The Chairman of the Kano State Taskforce Committee on the Control of Drug Abuse and Illicit Substances, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has declared that no politician or influential individual can compel him to release suspected drug offenders arrested in the state.
Barrister Muhuyi made the declaration while briefing journalists in Kano, reaffirming the committee’s commitment to intensifying the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

He stressed that the committee would not tolerate any form of interference from individuals or groups seeking to obstruct its operations or influence its decisions.
“I will not spare any politician or individual who attempts to influence our work or requests the release of offenders. The only person who can stop me is the Governor, and I know he will never interfere with our mandate,” Barrister Muhuyi said.
The taskforce chairman called on residents of Kano State to support the committee by providing credible and timely information that would aid the fight against drug-related crimes.

He also warned drug dealers, traffickers, financiers, and other members of criminal syndicates to desist from their activities, insisting that Kano would no longer serve as a safe haven for the illicit drug trade.
“Our committee will not spare anyone found engaging in the sale, distribution, or consumption of illicit substances. We are determined to rid Kano State of drug-related crimes and create a safer society for all,” he added.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kano State Directorate, has pledged to deepen collaboration with the Kano State Multi Joint Task Force on Drug Abuse and Other Related Crimes to strengthen efforts aimed at curbing drug abuse and related criminal activities across the state.

The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by officials of the NOA Kano State Office to the Chairman of the Task Force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji, in what both parties described as a congratulatory and strategic engagement focused on enhancing inter-agency cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of the NOA State Director, Hajiya Mero Idi Waziri commended the Task Force leadership for including the Agency in the committee and reaffirmed NOA’s readiness to contribute actively to the initiative. She emphasized that the Agency’s extensive grassroots presence across Kano State’s 44 local government areas places it in a strategic position to support public enlightenment and community engagement.

Waziri also highlighted the availability of the Agency’s Special Marshals as an additional resource for grassroots mobilization and public education. According to her, the NOA is prepared to extend the committee’s activities to communities across the state by leveraging its existing structures to promote awareness and prevention. “We are ready to extend the committee’s activities to the local government areas and beyond, leveraging our structures to reach communities where prevention and awareness are required most,” she said.

Responding, the Chairman of the Task Force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji, described the fight against drug abuse as a shared responsibility that requires sustained collaboration among government agencies, traditional and community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society organizations. He expressed concern over the growing prevalence of drug abuse and related crimes in Kano State, stressing that coordinated efforts are essential to reverse the trend.

Barrister Muhuyi reaffirmed the Task Force’s commitment to impartial enforcement, warning that offenders would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law regardless of their status or background. “Whoever is found guilty will be treated without fear or favor,” he stated, adding that while enforcement would remain firm, the committee would also expand non-kinetic approaches centered on prevention, advocacy, and rehabilitation.

During the meeting, both organizations agreed that sustained public sensitization and education are critical to complementing law enforcement efforts. They identified several areas of collaboration, including community awareness campaigns across all 44 local government areas using NOA’s grassroots structures, outreach programmes in schools, religious institutions and youth organizations to discourage substance abuse, and the deployment of NOA Special Marshals to support public education and community engagement initiatives.

The meeting ended with a shared commitment to strengthen institutional partnerships aimed at integrating enforcement, prevention and community mobilization in the fight against drug abuse. Both the Task Force and the National Orientation Agency pledged to maintain close communication and jointly develop a schedule of activities designed to reduce drug abuse and other related crimes across Kano State.

Sports Journalists under the aegis of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated the news editor and publisher of Sahel sports newspaper, Mr Abdulgafar Oladimeji, on his induction into the Diplomatic Assembly.

The SWAN President, Comrade Isaiah Benjamin, speaking at SWAN National Secretariat, at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja, in his congratulatory message described Mr. Abdulgafar as a selfless Sports Technocrat and Legal Consultant.

He said, “I want to congratulate one of our own, that we are very proud of at all times, Abdulgafar Oladimeji, on his induction as a Fellow of the African Transformers Institute, ATI and his induction into the Diplomatic Assembly.”

“We are confident and rest assured that, the Assembly has a resource person in its new cohort, as a sports journalist, he is well travelled and his experience in the fields of journalism and the justice sector will be of immense benefit to the Assembly.

“We are going to give him all the support that he requires to excel, we are hopeful that his involvement and participation will open a new chapter in the route of sports diplomacy in Nigeria and the continent at large.”

When contacted, Abdulgafar Oladimeji, simply said, “My mission is to project sports diplomacy, my vision is to berth sports diplomacy to its rightful place in Nigerian growth history.

Sports diplomacy is the strategic use of sports, athletes, and games by nations to build bridges, ease political tensions, and improve global relations. It relies on the shared love of physical activities to connect people across borders when formal politics fail.

Sports diplomacy uses competitions and events to build bridges, improve global images, and foster international cooperation.

In a statement by Ikenna Okonkwo ANIPR the secretary general of SWAN said  Key benefits include cultural exchange, conflict resolution, and economic growth.