By Shariff Aminu Ahlan

Modern politics is more than a contest for power. It tests strategy, loyalty, competence, and performance.

That test is playing out in Kano State, as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, is now the focus of debate over leadership and results. He is being compared with his predecessor, Muhammad Garba.

In comparison, however, who among them has the vision to take Kano’s communication forward? This is the question that is on the lips of every Kano citizen

For Muhammad Garba, he run the Information Ministry for good eight years, yet a fair comparison with Waiya’s one and a half years would certainly outshine his record. The debate pits him against his predecessor, Muhammad Garba, who ran the ministry for 8 years.

Let’s look at the record, in just over 18 months, Waiya has made the Ministry of Information one of the most vibrant and active in the state, through innovative communication, public engagement, and clear dissemination of government activities.

But even at that, a push is building intensely, urging the State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to replace him. Critics are up at tarnishing his reputation, just for personal gain.

Garba’s supporters cite his experience, unionism, and long tenure, while Waiya’s supporters point to one thing: outstanding performance.
Of course, Waiya may be new in the Communication sector, but leadership is better judged by impact, not years in office. In a short time, Waiya’s work has earned him public attention and the tag “rave of the moment.”

This is why, what is playing out in Kano, is just a contest of “experience vs momentum”. Garba brings 8 years of institutional knowledge, while Waiya brings energy, innovation, and visible results.

The value of this debate isn’t rivalry. It’s policy evaluation. Concerned citizens are of the view that, as a way forward, a public exchange would let both men state their vision, defend their record, and show their plans for the ministry.

Kano people would benefit most. They deserve facts, not sentiment. The public can also judge who has the clearer vision and stronger strategy to help Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf communicate the achievements of his administration and deliver his agenda. The time now, is not for politicking or for the promotion of personal goals, but rather for concrete strategies that will pave the way for Governor Abba’s reelection in 2027.

For Waiya, it’s a chance to prove that leadership is all about vision and results, not just longevity. For Garba, it’s a chance to remind the public of his contributions and explain what he left undone in 8 years.

So the questions are simple: Are both men ready for a battle of ideas? Can Garba’s experience beat Waiya’s momentum? Or will Waiya’s record cement his place as one of this administration’s most effective commissioners?

Now that 2027 is almost around the corner, these questions will certainly shape Kano politics.
The stage is set. The public is watching the unfolding scenario between “acclaimed experience” and momentum. As the State progress, only time will tell.
Let the battle of ideas begin.

Shariff Aminu Ahlan
APC Intellectual Warrior.
Realahlan0101@gmail.com

By Tijjani Sarki
June 21, 2026

Recent calls for the reappointment of Hon. Muhammad Garba as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs has sparked debate in Kano State. His supporters point to his eight years of service and describe him as an experienced professional whose return would benefit the government.

While I respect that view, I believe an important question deserves an answer, after serving for eight years in the same office, what exactly remains unfinished that necessitates a return?

This is not an attempt to diminish Hon. Garba’s contributions. Rather, it is a call for an objective assessment of performance. Public office should be judged by results, not sentiment.
Recent public discussions have repeatedly portrayed Hon. Muhammad Garba as a “professional,” as though that designation alone settles the debate. I respectfully disagree. Professionalism is not defined by the length of time spent in office, nor does it automatically flow from occupying a position for many years. It is reflected in innovation, measurable achievements, institutional growth, responsiveness to public concerns, and the capacity to deliver results. If professionalism is truly the benchmark, then the public deserves a fair comparison of records and accomplishments rather than a reliance on reputation or years of service. The debate, therefore, should be anchored on evidence, not labels.

Instead of focusing on political developments, I suggest that Kano people compare records. Hon. Muhammad Garba had eight years to lead the ministry. Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya has had barely one and a half years. Yet within that short period, many observers have noted renewed activity within the ministry, especially in the often-overlooked Internal Affairs Department that was hitherto inactive and relegated to the background thereby rendering it dead by previous administrations until Waiya came in and salvaged the department from strangulation.

I have seen greater public engagement and a more visible ministry under the current leadership. Whether one agrees with every action taken by Waiya or not, the ministry appears more active and connected to the public.

For this reason, I would welcome an open public debate between the two Comrades. Let them present their achievements, challenges, and vision. The Ministry of Information is not only critical and central to governance rather it is at the same time the voice of government and should be led by the person best positioned to serve the public interest with commitment, dignity, competence and capacity.

