By ABDULMALIK SULEIMAN
The evolution of cities is as old as the evolution of human beings. Places considered as metropolitan areas came about as a result of seriously attempts by man to invent proper livability system for his wellbeing.
Cognisance of the inherent challenges that have been associated with developmental efforts, the various international organizations serving humanity have continued to evolve laws and protocols to have navigate these challenges.
At the United Nations, series of laws, treaties and protocols have been put in place for countries with metropolitan areas to abide with to enhance the livability indices of their citizens.
One of such organs of the global body is the UNHabitat which was set to promote transformative change in cities across the globe.
Founded in 1977, the body is officially known as the United Nations Human Settlement Programme with it’s core mandates being to provide policies, programmes and protocols to enhance human’s quality living.
Many of the laws, treaties and protocols have come to serve as guide upon which governments of the various countries make appraisal of their city livability efforts.
Simply put, UNHabitat ensures that government provides the right living conditions in terms of affordable housing , transportation, environmental sanitation and sundry other incentives for decent living to their people.
As to be expected of a major metropolitan area, Kano State, especially the Kano Municipality have in the past enjoyed painstaking efforts at urban regional planning as various parts of the city had been marked to serve residents in specific ways.
Commercial areas were highlighted and delineated from residential ones just industrial lay outs were also earmarked for such purposes.
Transportation mechanism and systems have also been designed and even evolved over time to service the commuting needs of residents by successive governments in the past.
It is sad that while past governments before the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje led government had worked assiduously to rework Kano to the path of modernity and progress environment wise, the same cannot be said of the last administration.
At no time prior to it’s coming on board that the master plan of Kano had been seriously distorted than the last eight years.
Kano witnessed not only looting of public property, many of the age long monuments were not brazenly stolen, they were distorted in a manner that hamper the livability system of residents.
Historical places like Eid praying ground, Hajj Camp, Hospital, University Campus, Race Course etc were distorted and converted to commercial purposes by the last administration of Abdullahi Ganduje.
The danger of congestion and lack of spaces in the metropolitan can lead to increase in Methane which can damage the atmosphere and climate system as well as the earth of the city.
These are what Governor Abba Yusuf is trying to correct to enhance the livability indices of the residents of the state.
Though painful to some, especially the beneficiaries of the rot, the vast majority of the people must however embrace and take ownership of the initiative which is expected to serve their overall interest.
