By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna The Kano State Government has described an award conferred on it during a programme by the Inst...
The Kano State Government has described an award conferred on it during a programme by the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies, ISSS, at the North-West Conference on Community Security Management and Crime Prevention held in Kaduna.
as “a call to action and more action” on security governance, saying the administration of Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf remains fully committed to protecting lives and property across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, who represented the governor at the event, said the recognition was earned because of practical steps already taken by the administration to tackle insecurity through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“Kano is like a mini-Nigeria. Governing it is not an easy task. It is not for a lazy person,” Waiya said. “That is why His Excellency has been very committed and serious about security governance. So many initiatives have been introduced by the government, and things are really working.”
Comrade Waiya said the government established the Neighbourhood Watch, with about 2,000 young men and women trained and deployed to support conventional security agencies. A structure has been created with a divisional office in each of the 44 local government areas.
The state also launched the Anti-Phone Snatching Corps. According to the commissioner, young men were trained and deployed to different communities to support security agencies in curbing street crime and other social vices.
A major highlight, Waiya noted, is the Safe Corridor programme, described as the first of its kind in northern Nigeria.
“The Safe Corridor is a unique programme introduced by His Excellency, where a number of young men involved in political thuggery and violence have been encouraged to surrender, embrace peace and change their ways,” he said.
So far, about 340 young men have been registered and profiled under the programme. The state government has released more than N500 million for it.
Waiya added that about 1,000 more youths are being prepared for a 40-day rehabilitation and empowerment camp, after which they will be reintegrated into society.
The commissioner said the government has strengthened community policing with a dedicated Special Adviser overseeing the programme. It is also supporting independent, community-led security initiatives in all 44 LGAs.
He disclosed that plans are underway to inaugurate a forum comprising the eight metropolitan local governments. The forum, he said, is an independent citizens’ initiative aimed at supporting the mandated responsibilities of conventional security agencies.
The administration has also strengthened the mandate and activities of the Hisbah Board, which Waiya said has helped to mitigate social conflicts, particularly marital disputes.
Comrade Waiya said the state government now enjoys a cordial working relationship with all security agencies in Kano. The government, he added, provides timely funding support, operational vehicles, and logistics to aid their operations.
“We are working very closely, and we are all working in harmony. We have agreed on one goal: to see how we can tackle insecurity and other security challenges,” he stated.
Linking security to development, the commissioner said Kano’s growing population and status as a cosmopolitan hub require massive investment in infrastructure and essential services.
“Kano has a very large population and has recently been described among the world’s most populous cities. It is a melting pot for Nigerians because people from all parts of Nigeria are living in Kano. Many nationals from different African countries are also living in Kano,” he said.
To address this, the state has presented a budget of about N1.4 trillion, the largest in the history of Kano State and the biggest in northern Nigeria. More than N1 trillion is earmarked for capital expenditure.
“This is to tell you that the government is serious. It is not about spending money on ourselves as government officials but rather dedicating such resources to providing essential services to the people of Kano State,” Waiya said.
He concluded that without political will and commitment, initiatives of this scale would not be possible, and pledged that the administration would continue to scale up efforts to ensure peace and development in Kano.
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