Kano State has witnessed the launch of a new project that seeks to address the living conditions of over 10 million residents who currently inhabit informal settlements.
Titled the Integrated Deprived Area Mapping System (IDEAMAPS), this initiative aims to map more than 70% of the capital’s residences.
According to the Coordinator of the project, IDEAMAP, Dr Peter Elias, it is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and it is a three-year project that will run concurrently in Kano, Lagos and Nairobi in Kenya.
“It is about mapping slums and informal settlements. These communities are not always captured in interventions. So, when you are trying to intervene, or there is any hazard, without data, you can only base your actions on estimation. But with IDEAMAPS, we will bridge that gap by providing routinely map data so that those stakeholders can access the data about these places to aid their planning,” Dr Elias added.
During the launch event, Dr. Murtala Ubah Muhammad, a lecturer at the Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), addressed the pressing issue of informal settlements in the state.
Dr. Muhammad said that approximately 70% of buildings in Kano exist within informal settlements without proper mapping and urban planning.
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This, according to him, makes it difficult for development planning and interventions.
He said, “This project attempts to produce a digital map of the city, with emphasis on informal areas. A study has revealed that 40 per cent of the urban Kano, in terms of landmass is informal, which means, it is an area that is lacking in terms of planning.
“And you will see that this 40 per cent constitutes 70 per cent of the population. This means 70 per cent of people living in Kano metropolis are living in those informal areas.
“Kano has a population of about 14-15 million, you can think of 70 per cent, which means about 10 million people are living in those informal areas having no access to good roads, water, waste management and sanitation,” he explained.
The don, who is a consultant and specialist in urban development, also said when the database is created, those areas will be identified and their needs will be identified and will serve as guide to policymakers as to the community needs.