The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for urgent and long-term action to address poverty and inequality in the North-West.

According to him, no child’s future should be determined by the circumstances of their birth.

He made the statement while delivering a keynote address at the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue held in Kano State, where he urged leaders to focus on practical solutions rather than speeches and promises.

“The measure of any society is found in how it expands opportunity and protects the vulnerable. No child’s future should be foreclosed by the poverty of their birth.”

Sanusi warned that poverty in the region remains deeply rooted and is reflected in poor education outcomes, weak health systems, and high levels of child malnutrition and unemployment.

He said addressing the crisis requires strong political commitment and consistent investment in people, especially children and young people.

Among his key recommendations was a call for the creation of a long-term social investment framework in each state, with protected budget lines for health, education, social protection, and youth development.

He also proposed a minimum social package that guarantees basic services for citizens at different stages of life, from early childhood to adulthood.

Sanusi stressed the importance of early childhood development, saying the first years of life are critical to a child’s future learning and wellbeing.

He urged states to invest more in nutrition, early learning, and parental support, adding that what happens in those early years determines what a child becomes.”

The Emir also recommended stronger programmes for out-of-school children, adult literacy, and youth skills development to reduce unemployment and improve livelihoods.

He further called for better use of traditional institutions in community data gathering and programme delivery, saying they are closer to the people and understand local needs better.

Sanusi also pushed for improved accountability, urging governments in the region to publish results of social investments and track progress annually.

He warned that without honest leadership and sustained action, poverty in the region would continue to deepen and affect future generations.

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The United States Department of State has intensified enforcement actions against what it describes as illegal “birth tourism” schemes aimed at securing American citizenship for children through visitor visas.

This was disclosed in a statement posted via the department’s official X handle on Wednesday.

“Under President Trump, the State Department is defending the integrity of U.S. citizenship by ending illegal birth tourism schemes.

“No foreigner is permitted to obtain a visitor visa for the primary purpose of acquiring U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the U.S.

“A U.S. embassy in West Africa uncovered a sophisticated birth tourism network involving more than 100 foreign nationals using fraudulent documents and visa ‘fixers’ to obtain visas in order to secure U.S. citizenship for their children.

“We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and dismantle similar operations.

“In Europe, a U.S. embassy identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases since 2024. Investigators traced them to at least six companies that coached applicants on what to say during their visa interviews, arranged U.S. housing, and set up delivery plans.

“We shut it down, revoked their visas, and permanently banned several fraudsters from travelling to the United States.

“One U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas issued to ‘birth tourist’ parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could obtain U.S. citizenship.

“Consular officers, working with law enforcement and using data analytics, identified several networks abusing the system and put a stop to them.

“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system,” the statement said.

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The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has said that the United States will negotiate with bombs if need be, warning Iran that American strikes would continue until Tehran agrees to President Donald Trump’s nuclear terms.

Hegseth made this statement at the US Central Command, CENTCOM, headquarters in Florida on Wednesday.

He said additional military operations were already planned and could continue as long as Tehran refused to finalise a nuclear agreement with Washington.

“Central Command will be busy tonight because President Trump said, ‘ We will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be. We will negotiate with bombs if need be.

“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do, and they haven’t been willing to do it,” he said.

According to him, Iran had repeatedly delayed negotiations despite what he described as a fully developed diplomatic path offered by President Trump.

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