Kano State Government has officially flagged off the Smart Solution Transport Tracker, a satellite-based surveillance system designed to monitor all commercial vehicle movements.
Speaking during the ‘Shirin An Tashi Lafiya’ program on Freedom Radio, the Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, described the technology as a “digital shield” that will provide real-time visibility over the state’s transport network.
“Satellite Eyes” on Every Entry Point
According to Commissioner Dederi, the new system works similarly to global satellite imagery, allowing the government to track vehicles entering and exiting Kano from other states.
“This device will illuminate every corner of Kano City, much like a satellite captures and broadcasts images globally,” Dederi explained. “We are particularly concerned about vehicles transporting people into Kano from other states and those leaving Kano for other regions.”
He emphasized that the system is designed to ensure that no vehicle enters the city undetected. “Anyone approaching Kano will be captured by the ‘star’ (satellite). We will know who they are, what they are carrying, and their destination. They must drop passengers at designated parks, not just anywhere on the road.”
The Commissioner noted that the initiative is a proactive response to the deteriorating security situation in the Northwest.
“Nigeria is facing severe security challenges. States like Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Katsina are struggling with intense insecurity. While Kano currently enjoys relative peace, we must act now to strengthen our defenses,” Dederi stated.
The announcement has been met with relief by the Kano Tricycle Operators Association. The Chairman of the association, Nazifi BK, revealed that the rampant theft of tricycles sometimes exceeding 100 thefts by a single criminal in a year has made tracking technology a necessity for survival.
“Thieves have tormented us. Many of our members used to buy these trackers in the open market for as high as N70,000 to N80,000,” Nazifi said. “We fully support this government initiative because the price has been slashed to N25,000, making it affordable for us to protect our livelihood.”
The Technology Behind the Tracker
Dr. Aminu Mai Gari, one of the developers of the Smart Solution, explained that the device integrates data from the vehicle, the owner, and the passengers.
“Security is our primary focus. We designed this to gather comprehensive data so that if an incident occurs, we can rapidly identify and track the individuals involved,” Mai Gari added.
The full rollout of the system is expected to begin this week, with enforcement focused initially on commercial tricycles, taxis, and interstate buses.
This report was developed following the live monitoring of the Freedom Radio flagship program, ‘Shirin An Tashi Lafiya’, on Monday morning. To ensure a comprehensive report, Daily News 24 correspondent Ismail Ishaq cross-referenced the statements made by the Commissioner for Transport,
Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, with technical developers of the Smart Solution Transport Tracker and leaders of the Kano Tricycle Operators Association (Nazifi BK). This is part of our commitment to providing real-time, verified news on government policies affecting the residents of Kano.
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