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Kano Approves ₦61.6bn Development Package to Boost Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure

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The Kano State Executive Council has approved a total of ₦61.63 billion for a broad range of development projects spanning education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and urban renewal.

The approvals were granted during the Council’s 39th meeting held at the Government House in Kano.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said the decisions reflect the administration’s strong commitment to improving public services and accelerating socio-economic development across the state.

According to him, the approvals followed extensive deliberations on key governance priorities, with a clear focus on enhancing living standards and expanding access to essential services.

Education Sector Gets Major Boost
A significant share of the funds was allocated to the education sector. This includes over ₦4.45 billion for the payment of external examination fees for students sitting for NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS in 2026.

The Council also approved ₦2 billion for the procurement of school furniture across 30 local government areas, alongside several projects involving classroom construction, renovation, and upgrades in schools located in Makoda, Tarauni, Ajingi, and Minjibir LGAs.
Waiya added that funds were equally approved to settle outstanding liabilities for examination fees between 2020 and 2023, as well as feeding costs in boarding schools.

Strengthening Healthcare Services
In the health sector, the Council approved key interventions, including the renovation of Wudil General Hospital and the procurement of medical equipment for major hospitals.

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Other approvals cover routine immunisation programmes, polio outbreak response across all 44 LGAs, and funding for free maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare services in 484 primary healthcare centres.

Major Infrastructure Investments
On infrastructure, over ₦5.2 billion was approved for the construction of a major road linking Panshekara Underpass to Madobi Bridge, as well as road reconstruction projects in Gwale LGA.
Additional approvals include the renovation of government offices, upgrades at the NYSC orientation camp in Kusalla, and construction works at other key public facilities.

Agriculture, Water, and Environment
To boost agricultural productivity, the Council approved nearly ₦3.5 billion for the procurement of over 41,000 bags of fertiliser, alongside investments in irrigation and institutional infrastructure.
In the water sector, ₦3.48 billion was approved for the rehabilitation of the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant, in addition to funding for boreholes and utility services.
Environmental initiatives such as urban beautification, solar-powered boreholes, and drainage improvements also received funding.
Urban Development and Digital Mapping
The Council also earmarked substantial funds for urban development, including compensation for land acquisition, road projects, and the establishment of Gaya Polytechnic.
It further approved multi-billion naira projects for street naming, mapping, and house numbering under Phase II of the state’s urban planning programme.
Other Strategic Interventions
Additional approvals include funding for special intervention projects across 15 LGAs, settlement of staff entitlements at Aliko Dangote University, and procurement of ICT equipment to enhance government communication.
The Council also endorsed programmes aimed at economic empowerment, including support for butchers and logistics for Hajj operations.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
Waiya assured residents that all projects would be executed in line with due process and accountability.
He reiterated that the administration remains focused on delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people of Kano State.

“The approvals underscore government’s unwavering commitment to improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, and overall socio-economic development of Kano State,” he said.
He added that the Council also acknowledged recent recognitions and awards received by the governor, noting that they reflect the impact of ongoing reforms and leadership direction.

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Uber Shutdowns Operations in Nigeria

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

“We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

In a memo on Wednesday, the ride-hailing company also announced elimination of roughly 3,300 positions.

The job cuts focused on management and coordination roles, according to its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.

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“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational changes across Uber. We are removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead of us.”

“As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%. Everyone whose role has been affected has already been notified, except in countries where we will follow the required local process.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly, because it will have a real impact on our teammates and friends who have worked hard for Uber. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organized and what we’re prioritizing, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value.

“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.

“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.

“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.

“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”

The layoffs are the latest round of job cuts for Uber, which eliminated roles in customer service and HR earlier this year.

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Author of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Languishes in Billion Dollar Debt

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bestselling ’Rich Dad Poor Dad’ book, has accumulated an estimated $1.2 billion debt connected to his aggressive real estate investment.

According to reports, the debt is the estimated amount the 79-year-old author and his business partners borrowed to acquire approximately 1,500 property units as Mr Kiyosaki continues to expand his real estate holdings.

Despite the significant debt, Mr Kiyosaki does not appear apprehensive about the liabilities, maintaining that borrowing money to acquire income-generating assets is a strategy commonly used by wealthy individuals.

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“So, I’m a billion two in debt,” the author said on the ‘Get Rich Education’ podcast recently, adding that people “should not do what I do, right? But I studied it since 1974… If you’re going to learn to use debt, you’d better take some education.”

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Mr Kiyosaki’s ex-wife and business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, revealed that the debt did not reflect the amount her ex-husband personally owes.

She stressed that it is connected to the real estate properties owned by them and their business partners, adding that Mr Kiyosaki’s personal share of the liabilities is small.

Vanity Fair estimated Mr Kiyosaki’s share of the debt at around $30 million to $60 million.

“We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners. So technically, yes, we have all this debt,” the ex-wife told Vanity Fair.

Speaking to the magazine, Mr Kiyosaki stated, “If it all comes to hell, you can talk to my attorney. Firewalls—that’s the way the rich play the game.”

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Maulud: Best Choice Specialist Hospital Congratulates Kano Governor, Muslims Globally

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The Chairman of Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Kano, Auwal Lawal Muhammad (Dan Malikin Garo), has congratulated the executive governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the good people of Kano State and Muslims across the world on the occasion of the Maulud celebration commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a statement he personally signed, Lawal commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts towards fostering unity among the people of Kano State.

According to the statement, the chairman was amazed on how governor Yusuf placing emphasis on the development to the state particularly in matters concerning religion, saying such initiatives would help reduce divisions, promote mutual understanding and strengthen peaceful coexistence across the state.

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He urged Muslims to use the occasion of Maulud to strengthen their relationship with Allah through increased devotion and prayers for peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria and Kano State.

The Chairman of Best Choice also praised the Governor for his efforts to improve the healthcare sector in the state.

He cited the renovation and upgrading of healthcare facilities, provision of modern medical equipment, as well as the training and development of healthcare workers as some of the administration’s efforts towards improving healthcare delivery in Kano.

Auwal Lawal further commended Governor Yusuf for his dedication, compassion and commitment to the wellbeing of the people, noting that his efforts continue to have a positive impact on the lives of residents across the state.

He prayed for continued peace, unity and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria, while wishing the Governor and the people of Kano a blessed Maulud celebration now and beyond.

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