According to the Gazette, the Kano State government has officially flagged off a “Smart Transport Solution” designed to modernize mobility and enhance security within the metropolis. The initiative involves the deployment of real-time tracking technology and cameras across commercial vehicles, including tricycles, taxis, and buses.
Transport Commissioner Haruna Isa-Dederi explained that the system would capture every traveler’s data upon arrival at stations, allowing for continuous monitoring by the Police and the Ministry of Transportation. The project aims to reduce the incidence of “one-chance” robberies and kidnapping-for-ransom that often utilize unregistered commercial vehicles.
The government intends to extend the tracking requirement to private vehicles in the second phase of the rollout. This move aligns with the state’s comprehensive transport policy, which seeks to integrate technology into rail and road infrastructure to attract private-sector investment.
Validation of this story comes from Daily Post and Tribune Online, with Daily Post noting that “Kano is setting a technological benchmark for northern cities,” while Tribune quoted a transport union leader saying, “We welcome any move that makes our drivers and passengers safer.”
Echotitbits take: Kano’s pivot to surveillance-heavy transport is a double-edged sword; while it promises safety, the data privacy implications will likely become a point of contention. However, for a city of Kano’s size, this level of digital oversight is long overdue.
Source: TribuneOnline – https://tribuneonlineng.com/kano-govt-launches-smart-transport-tracking-system-for-commercial-vehicles/, February 8, 2026
Photo credit: TribuneOnline
