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Projects, Monitoring, Payment, Performance: The Kano Formula Outpacing 35 States

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By Abba Anwar

As Lagos state can boast of, within a period of three years, 377 completed projects with completed Red Line Rail Phase 1 and other ongoing projects, as Abia state boasts of 76 completed projects with 36 ongoing, with major projects of 600km roads, Port Harcourt road, 277 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) refurbished, 135 functional, and 17 Local Government Headquarters, Kano state beats chest with 799 completed projects, while 709 are at various stages of completion.

When Katsina state has 89 completed projects out of a total 114 earmarked projects, with 23 township roads, 15 PHCs with solar, 28 classroom blocks, as Gombe state hits with 74 completed projects out of 111 projects, with key projects of 19 roads, 11 PHCs, 25 schools renovation, and Niger state with 25 completed projects of 5km road in each of 25 LGAs completed plus 100 Level 2 PHCs and Capital city projects with 30% completion, Kano state apart from the 799 completed projects mentioned above, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf smiles with over 1,508 developmental projects across the 44 LGs.

States like Bauchi with 61 completed projects out of 108 intended projects with key 12 township roads, 9 General Hospitals and 22 boreholes, Delta state developmental projects stand at a completed 32.5km Emu-Obodeti-Abbi-Abraka road and local governments roads repairs that were also completed, with the ongoing two flyovers, while Oyo state completed Iseyin-Okeho road and Phase 1 of 200 PHCs with the major ongoing project of N144bn Shaki-Okerete road, with the projects execution of these states, Kano is still ahead of them.

The publicly available information and record, as shown for other states above, Benue state has completed 50 projects of intra-city roads, renovation of State Secretariat, State House of Assembly Complex, with 100 ongoing projects, when Akwa-Ibom state completed 1,300km roads across the state, other key projects of Akpan Andem Market Amphitheatre, Atiku Tunnel, Model Schools and 15.13km Ikot Esu-Otomo-Azumini road, while Anambra state has 15.62km completed roads projects in Okpoko and Beltway linking 4 cities with the key ongoing projects of Amawbia-Ekwulobia dual carriageway and 80% completion of 19.1km Awkuzu-Igbariam road.

Available record as disclosed recently by the Kano state Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, in a press conference, shows that, the Urban Renewal Projects have contract sum of One Hundred and Sixty Nine Billion Naira (N169Billion) and construction of 5Km Roads across 38 LGAs with a contract value of over One Hundred and Eighteen Billion Naira (₦118Billion).

Disclosing further that, “Security Improvement Projects through the award of projects for the construction of Kano State Neighborhood Security Watch divisions in 36 LGAs,
with a contract value of over Six Billion Eight Hundred and Sixty Three Million Naira (₦6.863Billion).This reflects the government’s continued investment in community safety and security infrastructure.

Rural Infrastructure Projects across all 44 LGAs, covering infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other social interventions, with a contract value of over Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Billion Naira (₦397billion). These projects support balanced development and improved rural service delivery.”

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While other projects, according to him, have cumulative contract sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Five Billion Naira (N255Billion).

Reading my sample states above, one could understand that, I touch all the six geo-political zones of our federation. Not only selecting two states per zone, I select the most performing states in their respective zones. Reason why I said, Projects, Monitoring, Payment, Performance: The Kano Formula Outpacing 35 States.

Where Kano excels compared to all other 35 states of the federation, is not only in the completion of the human-centred projects, but in clear and transparent monitoring and evaluation which eventually resulted into the payments to contractors. It is extremely amazing to note that, out of the Nine Hundred and Twenty Eight Billion Naira (N928Billion) the state was able to clear over Six Hundred Billion Naira (600Billion). A payment of 64.7 percent being paid. That is to say the payment of two out three is effected and cleared. As the remaining are currently in the process of being cleared. This is superb, not only in Nigeria, but across our sub-region. No two ways about it.

For serious minded elements, the process of projects administration and treatment, from the conception stage, during execution and after execution, up to the payment boundary, are enough a reason to urge Governor Yusuf to come back come 2027. Politics aside, his (governor’s) era as a Commissioner for Works many years back among other public engagements, gave him more advantage in understanding the nooks and crannies of projects conception, execution, monitoring, evaluation and payments.

I do concur with Commissioner Sumaila when he commended the Governor and the government in, “… the administration’s resolve to ensure distribution of projects across urban and rural communities, with emphasis on value for money, quality delivery, and measurable impact on the lives of the people.The broad scale of intervention consistent with the
State Government’s reported infrastructure priorities, including roads, urban renewal, utilities, transportation, security and social services.”

The very day Governor Yusuf established this Ministry for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation and appointed Nura Ma’aji as the pioneer Commissioner, someone I knew for over 25 years, as a committed human rights activist and a promoter of transparency and openness, even before the advent of Open Government Partnership (OGP) as an institution, I knew the Governor was serious about good governance.

