With Kano recently listed among the world’s 10 most populous cities, questions have arisen about what this means for development, governance and the future of Nigeria’s ancient commercial hub. In this interview, Professor Aliyu Salisu Barau, a development expert and professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the Bayero University, Kano, spoke on the implications of the ranking, challenges of rapid urban growth and what must be done to turn Kano population boom into an asset rather than a liability. Kano was recently listed among the world’s 10 most populous cities. From a development perspective, what does this ranking mean for the city and Nigeria in general? First, I think it is important to situate this in the context of global population history. Cities rise and fall, and their significance changes over time. Kano has always been a major hub in the Trans‑Saharan trade, much like Ghana centuries ago, which was once described as the “London and Manchester of the Sudan” because of its volume of trade. Kano inherited that mantle in northern Nigeria. Now, when we talk about the figures released by World Population Review, I must say I do not entirely agree with them. The growth rate they mention is plausible, but the methodology and criteria need scrutiny. We should not simply celebrate numbers produced by external agencies while ignoring our own institutions like the National Bureau of Statistics and the National Population Commission. These are the bodies statutorily mandated to give us reliable figures. The danger of celebrating such numbers blindly is that they can be used against us. If you claim that Kano has 17 million people, then the question becomes: how much water are you providing for them? How much electricity? How many schools and hospitals? If the statistics expose gaps in service delivery, then it shows that government is not performing. So, the real issue is not the ranking itself but whether we are servicing this population adequately. So, in your view, this report is not something to be celebrated? Exactly. I want to celebrate the people, not the number. Seventeen million is not a small figure, but what matters is whether this population is productive. If it is a battalion of youths not in education, employment or training, then it is a dangerous population. That is explosive and volatile. We must avoid that. So, I insist that we depend on data released locally by the National Bureau of Statistics and the National Population Commission. Foreign agencies may have their own criteria, but we must be methodical and careful. Kano will certainly continue to grow demographically and spatially, but we must not just pick numbers from outside and celebrate them without asking hard questions about what they mean for development. What then should governments at different levels do to manage this population sustainably? The emphasis must be on education. Investment in basic education, professional education and vocational training is necessary. We must ensure that the population is productive. Without that, we are simply sitting on a time bomb. The government should play the role of an enabler. It should establish conditions and support the private sector to take the lead. Unfortunately, corruption has weakened our institutions. Urban planning and governance structures are increasingly fragile. What we need is to empower the private sector, provide sites and services, water and energy infrastructure and allow development to flourish. In other countries, credit facilities enable even low‑income earners to own houses. Banks collect small contributions from millions of people and channel them into housing projects. Here, people struggle individually, buying cement and sand to build houses. That is not sustainable. We must borrow ideas from other countries and adapt them. What lessons can Kano learn from other megacities in the world to turn this growth into an advantage? Population itself is a lesson. India and China are what they are today partly because of their population. They export manpower. If you go to Saudi Arabia you find Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis working as foremen and skilled labourers. They send money back home, strengthening their economies. Nigeria and Kano in particular must invest in education so that our people can acquire skills that are exportable. We should be sending nurses, doctors, engineers and scientists abroad, not just unskilled labour. That way, our population becomes an asset, not a liability. Looking at Kano’s rapid growth, what do you think are the most recent factors driving this explosion? Economic prosperity is a major factor. Kano has sustained vibrant growth, unlike most other northern cities. Historically, Sokoto and Katsina rivaled Kano, but Kano maintained dominance because of its connection to trade routes. When the British came, they weakened the Trans‑Saharan trade but connected Kano to the transat
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
