168.4 billion (31%) Health: N90. 6 billion Transport: N12. 2 billion Agriculture: N21.03 billion Water Resources : N27. 23billion Infrastructure Development: N70.78 billion.

    “It could be recalled that the 2024 budget was presented before the honorable house in October last year, containing a budgetary size of N437.3billion and tagged as ‘Budget of Restoration and Transformation’, with recurrent allocation of N157.5 billion and capital allocation of N279.8 billion. 

    “The general performance of the 2024 approved budget stood at 77% percent in terms of Recurrent Revenue, while the Expenditure has a performance of 65% from January to August 2024, respectively.”

  • Kano State Promotes Teachers, Staff, New Education Initiative

    Kano State Promotes Teachers, Staff, New Education Initiative

    Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf of Kano State has approved the promotion of 20,542 personnel within the state’s primary and junior secondary schools, covering both teaching and non-teaching staff for the years 2023 and 2024.

     The development was disclosed by the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Yusuf Kabir, during a meeting with various education stakeholders held in Kano on Monday.

    The promotions, scheduled for implementation in October, are part of the administration’s broader goal to enhance the welfare and motivation of education personnel across the state.

     Kabir encouraged the beneficiaries to demonstrate renewed commitment to their duties, underlining that the state government expects a positive impact on student performance and overall educational quality.

    Additionally, he called upon community leaders, Islamic scholars, and organizations to play a proactive role in advocating for school enrollment among children in their communities. 

    This step, he stated, would be crucial in ensuring that the benefits of the state’s investment in education reach as many children as possible.

    Attendees at the meeting acknowledged the governor’s consistent efforts to improve the educational system.

     They highlighted recent actions like distributing educational materials, constructing new classrooms, renovating existing ones, and providing specialized training for teachers as evidence of the administration’s dedication to uplifting Kano’s educational standards.

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