The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has extended its congratulations to Nigerians on the occasion of the New Year, expressing hopes for better days ahead. In a press release signed by Abba Sule Namatazu, National Vice Chairman (North-West), the PRP highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerians in 2024 and called for improved governance and accountability.

“The PRP wishes to use this opportunity to congratulate Nigerians on the occasion of a happy New Year. May our days be long to witness and celebrate many more new years in good health and prosperity,” the statement read.

Reflecting on the past year, the PRP noted that 2024 had been a trying period for many Nigerian families and businesses, with the standard of living plummeting nationwide and the nation’s currency nose-diving against benchmark currencies. “2024 has been a trying period for many Nigerian families and businesses as the standard of living plummets nationwide and the nation’s currency nose-dived against the benchmark currencies; poverty, insecurity, and chaos spread,” the PRP stated.

The party saluted the courage and resilience of Nigerian families and prayed for better days ahead. “We salute the courage and resilience of Nigerian families and pray for better days ahead,” the statement added.

The PRP emphasized that Nigerians deserve a much better standard of living, given the country’s 64 years of self-rule and 25 years of uninterrupted democracy. “Having attained 64 years of self-rule and 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the PRP believes that Nigerians deserve a much better standard of living than what it is today where basic necessities of life are beyond the reach of many families,” the party asserted.

The PRP criticized the poor quality of leadership since 1999, attributing Nigeria’s status as the “poverty capital of the world” to self-serving, inept, and visionless leaders. “It is unacceptable that in 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Nigeria has become the ‘poverty capital of the world’ where life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. Nigeria has one of the highest infant mortality rates and has consistently featured at the apex of the global corruption index and at the bottom of the human development index. This is attributable to poor quality of leadership since 1999,” the PRP stated.

The party also expressed concern over plans by some states and the federal government to privatize public schools, warning that such moves would result in more youths being out of school and turning to crime. “The PRP is also aware of plans by some states and federal governments to privatize the few public schools in the country which will result in sending more youths out of school, and into the world of hopelessness and crime,” the statement read.

Addressing the issue of insecurity, the PRP called for a concerted effort involving all stakeholders to confront the problem head-on. “The spreading insecurity bedeviling some states is a cause for concern not only to the affected states but to the country as a whole and the sub-region in general,” the PRP noted.

The party also criticized the government’s handling of the minimum wage issue, urging stakeholders to begin implementing the minimum wage to avert possible industrial action. “We are disappointed that more than a year since the beginning of agitation for salary increase, and months after the passage of the national assembly act on minimum wage, neither the government nor the private sector has fully implemented it,” the PRP stated.

The PRP called on the federal government to rescind policies that resulted in high prices of petroleum products and increased poverty, advocating for the ban of imported petroleum derivatives that can be produced locally. “The recent increase in prices of petrol and other petroleum derivatives has brought the economy to its knees,” the party asserted.

In conclusion, the PRP urged Nigerians to demand good governance and accountability from their leaders and to fully participate in the democratic process. “We call on Nigerians to rise up and demand good governance and accountability from our leaders, and to discharge their responsibilities in every sphere of nation-building,” the statement concluded.

In a bid to modernize information dissemination across Kano State, Hon. Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, met today with Information Officers from the 44 Local Government Council Areas in his office. The meeting underscores the Commissioner’s commitment to empowering Information Officers and strengthening the state’s information dissemination system.

During the meeting, Hon. Waiya pledged to provide working materials to all Local Government Information Officers, aiming to enhance their capacity and productivity. “I will do my best to enhance the capacity and productivity of our Information Officers,” said Comrade Waiya.

The Commissioner’s initiative reflects his dedication to ensuring that citizens are fully informed about government programs and activities. By equipping Information Officers with the necessary tools and resources, the state aims to achieve a more efficient and effective communication system.

The meeting, organized by the Greater Kano Initiative, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the state government and local government Information Officers. It also emphasized the need for a unified approach to information dissemination, ensuring that accurate and timely information reaches every corner of Kano State.

Comr Abdussamad Umar, Information Technology and Media Publicity representative for the Hon. Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, signed the press release, signaling the official commitment to this transformative initiative.

Dr. Ismail Aliyu Danmaraya, the newly appointed Commissioner of Finance, has called for collective efforts to help Kano State achieve its developmental goals. He made this statement during a dinner organized in his honor by the Greater Kano Initiative, held at Ten To Ten Restaurant

“I was given the position of Commissioner of Finance not because I am above everybody. We should collectively help Kano. The Governor gave me this opportunity, and there is a challenge before me. It’s not only for me; the position of the Commissioner of Finance is for everybody,” Dr. Danmaraya stated. He expressed gratitude for the support and faces he saw at the event, emphasizing the shared sacrifices and efforts made by the Greater Kano Initiative.

Dr. Danmaraya highlighted the importance of addressing issues in schools and improving student performance. “We have sacrificed a lot. We did a lot on schools and why students are failing exams. We should record success stories,” he said. He urged attendees to draw attention to any mistakes and assured them that his doors are always open for assistance.

Comrade Kabiru Marmara, Head of the Greater Kano Initiative, welcomed attendees and explained the purpose of the gathering. “The reason for this gathering is to honor our members. The Commissioner is our secretary,” Marmara stated. He recounted the inception of the Greater Kano Initiative in 2018, aimed at reviving Kano’s lost glory, especially in light of reports indicating Kano’s high rate of drug addiction.

“We picked some drug addicts and rehabilitated them by empowering them. We also mobilized and campaigned against incessant accidents in Kano metropolis by giving stickers. Road Safety and all the traffic agencies joined us,” Marmara added. He expressed pride in the achievements of the initiative’s members, including critical stakeholders in Kano State’s affairs.

Comrade Galadima, in his goodwill message, shared a success story of rehabilitating a young drug addict affected by a marriage breakup. He suggested that appointees should be given an agenda for the state’s development.

Engineer Sani Bala, MD of the Rural Electricity Board, urged the Greater Kano Initiative to expand research on electricity generation and distribution in Kano and Jigawa. “We need to provide electricity to Kano, and no one will do it,” Bala emphasized.

Hajiya Fatima Abubakar Amneef, Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Enlightenment and Mobilization, said there is a need to revive and reinforce the efforts being made by the Greater Kano Initiative in all developmental strides as it affects Kano.

The event underscored the importance of unity and collaboration in driving Kano State’s development forward.