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Kano Spends N26.5bn on Govt House, Governor’s Office, Travels in Six Months

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Kano State Government spent approximately N26.50 billion on the Government House, Governor’s Office and official travels during the first six months of 2026, according to an analysis of state budget implementation reports.

Data compiled by PUNCH showed that Kano spent N25.87 billion on the Government House and Governor’s Office between January and June 2026, while an additional N626.95 million was recorded under travel and transportation expenditure.

Spending Declines from 2025

Despite the substantial expenditure, Kano recorded a notable decline in spending on the Government House and Governor’s Office compared with the corresponding period in 2025. According to the analysis, expenditure dropped from N28.84 billion in the first half of 2025 to N25.87 billion in 2026.

The reduction amounts to approximately N2.98 billion, representing a decline of about 10.32 per cent.

The figures, however, do not represent the personal salary or private expenditure of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Rather, the Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure covers various official and administrative activities, including personnel costs, maintenance of facilities, security, official functions and other expenses associated with the operation of the executive arm of the state government.

Kano Among Top Spenders Nationwide

The analysis by PUNCH further showed that Kano’s expenditure formed part of a wider spending pattern across the country. In the 33 states for which data were available, governments collectively spent N512.10 billion on Government Houses, governors’ offices and travels during the first six months of 2026.

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The total comprises N420.01 billion spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and related executive administration budget heads, while another N92.09 billion went to travel and transport.

How Other States Compared

Highest Government House/Governor’s Office Expenditure

– Kogi recorded the highest identifiable expenditure at N65.34 billion, representing more than 15 per cent of the total Government House and Governor’s Office spending captured in the 2026 dataset.
– Ogunfollowed with N45.26 billion.
– Lagos recorded N45.04 billion.
– Ekiti spent N25.22 billion.
– Cross River recorded N23.92 billion.
– Bayelsa spent N22.99 billion.
– Imo recorded N19.43 billion.
– Enugu spent N16.20 billion.

Lowest Government House/Governor’s Office Expenditure

At the lower end of the spectrum:
– Oyo recorded about N1.95 billion.
– Sokoto spent N2.20 billion.
– Kwara recorded N2.59 billion.
– Abiaspent N2.78 billion.

Travel and Transport Expenditure

On travel and transport:
– Plateau recorded the highest identifiable expenditure at N10.11 billion.
– Lagosfollowed with N8.23 billion.
– Taraba recorded N5.16 billion.
– Niger spent N4.45 billion.
– Ekiti recorded N4.41 billion.
– Bauchi spent N3.75 billion.
– Yobe recorded N3.68 billion.
– Oyo recorded about N667.52 million.

Governors’ Salaries vs. Office Maintenance Costs

The analysis highlights a striking contrast. While a governor’s stated monthly salary of N503,000 translates to N3.018 million over six months, the combined six-month salary of all 36 governors amounts to just N108.65 million.

The N512.10 billion spent on executive offices and travel is therefore about 4,713 times the combined basic salaries of the 36 governors over the same period. The six-month salary of all 36 governors represented only 0.02 per cent of the identified expenditure on executive offices and travel.

Nationwide Spending Declines from 2025

The analysis showed that expenditure under the comparable categories was lower in the first half of 2026 than in the corresponding period of 2025. Available records showed that states spent N465.07 billion under Government House, Governor’s Office and similar executive administration heads in the first six months of 2025, with a further N92.73 billion recorded for travel and transport, bringing the combined 2025 figure to N557.80 billion.

The 2026 figure of N512.10 billion represents a decline of about N45.70 billion, or 8.19 per cent. Government House and Governor’s Office spending accounted for most of the reduction, falling from N465.07 billion in 2025 to N420.01 billion in 2026 — a decline of N45.05 billion, or 9.69 per cent.

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Mahanga TV appoints former AREWA24 staff Zuwairiyah Girei as MD

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Mahanga TV, a Kano-based television station, has appointed former AREWA24 staff member Zuwairiyah Adamu Girei as its new Managing Director, bringing her more than 14 years of experience in Hausa-language television production and broadcasting to the organisation.

Girei was formally welcomed into her new role during a reception held at Mahanga TV’s premises in Kano on Monday, November 2, 2026, marking a new phase in the organisation’s growthe barely three months after its launch.

