**5. Urban planning and growth of Kano**

The planning and development of the ancient city of Kano began as early as the 10th Century with the gradual influx of trans-Saharan traders and the British colonist into the city. The first settlement dated back more than 1000 years ago and was situated around the vicinity of the famous Dala hill, with inhabitants engaging in Iron ore smelting and fabrication [53]. Dankani [19] opined that the spatial planning and growth of Kano started with the construction of the ancient city walls of Kano, which served as a symbol of identity and defense. This construction commenced in 1095 around the Kurmi market and was completed in 1134 towards the Jakara stream of the city. The ancient city walls comprised of the city's central hub, which includes the Emir's palace (**Figure 4**), the famous Kurmi market (**Figure 7**), and Kano city's central mosque (**Figure 8**). It significantly influenced the pattern of settlements and the expansion of early settlements in Kano.

The expansion of the early settlements in Kano began in 1903 after the military conquest with the establishment of the British colonial administration. This led to the city's subsequent growth as the administrative hub of Northern Nigeria and facilitated the development of colonial and post-colonial settlements in Kano. Sabon Gari is a typical example of such a settlement, created in 1913 to accommodate skilled workers migrating to the ancient city of Kano from Southern Nigeria. The growth of this settlement contributed to the early urban planning and spatial organization in the ancient city of Kano from 1915 to 1923. Hence, the old city of

**Figure 7.** *Local customs in Kurmi market.*

*Understanding the Challenges of 21st Century Urbanization in Northern Nigeria's Largest City… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109400*

**Figure 8.** *Kano city's central mosque.*

Kano and Fagge was recognized as the traditional native areas; Sabon Gari was labeled as the African non-indigene area; Fagge-Ta-kudu classified as the Arabian natives' area, while Bompai, Nassarawa GRA and the railway areas alongside its environs considered as the European areas [54]. Furthermore, this growth also led to the implementation of the first spatial layout of Kano in 1927 with a settlement named Gwammaja, created in 1932, to serve as an experimental settlement for the city's in-migrants. This settlement was further developed in 1940 and provided shelter for the West African Frontier Force veterans and other unskilled Hausa inmigrants [55]. The experimental Gwammaja settlement was later in 1953 integrated into the urban core of Kano as a cohabited settlement for Hausa in-migrants and the people of Southern Nigeria.

Kano has continuously witnessed rapid growth and expansion since Nigeria's Independence in 1960. This unprecedented growth resulted in the then-regional government of Northern Nigeria establishing the Greater Kano Planning Authority in 1962 with the primary purpose of the physical development of the Kano metropolis based on Nigeria's 1946 Town and Country Planning Ordinance [56]. The Greater Kano Planning Authority was later renamed Metropolitan Kano Planning and Development Board in 1969 and subsequently Kano State Urban Development Board (KSUDB) in 1976. Similarly, KSUDB was restructured and transformed into Kano State Environmental Planning and Protection Agency (KASEPPA) under Edict No.15 of 1990 as a result of Nigeria's Government directives on the authoritative need to create Environmental Protection Agency in all the states of the Federation [57]. This agency was further renamed Kano State Urban Planning and Development Board and saddled with the sole responsibility of ensuring Kano's sustainable growth and orderly development. However, despite the transformation of these various planning agencies and bodies, the city of Kano is still faced with numerous challenges due to the city's urban growth, which continuously degrades the city's urban fabric. These challenges result from the continuous influx of people to the city due to the socio-economic activities in Kano, which is closely related to the city's historical function as a leading commercial and industrial hub in Nigeria. This has subsequently led to the rapid growth and development of Kano, with the consequences of this resulting in various contemporary challenges. Some of these challenges include urban sprawl, inadequate housing, services, and facilities, environmental pollution, decay in physical and social infrastructures, traffic and human congestion, inadequate employment opportunities, an increase in rates of crimes, and other social vices.
