KNUPDA: The Feats Recorded By Arch. Sulaiman Ahmad Abdulwahab
By Muhammad Auwal Shuaibu
HOTPEN – Urbanization, has long been a fundamental cradle of civilization. As society develops, so is the population, and the desire to expand and search for economic opportunities is inherent in human nature.
Since humans had agreed to live in a state-structured society, there is the ubiquitous convergence of belief, which makes it mandatory to live in a planned environment.
Historically, that colonial legacies in urbanization were chiefly in some selected environments with huge British interests like Lagos and Kaduna.
However, with the creation of the Kano state, and the attendant population expulsion, in the region and the entire country, there was a need for proper representation of urban planning for effective development of society and the environment.
Kano’s unique population and commercial status were responsible for the high rate of population increase, which, necessitated the creation of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA, the agency regulating physical infrastructural development in the urban and semi-urban areas of the state.
Without proper regulation, development, and control, which KNUPDA provided, the state would have had to contend with haphazard and stunted development which would be hazardous to not only humans but the ecosystem and environment.
Many Individuals in the past had managed the agency, bringing innovative ideas for stability and effectiveness.
But the present management of KNUPDA, under the stewardship of Arc. Ahmad Sulaiman Abdulwahab is inarguably doing a tremendous job of repositioning the agency to meet global standards in physical infrastructural planning and management.
The agency is complementing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s urban renewal drive. Many disasters especially floods are averted in recent years as a result of the proactive leadership of Arch. Sulaiman. As a rule, KNUPDA makes it mandatory to have comprehensive culverts to make way for,
and or seamless passage and flow of water.
Erecting of illegal structures, especially on identified water pipelines has been a thing of the past. The agency has an efficient synergy with sister agencies like the Kano Bureau for Land Management.
KNUPDA, under the watch of Arc. Ahmad Sulaiman has checkmated the rising cases of the indiscriminate building of structures without recourse to the original Kano urban master plan. Areas designated as commercial, private, and public must be stuck to when erecting any structure.
A laudable initiative and milestone of the agency are creating feeder urban roads and opening up new settlements outside the Kano metropolis. Communities in eastern and western bypass can attest to the fact they have a remarkable blueprint for developing their structures.
Similarly, traders around the Rimi market, Kantin kwari, Kofar Wambai, and Sabon Gari would be eternally grateful to KNUPDA for having the temerity to develop an enduring and elaborate road network within the Markets. Aside from regulating the indiscriminate building of shops and stalls within the market, it makes good to say, having easy access to the market is in the best interest of the traders. Shoppers and customers alike would feel safe and secure when shopping, their properties too.
In a recent survey, it was discovered that, in the past, Kano state lost about 2billion naira annually as a result of traffic congestion on major highways. Traffic grill, occasioned by haphazard outlaying of structures and indiscriminate display of wares on major roads account for the menace.
But, the Arch. Sulaiman-led KNUPDA has remedied the situation by engaging other critical stakeholders like Kano Road Transport Authority, KAROTA, in an obvious drive to decongest major roads and open new feeder roads. This was quite remarkable because it made access to the market quite seamless and traffic flow elaborate.
Despite challenges, the authority, under Arch Sulaiman was able to adopt innovative ideas and develop a digitalized platform for easy access to both staff and customers doing business with it. The ICT unit is another brainchild of the management, which is well equipped with state-of-the-art digital facilities to monitor land development and ensure strict adherence to structural development and control.
Arch Sulaiman is charitable and benevolent. In his capacity, he is down to earth, accessible and unassuming. He built mosques and assisted where necessary. He’s adjudged to have built several Islamiyya schools in different communities and has provided educational empowerment to indigent students.
A professional to the core, Arch Sulaiman has an unblemished pedigree and track record of excellence as a seasoned architect with cognate and requisite disposition in his chosen field.
The governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, can go to sleep because KNUPDA is in the best hands. The rapid development and infrastructural gains are a testament to this.
Muhammad Auwal Shuaibu is a political analyst and can be reached at auwal6511@gmail.com