Abubakar Tijjani
The Kano State Government KNSG, has launched a Smart Transport Solution aimed at enhancing security and improving efficiency across the state’s transport system through the deployment of modern tracking technology.
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The programme was officially flagged off at a ceremony attended by top government officials, transport stakeholders, and security agencies.
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Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, said the initiative, though new to Kano, is a globally tested system already deployed in major cities around the world.
“This is a system which is new in Kano, but not new in the world,” Dederi said. “It allows us to monitor transport activities in real time using cameras and satellite-based tracking.”
According to the commissioner, the technology will enable authorities to track the movement of vehicles and commuters entering the state through designated routes, with real-time data transmitted to relevant agencies for monitoring and prompt response.
He explained that security agencies, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Cabinet Office will have access to dedicated dashboards to monitor activities across the transport network.
“Everybody will be monitoring what is happening,” he said, adding that the initiative was informed by Kano’s growing population and economic attractiveness, which continue to draw people into the state.
While noting that Kano remains one of the most peaceful states in northern Nigeria, Dederi stressed the need to adopt technology to sustain security gains.
“We must move with the times by employing technological innovation to ensure absolute security in Kano,” he said, while commending the cooperation of security agencies in the state.
On the scope of the project, the commissioner said the tracking system would initially cover all commercial vehicles, including tricycles, taxis, buses, trailers, and tankers, with plans to eventually extend the system to private vehicle owners.
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“For the start, we are focusing on commercial vehicles. Eventually, it will come down to everyone,”
Dederi added that the Smart Transport Solution aligns with the state’s comprehensive transport policy, which provides a legal framework for public-private partnerships and encourages investment in road and rail infrastructure.
“The government cannot go it alone. Public-private partnership is the global trend, and Kano will benefit from it,”
Also speaking, the Head of Operations of As&Aj Company, Dr. Aminu Umar Maigari, said the firm is the technical partner responsible for deploying and managing the tracking technology.
He explained that the system was introduced to address security challenges within the transport sector and protect commuters and their property.
Maigari disclosed that the application required to access the system is free to download, with operators only required to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process and install a tracking device.
“The good thing about it is that it is free to download and use,” he said, adding that the combined cost of the tracker and KYC is ₦28,000, with a 10 per cent government subsidy for the first one million subscribers.
He said the flag-off ceremony was aimed at creating awareness among transport unions and local government stakeholders, noting that full deployment of the system would commence the following Monday.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Vehicle Owners and Transporters of Nigeria (VOTOR), Comrade Nazifi Gidan Kudi, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary.
He said the Smart Transport Solution would help curb excesses among commercial vehicle operators, address unsafe driving practices, and enhance overall security in the state.
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The Smart Transport Solution is expected to mark a major step in Kano State’s efforts to modernise its transport sector and strengthen public safety through technology-driven governance.