With Sumaila, I am confident that, the Ministry’s resolve in playing a pivotal role “… is critical in safeguarding public
to strengthen the state’s economic base, improve mobility, support community safety, and
through strategic investment, project monitoring, and transparent procurement.”

During that press conference I took Sumaila’s emphatic commitment seriously when he said, “Ministry for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation remains committed to ensuring value for money, quality project delivery through effective monitoring of all
aspirations of the people.”

It is important to note that, Kano’s key completed projects are, but not limited to, 40 metropolitan roads, 44 PHCs, 120 schools and 5 water plants. Not to talk of un-dusting Kano’s original town planning for today’s relevance and beautification process.

Among the 709 projects that are at various stages of completion are our major flyovers of Dan Agundi and Tal’udu. That are at over 80 percent completion stage. The strategic positioning of these flyovers, in decongesting, remodeling, re-beautifying and the remaking of Kano as a 21st century city speaks volumes about Governor Yusuf’s critical thinking in governance and deliverables.

Looking closely at the people-oriented Governor, one could understand that, this gentleman has political will, clear understanding of the needs of Kano people and has all the required commitment to genuinely serve. This among many other reasons, give me more courage not to think of any bottlenecks on the path of His Excellency Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, in the fast approaching election, come 2027.

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 18th July, 2026

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Kano Governor Yusuf Visits Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Commends Staff, Managements

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The executive governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has visited Best Choice Specialist Hospital in Kano to assess the quality of healthcare services being provided to residents and commend health workers for their commitment to saving lives.

The governor made the visit on Friday night as part of his routine inspections of healthcare facilities to assess service delivery and observe first-hand how patients are being attended to, particularly during night hours.

During the visit, Governor Yusuf inspected patients receiving treatment at the hospital and toured different sections of the facility accompanied by the doctor on duty and other members of staff.

The governor observed the activities of health workers and assessed the manner in which patients were being attended to at the time of his visit.

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He commended the staff of Best Choice Specialist Hospital for what he described as their dedication to providing healthcare services to the people of Kano State.

Governor Yusuf also acknowledged the contribution of private healthcare providers to the state’s healthcare system, stressing the importance of collaboration between government and private-sector operators in improving healthcare delivery.

The visit, according to the governor’s entourage, demonstrated that the administration’s concern for healthcare extends beyond government-owned facilities to private hospitals and other health institutions contributing to the wellbeing of residents.

Governor Yusuf thanked the management and staff of Best Choice Specialist Hospital for their efforts and commitment to saving lives.

As a gesture of encouragement, the governor presented the hospital staff with a special award in recognition of their service and dedication.

The governor’s visit also provided an opportunity to appreciate the role of private healthcare providers in complementing government efforts to expand access to medical services across Kano State.

Best Choice Specialist Hospital, located at Tal’udu Junction, opposite Sheikh Al Rayyan School in Kano, operates round the clock and provides healthcare services through qualified doctors and other medical personnel across its various departments.

The governor’s inspection forms part of his administration’s broader emphasis on monitoring healthcare delivery and ensuring that residents receive appropriate medical attention in both public and private health facilities across the 44 local government areas of Kano state.

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Tinubu Trusts Barau To Speak on Security, Development at a Summit

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By Abba Anwar

When President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, assigned the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, CFR, PhD, to represent him at an all-important International Conference on Security and Development in Abuja recently, it is a clear demonstration of trust and confidence from Mr President.

It was the International Conference on National Security and Sustainable Economic Development, organised by the Muslim World League in collaboration with Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS). Senator Jibrin’s choice to represent President Tinubu underscores the President’s belief in the Senator’s reliability, depth, and commitment to security, national unity and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

At a time when diverse religious groups, both intra and inter, started discussing national issues around the security of the land, Presidency concurs with the DSP model of securing our nation. Representing a President of a nation, in such events, speaks volumes about DSP’s relevance in the security of our motherland, Nigeria.

It is without any doubt to understand that, President Tinubu must have deeper knowledge about DSP’s commitment to the fight against insecurity disturbing the nation. Especially North West, where the Senator comes from. Security agencies are in the best position to catalog his unmatched contributions in the sector.

The fact that the Conference brought together participants from across the country and beyond, and was competently attended by prominent religious, traditional and political leaders from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds, it showcases what Senator Jibrin means to Nigerian nation state. In one and indivisible Nigerian project.

It also shows the level of confidence President Tinubu has in DSP’s capacity, composure, and loyalty. It, at the same time, positions him as a trusted voice of the Presidency on sensitive national matters. Recognition of patriotic competence of the Senator from the top most occupier of the ladder.

Speaking for the Commander-in-Chief is not a joke at all. We can all see how DSP conveyed Tinubu’s “unwavering commitment to achieving sustainable security”.
It takes a great mind of meaningful substance to be given a task to address religious, traditional and political leaders on a matter as sensitive as security on behalf of the C-in-C.

