The Kano State Government has flagged off a Smart Transport Solution designed to enhance security and improve efficiency within the state’s transport system through the deployment of modern tracking technology.
SolaceBase reports that the programme was unveiled on Saturday at the Afficient Event Centre, with top government officials, transport stakeholders and security agencies in attendance.
Speaking at the flag-off, the Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, said the initiative, though new to Kano, is a globally tested system already in use in major cities around the world.
“This is a system which is new in Kano, but not new in the world and not new in major cities,” Dederi said, explaining that the technology allows authorities to monitor transport activities in real time using cameras and satellite-based tracking.
He noted that the system would capture the movement of commuters and vehicles entering the state from designated points, with information transmitted to relevant authorities for monitoring and response.
According to him, security agencies including the police, the Ministry of Transportation and the Cabinet Office will all have access to dedicated dashboards to track activities across the transport network.
“Everybody will be monitoring what is happening,” the commissioner said, adding that the government’s concern was driven by the increasing influx of people into Kano due to its relative peace and economic opportunities.
Dederi stressed that while Kano remains one of the most peaceful states in northern Nigeria, the government must “move with the times” by adopting technological innovations to sustain security.
“That is why we just have to employ a lot of technological innovation, which will help us ensure absolute security in Kano,” he said, while commending the cooperation of security agencies in the state.
On the scope of the programme, the commissioner explained that the tracking system would initially cover all commercial vehicles, including tricycles, taxis, buses, trailers and tankers, with plans to eventually extend it to private vehicle owners.
“For the start, we are focusing on all commercial vehicles,” he said. “Eventually, it will come down to everyone.”
He added that the initiative 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. Partnership through public-private collaboration is the trend globally, and Kano will benefit from it,” Dederi said.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations of As&Aj Company, Dr. Aminu Umar Maigari, explained that the firm is the technical partner responsible for deploying and managing the tracking technology being used for the Smart Transport Solution.
He said the system was introduced to address security challenges in the transport sector and protect both commuters and their property, noting that As&Aj Company is providing the software platform and tracking devices required for effective monitoring.
Maigari described the initiative as part of Kano State’s drive to embrace information technology in governance, adding that it would improve transparency and accountability in transportation operations.
He explained that the application required to access the system is free to download and use, with operators only expected to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process and install the tracker.
“The good thing about it is that it’s free. You don’t need to pay anything to download and use the application,” he said, adding that the combined cost of the KYC and tracker is N28,000, with a 10 per cent government subsidy for the first one million subscribers.
He noted that the flag-off ceremony was meant to create awareness among transport unions and local government stakeholders, adding that full deployment of the system would commence the following Monday.
In a show of support, 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 check excesses among commercial vehicle operators, address unsafe driving and riding practices, and enhance overall security across the state.
SolaceBase gathered that the Smart Transport Solution is expected to mark a significant step in Kano State’s efforts to modernise its transport sector and strengthen public safety through technology-driven governance.