Kano guards against insecurity, moves to track commercial transport

The Kano State Government has unveiled a technology-driven transport surveillance system designed to monitor commercial vehicles and strengthen security across the State as authorities respond to the growing influx of people into the ancient commercial hub.

Speaking at an awareness session for transport unions and stakeholders in Kano, Haruna Isa Dederi, Commissioner for Transport, said the initiative aligns with global megacities where technology is used to manage mobility, safety, and urban growth.

“This system is new to Kano, but it is not new to the world,” Dederi said. “In major cities across the globe, movements are monitored to ensure safety. Kano is simply moving with the times.”

Under the new framework, commercial vehicles entering Kano—ranging from tricycles and taxis to buses, trailers, and tankers—will be digitally tracked through installed devices and cameras at entry points and transit hubs.

According to the commissioner, anyone arriving in Kano inevitably passes through a station or transport mode where their movement is captured and transmitted to a central monitoring system.

“The police have a dashboard. The Ministry of Transportation has a dashboard. The Cabinet Office also has a dashboard,” Dederi explained. “Everyone is seeing what is happening in real time.”

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The government says the move is driven largely by security realities in the wider region. Kano’s relative peace, officials argue, has made it a major destination for people fleeing instability in parts of northern Nigeria.

“In the whole of northern Nigeria, there is no city attracting people the way Kano is,” Dederi said. “We are peaceful, and that is exactly why we must protect this peace.”

He added that while divine protection remains important, the State must also take practical steps by embracing innovation.

The tracking system will initially apply to all commercial vehicles, including tricycles, taxis, buses, and heavy-duty transporters moving in and out of the State. Private vehicles will be integrated at a later stage.

“Eventually, it will come down to everyone,” the commissioner said. “But we are starting with commercial transport because of its scale and impact.”

Dederi also highlighted Kano’s newly developed transport policy, describing it as a comprehensive framework that opens the door for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and international investment.

“The government cannot do it alone,” he said. “The legal framework gives confidence to investors—both local and international—that Kano is ready for modern transport development.”

The policy covers road and rail infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and private sector participation, positioning transport as a key pillar of Kano’s economic future.

Also speaking, Aminu Umar Maigari, Head of Operations at As&Aj Company, said the tracking system is designed to improve transparency, protect commuters, and safeguard property.

“The world has moved into information technology, and Kano is part of that progress,” Maigari said.

He disclosed that the mobile application required for the system is free to download, with users only paying a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and tracker fee of ₦28,000, subsidised by the Kano State Government at 10 percent for the first one million subscribers.

The system has already been launched, with the current phase focused on awareness campaigns for transport unions and local government representatives. Full deployment is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Officials say the initiative reflects Kano’s determination to remain safe, orderly, and attractive for business despite mounting regional security pressures.

“Our concern is simple,” Dederi said. “To keep Kano peaceful and to keep our people safe.”

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