By Abbas Nazil
Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has signed into law the bill establishing the Kano State Infrastructure Management Agency (KASIMA).
This move follows the passage of the Kano State Infrastructure Management Agency Law, 2025 (1446 A.H) by the Kano State House of Assembly.
According to a statement released by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, last Friday, the new law aims to address widespread concerns over the indiscriminate and unsafe installation of utility infrastructure across the state.
The establishment of KASIMA marks a significant step toward restoring order and improving safety in Kano’s urban spaces.
The newly created agency has been given broad powers to regulate the erection and installation of utilities such as electricity poles, underground cables, fiber optic lines, water and gas pipelines, and telecommunication masts in public areas.
Governor Yusuf said the initiative is not intended to hinder development but rather to ensure that infrastructural growth occurs in a safe, organized, and environmentally sustainable manner.
Speaking on the importance of the agency, Governor Yusuf stated that the current trend of unregulated installation of infrastructure has not only created safety hazards but has also negatively affected environmental standards and disrupted urban planning efforts.
He expressed optimism that KASIMA would bring long-overdue order to the way utility installations are managed in Kano State.
The governor stressed that while development and private investment are welcome, they must be carried out in a structured and safe manner that serves the public interest.
He noted that groundwork is already underway to set up the agency’s leadership, recruit technical staff, and initiate engagement with key stakeholders, including utility providers and local governments, to ensure a smooth implementation of the law.
Under the new law, KASIMA is empowered to regulate and supervise all utility installations in public spaces, issue necessary permits and approvals, inspect and certify safety compliance, and monitor radio frequency emissions from telecom towers.
The agency is also to promote the sharing of infrastructure (co-location) among service providers to minimize unnecessary duplication of utility structures.
In addition, it is also to maintain a centralized database of all utility infrastructure across the state, recommend the removal of illegal, abandoned, or substandard structures, and advise the government on matters related to infrastructure planning and development standards.
The Kano State Infrastructure Management Agency is scheduled to become fully operational before the end of 2025.
