From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The Kano State metropolitan masterplan has been undeveloped for 42 years, according to a town planning expert.
Town Planner Mustapha D Inuwa states this while delivering a paper titled ‘The importance of master plan and its impact on the people’ at a one-day Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Kano Metropolitan City Plan Review, held at The Affiscent in Kano on Tuesday.
According the expert, “the obsoleteness of the first master plan i.e (Travellion master plan) 1963-1983 has left vacuum of 42 years physical growth and development of Kano Metropolis without real direction.
He said by population, 70% of Kano residents live in unplanned areas, according to a Human Development Planning Index, HDI, report by the UNDP.
According to him, Human Development Planning Index has ranked Kano 28 out of 37 in Nigeria in terms of good master plan, thereby exposing the defects of un coordinated physical growth.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Alhaji AbdulJabbar Mohammed Umar, states that the workshop aims at reviewing the state’s masterplan to enhance commerce, innovation,tourism and overall progress and development of the state.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary,Town Planner Muhammad Yahuza, the commissioner described the workshop as “an event with important stakeholders and partners that have come together to discuss, cross fertilize and strategize, to appreciate and chart the way for a new master plan that conforms with modern development, preserving the past and providing for the future.”
“As we review the master plan, we must prioritize the preservation of our historical sites, including the ancient city walls that have stood the test of time, though threat of bastardization and destruction by past government, the current review must consider the sanctity and preservation of these landmarks, which are not only a testament to our glorious past but also a source of pride for our people,” he said
According to the commissioner, the master plan will incorporate modern elements, ensuring Kano remains a hub for commerce, innovation and culture.
“We will promote sustainable development, balancing growth with environmental protection,enhance infrastructure, improving roads, transportation and public services,” he said.
