Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje says most of the Quranic education school pupils, popularly referred to as “Almajiri”, who roam the streets in the northern part of the country are not Nigerians.
Governor Ganduje stated this on Monday while declaring open, a 3-day retreat organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Kano.
According to him, a survey conducted by the government showed that most of the almajiri children are from Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon.
“From the survey we have conducted, most of the “Almajiri” roaming our streets are from Niger, Chad and the northern part of Cameroon.
“Once you improve the quality of ‘Almajiri’ education system, you are inviting other ‘Almajiri’ from other places to come to your state. That is another problem.
“The northern governors are putting more pressure toward having a universal legislation that will limit the migration from one state to another,” he said.
Ganduje disclosed that free and compulsory primary and secondary school education, as well as the transformation of the ”Almajiri” education system, were some of his major priorities in the education sector.
KanyiDaily recalls that the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede had warned Northern governors to abolish the almajiri culture before it destroys the region.
