Kano Marks 2025 UHC Day With Historic Health Coverage Expansion as KSCHMA Reports 87.6% Growth Kola Oyelere, Kano Kano State on Thursday celebrated the 2025 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day with a landmark announcement: the state’s health insurance enrolment has surged by 87.6% within two years—its highest expansion since inception. Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), Dr. Rahila Mukhtar, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters, describing the achievement as evidence that Kano is “breaking the barrier of unaffordable healthcare costs.” She said the global UHC Day theme, “Unaffordable Health Costs:…
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School of community networks concludes 5th edition, Trains 25 experts to drive connectivity in underserved communities Kola Oyelere Kano The School of Community Networks has wrapped up its 5th edition, marking five consecutive years of training local experts to deploy community-driven connectivity solutions across underserved areas in Nigeria. This year, 25 participants successfully completed the intensive programme, designed to build technical capacity for designing, installing and maintaining community network infrastructure. He emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that rural and marginalised communities are not left behind in the digital age. Speaking at the closing…
Dangote refinery cuts petrol ex-depot price to ₦699 as festive travel peaks Kola Oyelere, Kano Dangote Refinery has again slashed its petrol ex-depot price, reducing the gantry rate by 15.58 per cent from ₦828 to ₦699 per litre, effective Thursday, 11 December 2025. The move marks the refinery’s 20th price review this year, underscoring its aggressive pricing strategy as millions of Nigerians prepare for peak yuletide travel. According to senior officials of the refinery, the latest adjustment is aimed at easing transportation burdens ahead of Christmas and New Year festivities. The company noted that the review aligns with its commitment…
Kano fire service intensifies harmattan safety campaign in Danbatta Kola Oyelere Kano The Kano State Fire Service, Danbatta Branch, has stepped up its harmattan fire-prevention campaign with a community sensitization exercise held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at the palace of the Danbatta District Head. The awareness program, supervised by Assistant Director Hassan Abba Gaya, is part of the Service’s wider effort to educate residents on the heightened risk of fire outbreaks during the dry season and the precautions necessary to prevent loss of lives and property. During the engagement, officers advised community members to adopt safe practices when handling…
NDLEA, LESPADA strengthen collaboration against drug abuse in Kano Kola Oyelere Kano The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, CN DY Lawal, on Thursday received the Executive Director of the League for Societal Protection Against Drug Abuse (LESPADA), Ambassador Maryam Hassan, during a courtesy visit aimed at deepening cooperation in the fight against substance abuse in the state. Amb. Hassan congratulated CN Lawal on his leadership and reaffirmed LESPADA’s commitment to supporting ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse across Kano. She described her visit as a show of solidarity and stressed the organisation’s readiness…
KAROTA hands over seized beer trucks containing 4,920 bottles to Kano Hisbah for destruction Kola Oyelere, Kano The Kano State Roads Traffic Agency (KAROTA) has transferred three trucks loaded with alcoholic beverages to the Kano State Hisbah Command for destruction after intercepting them during a routine night patrol in Kano metropolis. According to KAROTA, the trucks contained 410 cartons amounting to 4,920 bottles of beer, allegedly being transported for distribution to various locations within the city in violation of state regulations. The handover took place on Wednesday in Kano. Speaking during the ceremony, the Managing Director of KAROTA, Hon. Faisal…
Benin Republic failed coup: Elders forum faults Professor Soyinka, defends Tinubu’s intervention Kola Oyelere Kano The National Elders Forum for Peace and Justice has criticized Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka over his comments on Nigeria’s intervention in the failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted appropriately and in the interest of regional stability. In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Kano on Wednesday, the Forum’s President, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, said he expected Soyinka, given his stature and experience, to appreciate the grave implications a successful coup in Benin…
Burkina Faso Frees 11 Detained Nigerian Military Personnel After Unauthorised Landing Kola Oyelere Kano Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel detained after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing at the Bobo-Dioulasso airfield, an incident that briefly heightened regional tensions. The group — two crew members and nine passengers — was held for questioning after Burkinabe authorities said the aircraft entered the country’s airspace without prior authorisation. The unexpected landing sparked suspicions in Ouagadougou that the flight might be linked to the recent failed coup in neighbouring Benin Republic. Officials in Burkina Faso said…
Elegushi under fire as NAHCON faces allegations of defying VP’s directive, retaining retired officer , ex-corper Oyelere Kola Kano A growing storm is brewing within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as fresh allegations accuse the Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi, of openly defying civil service rules and an explicit directive from Vice-President Kashim Shettima. Multiple senior staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, told this newspaper that Mr. Elegushi has allegedly continued to retain a retired official, identified as Mr. Gaffar, who exited the service in 2023. Despite his retirement, the former…
Inside the Hajj Reporters Refund Claims: Why Nigerians Should Wait for Verified Figures on Hajj 2025. An investigative piece on claims by IHR on 2025 Hajj Refunds By Aliyu Adamu Kwandiko Abuja, Nigeria. Public debate over the 2025 Hajj payments refund took a sharp turn recently when the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) announced that more than 44,000 Nigerian pilgrims were entitled to refunds due to alleged excess charges. But a closer examination reveals that the central pillars of the IHR claim figures, timelines, and comparisons are either incomplete or inconsistent with available evidence. In a country where trust in public…