USA Africa Dialogue Series - Kano renaissance and Kwankwasonomics [Powerful Developments from Nigeria]

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From: Jaafar Jaafar
Date: Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Subject: [Raayiriga] Kano renaissance and Kwankwasonomics
To: Ra'ayi Riga Ra'ayi Riga <Raayiriga@yahoogroups.com>, "dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com" <dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com>, "yanarewa@yahoogroups.com" <yanarewa@yahoogroups.com>

 

Kano renaissance and Kwankwasonomics

By Jaafar Jaafar

Kano State is now under repair, having been bartered politically, socially and economically by the preceding administration. Equipped with his blueprint toolkit, Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State came into office well-prepared to tackle the daunting challenge of oiling the rusty economy, hammering the squeaky infrastructure, welding the ripped till, powering the street lights, fertilizing the soil, laying the water pipeline and erecting a lasting pillar of youth empowerment.

In the midst of the foregoing development, Ra'ayi Initiative, a nongovernmental organisation emerged with another blueprint that will put Kano on a solid socio-economic pedestal. The document was carefully framed and vetted by Kano Renaissance Think Tank, an array of intellectuals – at home and in the diaspora – who are passionate about the development of Kano State.

Presenting the report to Governor Kwankwaso recently, the eloquent vice chairman of Kano Renaissance Think Tank, Malam Yakubu Musa said  KRTT report "contains a set of realistic but visionary recommendations that would contribute in effectively addressing Kano's challenges in the four main areas of Education, Energy, Healthcare and Public Transportation."

With Professor Abba Gumel breaking every lump of idea into chewable pills, Yakubu Musa injecting progressive ideas into the report, Hussaini Jibrin giving powerful presentation, Auwal Sani Anwar ironing the wrinkled portion, Dr Muhammad Jameel Yusha'u giving academic finesse, Dr Shuaibu Dambatta analyzing ideas as complex as central nervous system, Alhaji Uba Danzainab and Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai treating the political implications, the KRTT report can pass as a wide range of recipes that will satiate Governor Kwankwaso's hunger for achievement.

However, the economic transformation taking place in Kano State today is unprecedented. For the first time in the history of Kano State, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state is making inroad into reaching N2 billion mark. Urban and rural renewal are taking place at the same time with equal commitment. The cost-cutting principle of the present administration had no previous instance as the budget ratio always goes 2:1 in favour of capital expenditure. Governor Kwankwaso now literally sits on the till, making pillaging of public funds in the state almost impossible. In order to bring an end to unplanned layouts and their associated problems, construction works are currently taking place in the new cities established by the present government. And unlike before, Kano is now a haven of development agencies because of the government's judicious application of resources.

Kwankwaso's frugal management of public resources is manifest in the way he treats every memo, brief, proposal, etc with utmost care and speed in order to see the justification before giving approval. No file remains on his desk for more than 24 hours without treatment. In Kano State today, even the (in)famous security vote is never set aside by the present administration as every kobo spent on whatever venture is duly appropriated not "reciprocated" in a "Reciprocal Arrangement".

Worried by the chaotic transport system of Kano State, Governor Kwankwaso established Kano Road Traffic Authority (KAROTA) with a view to having an agency with legal backing that will bring sanity into the system. Buses and taxis are also provided, just as brand new Amana Taxis are about to start plying our roads. Thousands of youths who were hitherto idle are now empowered by KAROTA. Already contractors building the first-ever metropolitan flyover have moved to site after creating link roads to bypass the project site.

Rural development is another concern of Governor Kwankwaso. For the first time in the history of Kano State a whole village (Warawa) is to be built by government in order to provide good shelter for them and reduce the effect of perennial fire outbreak associated with thatch-fence surroundings. While new houses are built in Warawa, construction of five kilometer roads with accompanying infrastructure is taking place in each of the 44 local governments of the state.

Healthcare delivery is another focal area of this administration as new hospitals are either built, or existing ones reequipped or rehabilitated. The metaphor that hospitals in Nigeria are as slaughterhouse is disparaged by Kano State government under the present government. During the governor's recent trip to the United Stated, he negotiated the supply of tens of containers of hospital equipment to Kano State ex gratia. It is gladdening to note that some of the containers have arrived Kano. Mobile clinics are also established to cater medical service to the teeming citizens, just as more ambulances were purchased to bolster emergency healthcare delivery in the state. Commitment to polio eradication and reduction in maternal mortality of the present administration is evident in the free anti natal treatments and consistent campaign against polio.

But Governor Kwankwaso seems more concerned about education as modern classrooms are build across the state, scholarships awarded, teachers trained and recruited. So far there are 21 training institutes operating and graduating students and trainees across the state. Additionally, craft schools in all the 44 local governments of Kano State were also established. While Kano State University of Science and Technology is resuscitated from coma, a brand new university, the Northwest University, Kano will begin its maiden session this year. 

Even the Independent Power Project (IPP) is one aspect that is dear to Governor Kwankwaso's heart as formal arrangements toward having the nod to utilize the dams in the state to generate hydro-electric power is at advanced stage.

Such is the synopsis of economic policies of the present administration, which others are copying warts and all. The policies, dubbed Kwankwasonomics, have become a development model for many states in the country. Its little wonder that in no time, uncountable laurels, garlands, plaques are by the day knocking on Governor Kwankwaso's doors.

Governor Kwankwaso, who appeared on the track of fulfilling the four thematic areas of the KRTT report, will certainly use the document toward having a smooth journey to his development destination. 

•Jaafar is the Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Kano State on Media and Public Relations

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