Gov. El-Rufai Reveals Why Almajiris Are Being Deported Despite COVID-19

Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State Governor has explained that Northern governors agreed on the deportation of Almajiris from various Northern States to their indigenous States.

El-Rufai made this known while speaking on Channels Television yesterday.

He said that COVID-19 lockdown only provided the opportunity for the Governors to locate the Almajiri.

According to him, most of the children who were sent from Kano would have died of the virus if they allowed them remain there.

He added that more than 30,000 have been sent back to their various States.

El-Rufai said the Almajiri’s system has not helped anyone, therefore, the governors are looking for ways to end it.

“We have repatriated over 30,000 in the North back to their States and we are happy to receive any Almajiri Indigenous to Kaduna State from any other State,” he said.

“The case in Kano is that if these children were not brought to us, they’ll simply had died in Kano. Some of them would survive the disease but you know, the situation.

He further explained that the Norther governors just seized the opportunity provided by COVID-19 to repatriate the Almajiris.

“Because COVID-19 has enabled us to know where the Almajiri are and to be able to get them back to their States. We looking for the means and ways to end this system because it has not worked for the children, it has not worked for Northern Nigeria and it has not worked for Nigeria,” he stated.