Kano, Kano state – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, January 24, appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board (CDIPB).
Legit.ng reports that Tinubu has also appointed a new managing director (MD) for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and a director-general (DG) for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
Tinubu’s new appointees of Kano extraction
President Tinubu directed the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organisations, emphasising that their positions are non-executive.
All the appointments take immediate effect.
In this report, Legit.ng has highlighted the three political stakeholders from Kano state President Tinubu appointed heads of these key agencies’ boards. Kano is widely considered to be among one of the most politically-important states in Nigeria.
1) General Jubril Abdulmalik
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Kano-born General Jibril Abdulmalik (Rtd) as the secretary of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board (CDIPB).
A seasoned security strategist, Gen. Abdulmalik served in the Nigerian Army and various security agencies and as the director of security in the Tinubu-Kashim Shettima presidential campaign council (PCC) during the 2023 general election.
A support group, Renewed Hope United Kingdom, said with his “extensive background” in military intelligence and security operations, “Gen. Abdulmalik is well-equipped to oversee policy formulation and operational strategies for Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies, ensuring enhanced national security, border control, and correctional reforms.”
Renewed Hope United Kingdom said via X:
“His appointment highlights President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture by placing experienced and competent hands in strategic positions.”
2) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
Ganduje served as the governor of Kano state from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as Mallam Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s deputy governor twice, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015.
He is a member and national chairman of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ganduje was appointed national chairman of the APC by the APC national executive committee (NEC) in August 2023 following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu. He is a key ally of President Tinubu.
In January 2025, President Tinubu appointed him as the board chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an agency under the federal ministry of aviation.
3) Nasir Yusuf Gawuna
Gawuna, a health personnel and politician, was named the chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Following Gawuna’s appointment, several APC supporters took to social media to extend their good wishes. Bashir Ahmad, ex-personal assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, and one-time house of representatives hopeful, joined the well-wishers.
He wrote on his verified X page on Friday evening, January 24:
“This is to congratulate Dr. Nasiru Gawuna on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. I wish him great success in this important role, I know he will work tirelessly to advance affordable housing for the people of Nigeria.”
2027: Ex-Kano governor Shekarau leading northern elite
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau is leading the northern elite in wooing southern bigwigs for an alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources disclosed that former head of state Yakubu Gowon and former President/one-time military leader Olusegun Obasanjo are among the supporters of Shekarau and others’ mission.
