The Kano State Geographic Information System (KANGIS) has sealed about 50 illegal structures across parts of Kano metropolis in a fresh enforcement exercise aimed at restoring order in urban development.
The operation covered areas including Hotoro, Eastern Bypass, Unguwa Uku axis and other parts of the city where unauthorized developments were identified.
Speaking during the exercise on Thursday, the Chairman of the committee and Director-General of KANGIS, Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, said the action was part of efforts to sanitize the system and protect lives, property and the environment.
He said the taskforce was working across the state to identify and address all illegal structures, whether reported by members of the public or discovered during routine monitoring.
“We are going around to identify all illegal structures across Kano. Some are based on reports from individuals, and others are discovered during our general inspections,” he said.
Dr. Sani explained that some developers were not complying with building regulations, while others were operating with permits that did not match approved land use.
He noted that there are two major categories of violations, building without approval and misuse of issued permits.
“Sometimes people build without permits. In other cases, permits are issued wrongly or used in violation of zoning rules. A place approved for commercial use may be used for residential purposes, and this creates serious problems,” he said.
According to him, such violations affect government revenue, environmental planning and urban safety.
He added that the committee would continue its enforcement across Kano to ensure that all developments comply with the state’s master plan.
Dr. Sani also urged residents and developers not to panic, saying those with proper documentation would have their cases reviewed.
“They should not be afraid. If they have all the required documents, their structures will be released. But if not, they must regularize their papers,” he said.
He further advised developers to always follow due process, stressing that doing so would help ensure safety and proper urban planning.
The affected structures included plazas, garages, construction sites, commercial buildings and other developments said to have violated planning regulations.