Speaking at the reception, Girei expressed excitement over her appointment, describing her experience at AREWA24 as a significant milestone in her professional journey.

She said she would draw on the knowledge and experience acquired during her time at the television station to strengthen Mahanga TV and drive it towards greater achievements.

“All the experience I have at AREWA24, I will bring here, and I think I will do extraordinary because I know what I have learnt there. I pray that we will see success beyond our expectations,” she said.

Outlining her vision for Mahanga TV, the new Managing Director said the organisation would look beyond Northern Nigeria and target audiences across Africa and the rest of the world.

She identified the large Hausa-speaking population as a major opportunity for the industry, noting that despite the challenges facing Hausa-language broadcasting, the sector has a substantial audience.

“We have over 60 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria, so I think we have a target audience we have to try to reach,” she said.

Girei said her leadership would focus on understanding audience expectations, introducing improvements and positioning Hausa productions for international recognition.

“Our thinking is pan-African; our thinking is the world. Our thinking is now how can Hausa film reach the Oscars. That is the thinking,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the next decade, she expressed her ambition to see Mahanga TV secure three to four Academy Awards, earn international recognition and become a household name among viewers across different age groups.

She said she envisioned a future where Mahanga TV would be the preferred television platform in homes, with both adults and children identifying with its programmes.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mahanga TV, Nuhu Abdullahi Balarabe, said Girei’s appointment was informed by the organisation’s rapid growth and the need for experienced leadership to sustain its progress.

Balarabe explained that he initially served as both Managing Director and CEO but decided to appoint a dedicated Managing Director to oversee the organisation’s daily operations and provide the leadership required to sustain its expanding activities.

He said the organisation needed someone who could provide consistent leadership and maintain its momentum as it continued to grow.

“She is well experienced, and I’m sure she will use that experience to take the organisation further from where it is,” he said.

Balarabe disclosed that Mahanga TV had recorded progress beyond its initial expectations within three months of launching, attributing the achievement to the dedication of its staff, consultants and advisers.

He said the organisation was expanding its content offerings through original productions and partnerships with independent producers to provide audiences with engaging programmes.

He also urged viewers to continue supporting the station and sharing feedback through its social media platforms and WhatsApp channel, assuring them that the organisation remained open to suggestions as it worked to improve its services.

Reaffirming the organisation’s broader ambition, Balarabe said Mahanga TV was committed to ensuring that Hausa stories, culture and experiences reached audiences across the world.

“We have a beautiful tale happening in Northern Nigeria, and I believe it is only we that can tell our own story. We want to make sure all our stories are told and they reach every part of the world,” he said.

Also speaking, Mahanga TV’s Creative Director and Brand Manager, Abdulbasit Abanikanda, described Girei’s appointment as a timely development that would strengthen the organisation’s management structure and provide better direction for its expanding workforce.

Abanikanda recalled that Mahanga TV started with a team of just three people but had since grown considerably, making the appointment of an experienced manager necessary to coordinate its activities.

He expressed confidence in Girei’s ability to advance the station’s creative vision, noting that her ambition of taking Hausa stories to audiences across the world aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

With Girei’s appointment, Mahanga TV aims to consolidate its early progress, strengthen its content production and expand the reach of Hausa storytelling, creating opportunities for Northern Nigeria’s stories, culture and creative talent to gain wider national and international recognition.

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Kano Governor Nominates Ex- Speaker, Spokesperson as Commissioners

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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has nominated his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Balarabe Sa’idu Gani, for appointment as commissioners.

The governor has forwarded their names to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

The Assembly is expected to screen the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, said the legislature had received a formal communication from Governor Yusuf requesting the screening of the two nominees.

He added that the exercise would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Gani served as Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, while Bature currently serves as the governor’s spokesperson.

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2027: Rep Abubakar Kabir Bichi holds strategic meeting with Kano lawmakers

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The Chairman, House of representatives committee on appropriations Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, has convened a meeting of all APC State Assembly Members and 40 Candidates in the upcoming 2027 General elections, led by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore.

Crucial issues were discussed on how best to coordinate their campaigns programs to deliver the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

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The meeting was held at his Bichi office, Sunday evening 1st November 2026.

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