It clearly demonstrates that Mr President trusts him to handle delicate, multi-faith, multi-ethnic and multi-faceted audiences without fear of misrepresentation. A stamp of greatness and persistent commitment.

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Distinguished Senator Jibrin was able to link security to development and tied both to the “Renewed Hope Agenda.” An attestation that he understands and can articulate the President’s policy direction beyond just reading a speech. He’s aligned with the vision.

On diplomatic and statesmanship qualities, as the Conference was global in nature, with Muslim World League and Nigeria as the host country, sitting in for the President,
shows that Tinubu trusts him to project Nigeria positively on the global stage.

This is diplomacy. It is clear for all that, DSP has for long been a global citizen. Does my reader remember him as the First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament? Whose work and achievements are evident even beyond the showers of the country.

It was argued by many that, Jibrin’s role as a bridge-builder and unifier, was the best choice to represent the President in an event like this,
where the audience was of diverse faiths and ethnicities. The message he carried was loud and clear. That, “Government remains committed to preserving our unity despite our differences.”

It is clear for all that, DSP has a history of legislative bridge-building and constituency engagement in Kano and nationally. Some of the feats he achieved are linked to sustainable security for Africa and the world at large. A Pan-Africanist per excellence!

In the space of consistency in leadership from the part of the DSP, ranging from his primary constituency Kano North Senatorial District, to Deputy Senate President to representing Mr President internationally, this is a progression of trust. Which ultimately reinforces the belief that in matters of security and development, the Presidency sees Barau as dependable, reliable and steady.

To demonstrate how global he has been, in his Facebook page, while referring to the Conference, DSP puts, “I further urged them to take advantage of the internationality of the gathering to share diverse experiences that will further contribute to the ongoing debate on searching for viable options for restoring sustainable regional, continental, and global peace in this era of heightened global security turbulence.”

To further show how committed is the President in securing the nation, he said, “I reiterated the President’s unwavering commitment to achieving sustainable security in Nigeria. He remains focused on consolidating the gains being recorded in the security sector and across other critical areas of national development.”

As a leader who understands diplomacy he conveyed to the participants that, “On behalf of the President, I commend the Muslim World League for choosing JIBWIS as a collaborative partner for this important Conference and for selecting Nigeria as the host country for this significant gathering.”

It is therefore important to note that, with responsible political leaders like Distinguished Senator Jibrin, there is every hope for everlasting peace and security in the country. Representing the President in this global Peace Summit, in the face of the current security challenges across the globe sheds more light on the DSP’s capacity in handling delicate national matters.

Which ultimately means, his continued presence and visibility at the national level means a lot in strengthening efforts against insecurity and hopelessness. With DSP at the top, it is rest assured that, fight against insecurity plaguing the world, is being faced with stiffer opposition from the Nigerian government.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 14th August, 2026

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Osun State Governorship Election: Preliminary Report on Digital Access, Political Parties’ Websites Availability, Data and Privacy Breach Using PAWSOM-Monitor

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Background

Last week, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) launched an AI-based platform, PAWSON-Monitor, to pilot monitoring of digital rights, data and privacy breaches ahead of the Osun State gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. The platform was trained to track and document instances of digital rights violations and data and privacy breaches involving political actors and their digital presence – possible restrictions on contesting political parties’ websites, aspirants and their social media platforms, as well as potential misuse of citizens’ personal data for political campaigns. What CITAD aims to achieve with the monitoring platform is assessing whether equal opportunities and fair play are enjoyed by all the participating parties and aspirants as guaranteed by the democratic tenets before, during and after the Osun gubernatorial election. While this is serving as a pilot, CITAD plans to deploy the same platform to the 2027 general elections. This is the second report we are issuing based on the observations so far.

Updates for August 14, 2026

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In the last 24 hours, our observatory, the PAWSON-Monitor, has monitored fifteen (15) political parties participating in the Osun gubernatorial election holding tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, returning a total of 17,888 checks on the websites of the parties. Eleven parties have their sites operational from all the over seventeen thousand checks run between yesterday and today; therefore, we can conclude that within the period during which this update is given, we haven’t recorded any anomalies to warrant urgent action or signal a deliberate attempt to undermine the digital presence of the parties.

However, four political parties, namely, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Action Peoples Party (APP), all have their websites operating with anomalies. Those of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) continue to require particular attention, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) recorded a relatively low 57.3% success rate during the monitoring period.

Based on the data scraped and analysed, action is required from the parties to rectify the anomalies to be able to operate optimally and take advantage of the digital presence, especially at a crucial moment like this. We have also noticed that two more political parties that were previously not among those flagged to be operating with anomalies, PDP and APP, have taken a space in the stagnant position, and this has raised the number of parties with red flags on their sites. We therefore urge all political parties and especially those whose websites are currently operating with anomalies to take immediate measures to look into the issues and rectify them.

CITAD will continue monitoring the digital environment and conducting human and cross-network verification of emerging anomalies to ensure that any genuine disruption of political parties’ digital platforms is identified, documented and appropriately reported.

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