From World’s 9th Most Populous City to Perfect: As Gov Yusuf Revisits Kano Master Plan

By Abba Anwar

Most recent report from World Population Review 2026, reveals that the ancient city of Kano becomes world’s 9th most populous city, ranked alongside Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu in China, Karachi in Pakistan and Kinshasa in DR Congo.

With an estimated population of 17.5 million, Kano grew by over 536,000 within the last year, which means an annual growth rate of 3.16 percent. With this growth rate, it is projected that the population can reach over 20 million by 2030.

Before looking at the flipside of a densely populated space, it is good to understand that sustainable growth brings forth significant opportunities for economic growth and development, infrastructure expansion and investment opportunities.

Taking over from Lagos in numbers, the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos is estimated at 14.8 million in 2026. It therefore means that, Kano is in dire need of good managers in running the affairs of the state.

Alas! With the current administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose foresight and creativity in the art of governance, prompted his intention of undusting Kano Master Plan, even before the release of World Population Review 2026 Report, which places Kano as the world’s 9th most populous city, we are indeed moving from density to perfection.

As quoted by the Weekend Trust of Saturday 8th August, 2026, on the Report, it clearly mentioned that, “The report warns, however, that such expansion comes with enormous challenges in overstreched infrastructure, housing shortages, environmental risks, and governance pressures that could overwhelm local authorities if not managed carefully.”

Let’s look at the figures before advancing my arguments on how Governor Yusuf is putting effort to address the burden aspect of this population growth.

Quoting the data document, the Report, Trust newspaper reveals that, “The data shows that Kano’s population in 1991 was 3,005,222. By 2026, the figure had climbed to 17,510,247, representing more than a five-fold increase in just 35 years.

The report notes that Kano grew by over 536,000 people in the last year alone, an annual growth rate of 3.16 percent. If this pace continues, the population is projected to surpass 20 million by 2030, cementing its place among the world’s megacities.”

Contrasting, or rather comparing, with our national agency in Kano’s place, Trust puts it this way, that, “Similarly, the National Population Commission (NPC) data shows that Kano has consistently ranked among Nigeria’s most densely populated states. In 1991, the official census recorded 5,810,470 residents.

By 2006, the figure had surged to 9,401,288, representing a growth rate of nearly 62 percent in just 15 years. Subsequent estimates by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and NPC placed the population in 13.4 million in 2016 and 15.46 million in 2022.

By early 2026, the NPC estimated 16,253,549 residents, with an annual growth rate of 3.27 percent.”

As indices to the upsurge of Kano’s population it is important, to first and foremost, understand that, the position isn’t accidental. It is indeed a fallout of many indices and factors. In the fertility angle, Nigeria remains one with the highest rate, with Northern Nigeria carrying the heavier weight and Kano in the frontline, among others.

There is consistent migration of people to Kano. Especially from North East and other states from North West, where insecurity takes a field day consistently. As observed that, “The city offers relative stability, economic opportunities, and cultural familiarity, making it a natural destination for displaced people. This influx has swelled Kano’s numbers dramatically in recent years.”

When Trust’s cover story of 8th August, 2026, with the caption.”How Kano emerged world’s 9th most populous city”  examines that, “… Kano’s enduring role as a commercial hub continues to pull people in. Its sprawling markets, from Kurmi to Sabon Gari, remain centres of trade and industry.

The city’s textile heritage, agro-processing ventures, and growing service sector provide livelihoods for millions. Expansion into surrounding local governments has created a vast metropolitan area, absorbing rural communities into the city’s orbit and blurring the line between urban and rural life,” I exclaimed that Governor Yusuf is by the side making positive reactions against all odds.

To react positively to these emerging challenges, he decided to undust Kano Master Plan of over 30 years. The first metropolitan 20- year development plan, Master Plan, was in place between 1963 to 1983. While the second, which stopped at an effort stage, was in 2017 during the reign of the then Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. But it failed and stopped at early stage.

Under the current administration, Governor Yusuf is putting forth Kano Master Plan 2025-2045, to squarely address all challenges embedded in the population upsurge. Hovering around economy, health, housing, education, businesses, environment and planning challenges.

Part of the effort in addressing housing challenges, the state government initiated Rural Model City Housing Project, covering 36 rural government areas. A pilot effort is already in place with N113.19 billion Mass Housing Project at Dawakin Kudu local government.

To decongest and make life easy and bearable within the state capital, there are 598 projects of the contract sum of N299.36 billion, spread across 8 metropolitan local government areas of Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Municipal, Kumbotso, Nassarawa, Tarauni and Ungogo. Included here are city expansion projects.

Responding to warning at all levels, global, national and local concerns, for each existing society on our planet, that unchecked population growth, especially at high speed, could erode the relative stability societies like Kano enjoy, which to a large extent, makes cities attractive to either migrants or businesses, Governor Yusuf, brings forth cross-cutting interventions.

These are in the areas of improved healthcare system, provision of employment opportunities, providing ease of doing business environment, fight against drug/substance abuse, aiding educational development for now and future challenges and sticking to a new Kano Master Plan- which is in the pipeline waiting for some finishing touches and implementation- among others.

So also in the area of infrastructural development, housing project is there, with modern-city project in place, construction and renovation of critical infrastructure, across board and roads construction. There is approximately N159.50 billion associated with some cross-cutting interventions like, solar-powered street-lighting projects, wireless solar traffic lights, traffic management and traffic-light systems, major road expansion projects, metropolitan road corridors, pedestrian bridges and inter-local government areas roads and bridges among others.

The fact that, “The city’s commerce strength is most visible in its market. The historic Kurmi market, established in the fifteenth century, remains an important trading centre. Kantin Kwari is widely recognized as one of the West Africa’s largest textile markets, while Dawanau is regarded as the largest grain market in sub-Saharan Africa. Sabon Gari market is another major commercial centre, offering a wide range of consumer goods,” His Excellency, the Governor is battling hard to see that insecurity finds no resting place in Kano.

Hence the establishment of Kano State Neighborhood Watch Corps for community – based security system to tackle banditry, thuggery, phone-snaching, drug abuse and provide the conventional security agencies with intelligence. With 2,000 personnel, 1,870 men and 130 women deployed across all the 44 LGAs. Equipped with 88 Hilux vehicles and 440 motorcycles.

The hope on how to cope with the rising population growth in Kano, is on the high side, so long as Governor Yusuf continues to be in power after 2027.

There are visible hands and effort aiding the Governor in coping with all challenges attached to the rising population. These are Commissioner for Public Procurement Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abdujjabbar Muhammad Umar, Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, Commissioner for Environment and Supervising Commissioner Water Resources, Dr Dahiru Muhammad Hashim and Director General, Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS), Dr Dalhatu Sani, among few others.

The onerous task of fight against drug and substance abuse, apart from the federal government government agencies, like Police, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) etc, under the state control, is the newly established Kano State Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, under the Chairmanship of Barrister Muhiyi Magaji Rimingado.

On top of that, is His Excellency the Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo, who has consistently been by the side of the Governor as a reliable co-traveller in running the state affairs and a very loyal Deputy, as widely acknowledged by the Governor in many occasions.

Anwar writes from Kano
Thursday, 20th August, 2026