Kano State Government has expressed concern over the increasing rate of illegal structures across the metropolitan area, describing the trend as a threat to urban planning, environmental sustainability, and public safety.
The government said despite existing regulations guiding physical development in the state, some individuals continue to embark on construction projects without securing the required approvals and documentation from relevant authorities.
According to a statement issued by Musa Tanko Muhammad, Press Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the unchecked developments pose serious social, economic, environmental, and psychological challenges to residents while undermining efforts toward sustainable urban development.
To address the situation, the state government inaugurated a high-powered Committee on Identification of Illegal Structures to assess the extent of the problem and recommend lasting solutions in line with existing laws and regulations.
The committee is chaired by the Director General of the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS), Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani.
Other members include retired Permanent Secretary and former Head of Department of Architecture at Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, Dayyabu Zubairu Gani; Barrister Ahmad Sunusi of the Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS); Umar Musa Umar of Northwest University Kano; retired Surveyor General Abubakar Usman; Dr. Zainab Ibrahim Jibril; retired civil servant Sunusi Abdullahi K/Naisa; Muzammil Ibrahim Yakasai of Freedom Radio; and Bello Zakari, Special Assistant on Revenue to the DG KANGIS.
Mustapha Ibrahim Fagge, Director of Administration and General Services at KANGIS, will serve as Secretary, while Yusuf Yakubu Ismail from the Office of the Head of Civil Service will serve as Co-Secretary.
The committee has been mandated to identify all illegal structures within Kano metropolis, particularly in Nasarawa, Tarauni, Kumbotso, and Fagge Local Government Areas.
It is also expected to review all approvals granted within the last year and determine those processed under both the immediate past and current Managing Directors.
Additionally, the committee is tasked with recommending measures to halt illegal developments and advising the government on sustainable strategies to strengthen compliance with physical planning regulations and urban development policies.
The committee is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
Speaking during the inauguration on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Farouk Ibrahim, described the assignment as vital to the physical, economic, and environmental development of the state.
He urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, integrity, and commitment in the interest of Kano residents.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman, Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, thanked Governor Yusuf for the confidence reposed in them.
He said the assignment reflected the government’s trust in their competence and professionalism, assuring that the committee would work tirelessly to justify the confidence placed in it.
Dr. Sani also noted that reforms and achievements recorded under his leadership at KANGIS had continued to strengthen public confidence in the agency.
