AFTER NAMADI’S EXIT:TIME TO RECLAIM AND REBUILD KANO’S TROUBLED TRANSPORT SECTOR

 AFTER NAMADI’S EXIT:TIME TO RECLAIM AND REBUILD KANO’S TROUBLED TRANSPORT SECTOR

By Tijjani Sarki

Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst

Writing from ZAWACIKI, Kano

7th August, 2025

Now that the embattled Alhaji Ibrahim Namadi has resigned as Honourable Commissioner of Transport, one thing is clear,the transport sector in Kano is in urgent need of a reset. But with his exit comes a rare opportunity for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to take bold action and reposition a ministry that has been crippled by internal dysfunction, allegations of incompetence, and a backlog of critical memos.

Despite being publicly criticized as incompetent, Namadi submitted over 30 official memos to the governor, many allegedly ignored, sidelined, or marked “KIV” (Keep In View). If those memos were worthless, why were they not outright rejected? And if they contained sound policy proposals, why were they left to gather dust while the people suffer?

To complicate matters further, Permanent Secretary Babani claims he was sidelined. But it’s fair to question his suitability for the role he occupies. A trained Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) by background, Babani lacks the administrative pedigree expected of a Permanent Secretary a role that demands a deep understanding of governance structures, civil service coordination, and policy execution.He rose through the technical ranks, not through the administrative path a reality that makes one wonder,why was he placed at the helm of the ministry’s civil service engine in the first place?

Surely, this mismatch in roles has contributed significantly to the breakdown of workflow and leadership tension. If both the commissioner and permanent secretary are misaligned in capacity and vision, how could the ministry possibly deliver?

This mismatch is not a small clerical error,it is the root of dysfunction.Babani’s inability to raise red flags until the scandal involving a drug baron broke out speaks volumes. Either he misunderstood his role or deliberately looked the other way. In either case, the people of Kano are the ones paying the price.

THE $30,000 ALLEGATION: CORRUPTION OR POLITICAL EXECUTION?

Let’s be clear, the allegation that Namadi received $30,000 to stand surety for Sulaiman Danwawu cannot be brushed aside. But we must ask, was this a genuine act of corruption, or a politically engineered setup to remove a "troublesome" commissioner?

THIS IS GOVERNOR YUSUF’S MOMENT TO ACT

Now that Namadi is out, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has a golden opportunity to do what must have been done a long time ago,appoint a competent, tested, and visionary professional to lead the Ministry of Transport.

Let it be someone with actual experience in the transportation ecosystem  not just someone who sees the sector as a steppingstone. Transport is a highly technical, policy-driven field, and its impact cuts across economic development, public safety, and urban planning. Appointing another political figure or misfit would be a tragic repeat of past mistakes.

Consider this,in just 27 months, the ministry has churned through two commissioners.

It is also worth noting that there are already two Technical Advisors in the ministry both seasoned professionals with proven expertise in transport administration. It would be unwise and counterproductive to ignore internal capacity in search of an outsider with little or no knowledge of transport operations and governance in Kano.

THE MINISTRY’S STRUCTURE IS A SHADOW OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE

The Ministry of Transport currently hosts:

1. Planning Research and Statistics

2. Admin and General Services

3. Special Duties

4. Engineering

5. Physical Planning

6. Legal Unit

7. Revenue Unit

Yet this structure mirrors a generic ministry, not one specialized in the complex, evolving field of transport,Critical overlaps exist.

i.Physical Planning is already the purview of KNUPDA.

ii.Engineering functions fall under the Ministry of Works.

iii.Special Duties is a vague and redundant department.

This bloated, unfocused structure is holding back progress. A true Ministry of Transport should include:

i.Water Transport Division  to address rural riverine mobility, especially in underserved LGAs like Bagwai.

ii.Urban and Rural Road Systems Unit with different planning and maintenance strategies.

iii.Rail Transport Unit given rail is becoming the backbone of modern, sustainable transport globally.

iv.Public Transport Regulation & Innovation Hub to tackle urban traffic, safety, and modernization.

TURNING THE CORNER:FIVE URGENT REFORMS TO REVIVE KANO'S TRANSPORT POLICY AND LEADERSHIP:

We commend His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his notable efforts in improving the road network across both urban renewal projects and rural development an essential foundation for progress in the transport sector. 

However, while we await responses on the delayed memos and corruption allegations, the government must not waste another moment. Here are five critical actions that need immediate attention:

1. Audit the Pending Memos Immediately

A thorough audit of the 30 pending memos should be carried out without delay. Who wrote them? What do they contain? Who blocked them  and why? The public deserves to know what policy ideas have been shelved and whether the delay is administrative, political, or intentional sabotage.

2. Restructure the Ministry’s Leadership Framework

Place professionals where they belong. A trained VIO should serve where technical skills are most needed  such as in KAROTA or inspection units  not at the administrative core of a ministry. The leadership team must be restructured to include administrators, planners, and sector experts who understand transport policy holistically.

3. Immediately Unveil the Long-Delayed Transport Policy Framework

For almost a year, Kano’s transport policy framework has been hidden in silence  leaving the entire system rudderless.  Governor Yusuf need to immediately unveil the policy framework, which will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive Kano State Transport System Roadmap. This roadmap is not a luxury,it is a necessity. Without it, there will be no coordination, no innovation, and no progress.

4. REDEFINE THE MINISTRY AS A SPECIALIZED ENTITY

This isn’t just another ministry. Transport cuts across infrastructure, economy, security, and daily life. Its structure must reflect its significance  with expert departments that meet real-world needs.

5. STRENGTHEN SYNERGY WITH SISTER AGENCIES

There must be clear, consistent collaboration between the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Land & Physical Planning, and KNUPDA. Without synergy, fragmentation will persist.

FINAL THOUGHTS: THE CLOCK IS TICKING:

Alhaji Namadi’s resignation is not just an end , it is a wake-up call. It is an opportunity to face the truth, the Ministry of Transport is broken, and fixing it requires more than cosmetic changes. It requires vision, professionalism, transparency, and leadership.

This is a moment for His Excellency to rise above politics and show that Kano will be governed by competence, not convenience.

Governor Yusuf must choose courage over convenience. 

Tijjani Sarki

Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst

Writing from Zawaciki,Kano

6th August, 2025