The Kano State Government says it has committed N996.29bn to 1,557 projects across the state’s 44 local government areas.

The spending covers almost three years of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. It includes housing, roads, urban infrastructure and other development projects.

The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Maaji Sumaila, disclosed the figures on Sunday.

He spoke during an international press briefing on project delivery, procurement compliance and government spending.

867 Projects Completed

Sumaila said the state has completed 867 projects, which represents 55.68 per cent of the total.

Another 654 projects, or about 42 per cent, remain under construction. The state has also moved 26 projects to the award stage.

Ten additional projects have reached the planning stage and are ready for award.

The figures show the size of Kano’s current public investment programme. They also highlight the state’s focus on infrastructure and development across both urban and rural communities.

Kano Tracks Project Payments

The commissioner said projects worth N695.20bn had received Certificates of No Objection.

The ministry had also vetted payment certificates worth N444.75bn.

The approved certificates represent 69.78 per cent of the total contract value. Vetted payments account for 44.64 per cent.

Sumaila said the ministry would continue to monitor projects. The goal is to ensure that public spending delivers value to residents.

Rural Areas Receive N287.90bn

Kano has spread its project investments across metropolitan and rural areas.

According to the commissioner, the eight metropolitan local government areas have 598 projects worth N299.36bn.

The state’s 36 rural LGAs account for 653 projects valued at N287.90bn.

Rural development therefore forms a major part of the state’s investment plan. The projects cover infrastructure and other developments across communities outside the metropolitan areas.

The state also has 37 cross-cutting projects worth N159.50bn. These projects cover more than one local government area.

Another 269 statewide and other projects account for N249.54bn.

Housing Projects Take Centre Stage

Housing represents one of the largest components of the investment programme.

The commissioner listed the N113.19bn mass housing project at Rijiyar Gwangwan in Dawakin Kudu among the major projects.

He also identified the N22bn Rural Model City housing project. The project covers all 36 rural local government areas.

Other major investments include the N24.77bn Katsina Road expansion. The project covers parts of Fagge and Dala.

The state is also implementing N21.90bn in Modern Cities infrastructure across Dawakin Kudu, Dawakin Tofa and Kumbotso.

Another major project is the N27.74bn Madobi-Yako-Kafin Maiyaki/Kiru Road project.

Infrastructure Supports Housing Growth

The scale of Kano’s spending has implications for the housing and construction sectors.

Housing developments need roads, transport links, electricity and other basic infrastructure. Better connections can also improve access to new residential communities.

The Rural Model City and mass housing projects show the link between housing development and wider infrastructure planning.

Road projects can also support the growth of communities around new housing developments. They can improve movement between residential areas, commercial centres and other parts of the state.

Focus on Project Monitoring

Sumaila said the government must assess projects based on their size and reach.

Some major projects serve several communities and local government areas. Counting them as separate projects in each LGA could therefore create inaccurate figures.

The commissioner said the state’s monitoring system aims to provide a clearer picture of project delivery and public spending.

Kano’s N996.29bn project programme places housing, roads and infrastructure at the centre of its development plans. The completion of these projects will remain important to the state’s efforts to expand urban infrastructure and improve development across its metropolitan and rural communities.

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Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has allocated more than 2,000 plots of land to beneficiaries over a two-day exercise, saying the initiative is aimed at expanding land ownership, reducing the housing deficit, and creating long-term wealth for residents across the state. The exercise forms part of the administration’s broader housing and land reform agenda.

According to the Kano State Government, the first phase of the allocation involved the presentation of land allocation documents to political appointees, including Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Senior Special Reporters, Special Reporters, and Personal Assistants. The second phase saw polling unit agents, popularly known as Yan Akwatu, receive allocation documents, bringing the total number of allocated plots to over 2,000 within two days.

Governor Yusuf said the programme is intended to improve access to land ownership, empower families through property acquisition, and support efforts to address Kano State’s housing deficit. Represented by the Commissioner for Public Procurement, Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Iro Ma’aji, the governor said his administration remains committed to implementing programmes that benefit residents while fulfilling promises made to supporters.

The Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar, described the initiative as a significant step towards improving access to land and encouraging housing development. He urged beneficiaries to retain the allocated plots for future development rather than selling them immediately, noting that property ownership can serve as a valuable long-term asset.

The land allocation programme has attracted public attention, with supporters describing it as a strategy to expand homeownership and stimulate housing development, while critics have questioned the timing and selection of beneficiaries. Governor Yusuf has defended the initiative, maintaining that it is designed to reduce the housing deficit and improve citizens’ welfare through wider access to land ownership.

Housing experts note that increasing access to serviced land can support residential development and economic growth when accompanied by transparent allocation processes, infrastructure provision, and effective land administration. They argue that land allocation programmes are most impactful when beneficiaries are able to develop the plots into habitable housing and related infrastructure.

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More than a decade after its commissioning, the Kwankwasiyya Mega City in Kano remains largely unoccupied, raising fresh concerns over housing affordability and urban planning in Nigeria.

The mega housing project, initiated in 2012 by the administration of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was designed to decongest Kano metropolis and transform the state into a modern urban centre.

The development, which includes Kwankwasiyya, Amana, and Bandirawo cities, delivered about 1,500 housing units, including over 500 luxury apartments in Kwankwasiyya alone by 2015.

Despite an investment exceeding N35 billion, the estate has recorded low occupancy rates, with only a fraction of homeowners residing in the city years after completion.

Infrastructure in Place, Residents Missing

The city was designed as a fully integrated urban centre, with facilities such as hospitals, schools, commercial plots, mosques, parks, and a conference centre.

However, findings indicate that physical occupation has remained limited due to factors including security concerns, distance from the city centre, and inadequate access to basic services such as water.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who assumed office in 2023, expressed concern over the low occupancy rate during a visit to the estate.

In a bid to boost confidence, the administration began holding state executive council meetings at the Government Lodge within the estate in 2025, signalling improved security and readiness for habitation.

Government Interventions Yield Moderate Gains

To address infrastructure challenges, the state government connected the estate to the Tiga Hydropower Plant to ensure stable electricity supply.

A dedicated Ministry of Housing Development was also established to oversee housing projects and improve management efficiency.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Tijjani Muhammad Sharif, said occupancy has improved to about 60 per cent following recent interventions, including a directive compelling property owners to complete and occupy their homes or risk revocation.

However, the government’s recent acquisition of 324 housing units previously allocated to the state pension union indicates that a significant number of houses remain either unsold or unoccupied.

Affordability Concerns Persist

Civil servants and residents have attributed the low occupancy largely to affordability challenges, arguing that the houses are priced beyond the reach of average income earners.

Some respondents alleged that many of the properties were initially allocated to political elites and senior officials, limiting access for ordinary citizens.

A civil servant, Abdullahi Yusuf, said the cost of housing units—estimated at over N20 million—makes ownership unrealistic for most workers.

Another respondent noted that limited access to mortgage financing further constrains potential buyers, particularly those nearing retirement.

Policy Gaps and Allocation Concerns

Stakeholders have also raised concerns over allocation practices, alleging that some beneficiaries resold properties for profit instead of occupying them.

They argued that earlier government housing schemes, such as Kundila Housing Estate, were more inclusive and enabled civil servants to own homes.

Officials, however, maintained that houses were offered to civil servants at discounted rates, but many were unable to meet the financial requirements.

The standard purchase model requires an initial 10 per cent deposit, with the balance spread over 10 years. However, for Kwankwasiyya, buyers were required to make outright payments, further limiting accessibility.

Broader Housing Implications

The situation reflects a broader contradiction in Nigeria’s housing sector, where high-end developments coexist with a significant housing deficit.

Experts say aligning housing design with income realities, improving mortgage access, and ensuring transparent allocation processes are critical to achieving sustainable urban housing solutions.

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