Let the records speak. Let the people judge.

Tijjani Sarki writes from Kano and can be reached via responsivecitizensinitiative@gmail.com.

By Edekhe Glorious Maria

In the grand narrative of Nigeria’s quest for economic self-reliance and sustainable development, popular discourse frequently centers on fiscal policies, central banking reforms, and foreign direct investments. Yet, the finest policy frameworks remain mere ink on paper without a robust mechanism to police the entryways of commerce. Standing resolutely at this critical intersection of trade, finance, and defense is the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Far from being a mere tax collection agency, the modern NCS functions as the quintessential bulwark of our economic sovereignty and a premier shield guarding national security.
To fully appreciate Nigeria’s survival and resilience within a highly volatile global market, one must look closely at the unsung guardians keeping watch over our borders, seaports, and airports.
The Economic Bedrock: Fueling the Machinery of State
In an era where volatile oil revenues demand aggressive fiscal diversification, the financial contributions of the Nigeria Customs Service have transformed from a supportive budget buffer into an absolute lifeline for the federation.
Under the reform-minded leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Service has consistently shattered its own revenue records. In recent fiscal cycles, the NCS smashed historic expectations by generating unprecedented trillions of naira in revenue comfortably surpassing its initial treasury projections. This momentum has carried fiercely into recent quarters, with non-oil export processing volumes revealing massive year-on-year surges in value. These trillions of naira flow directly into the Federation Account, funding critical public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and public sector operations nationwide.
Beyond raw revenue generation, the NCS acts as the ultimate protector of local industries. Without the tactical enforcement of import prohibitions and anti-dumping regulations by customs officers, Nigeria’s fragile agricultural and manufacturing sectors would be utterly overwhelmed by cheap, subsidized foreign goods.
When customs officers intercept shipments of smuggled rice, expired pharmaceuticals, or contraband textiles, they are not merely enforcing paperwork. They are actively saving Nigerian jobs, keeping local factories open, and preserving the structural integrity of the Naira.
The Border Shield: Where Trade Meets National Security
In the contemporary global landscape, the threats to a nation’s survival are asymmetric, fluid, and deeply intertwined with international trade routes. Herein lies the dual nature of the modern customs officer: a facilitator of trade by day, and a frontline defense asset by night.
The proliferation of small arms, light weapons, and illicit narcotics across West Africa represents a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s internal stability. The NCS stands as the first ,and often most effective,line of defense against these lethal inflows.
Multi-billion naira intercepts at strategic flashpoints across Lagos, Port Harcourt, and land borders have successfully kept military-grade rifles, pistols, and live ammunition out of the hands of bandits and insurgent networks. Simultaneously, large-scale seizures of tramadol, codeine, and illegal synthetic substances actively dismantle the financing chains of criminal syndicates while protecting Nigerian youth from the scourge of drug abuse.
Furthermore, customs operations directly suppress resource economic sabotage. The rapid interception and enforcement around smuggled petroleum products (PMS) block economic saboteurs from starving local communities of critical fuel supplies and bleeding the national economy dry.
Modernization and the Future of Border Management
The victories of the NCS are not accidental. They are the direct result of a deliberate, ongoing transformation toward digital trade facilitation anchored by the comprehensive Nigeria Customs Service Act.
Through the implementation of advanced technology, such as automated risk-assessment systems, the expansion of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) scheme, and advanced Time Release Study (TRS) diagnostic tools, the Service is rapidly reducing human interface, cutting down cargo clearing times, and plugging revenue leakages. This structural evolution ensures that the dual mandate of the Service remains perfectly balanced: legitimate trade is accelerated to boost economic growth, while illicit trade is ruthlessly intercepted.
Conclusively recognizing the Sentinels at the gate; The sovereignty of a nation is defined by its ability to control its borders and dictate its economic destiny. For Nigeria, that awesome responsibility rests heavily on the shoulders of the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service. They operate in high-risk environments, facing down heavily armed smuggling cartels and navigating complex maritime and land entryways, often without the public adulation reserved for other security arms.

As Nigeria marches toward a more prosperous future under the banners of industrialization and regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the NCS will remain our most vital institutional shield.

It is time to rewrite the public narrative. The Nigeria Customs Service must be recognized for what it truly is: a patriotic, highly strategic, and indispensable cornerstone of Nigeria’s prosperity, national security, and enduring sovereignty.