Property owners marked for demolition accuse Kano govt of double standard

By solacebase.com On Jun 24, 2023

By Baba Aminu

Owners of affected buildings marked for demolition on BUK road in Kano metropolis by Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) have accused the government of double standard.

SOLACEBASE had reported that Kano State Government through KNUPDA on Friday marked the buildings from Dan’agundi junction to WTC junction by FCE for demolition describing them as illegal structure because they were built on old city walls.

Similarly, most of the certificates of occupancy and building approvals cited by SOLACEBASE were signed by the immediate past administration of governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Leader of the group, Alhaji Ismaila Bello made the allegation on Saturday at a news conference, held in Kano.

Bello said the government is unfair to them by marking their property for demolition as due process were followed in acquiring the lands.

He said most of them bought the lands from people allotted the lands by government such as late Bashir Tofa, Wada Aliyu Gaya, Abdulazeez Ganduje and Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado among others.

‘’Look at this land no. 25 , opposite Kano Foundation initially belong to Muhuyi Magaji but we bought it from him. Also why didn’t they mark Aliko petrol filling station and others, Bello asked.

‘’On this same area they accused us of building on the same old city walls, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has plots of lands here with structures on them, they did not mark them, same goes for Abdullahi Ganduje and others.’’

”That means Gidan Murtala itself has to go as it was built on the old city walls and the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) that was approved during the second tenure of Rabiu Kwankwaso.”

When SOLACEBASE contacted Barr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimigado, over the issue of the allotment , he confirmed to SOLACEBASE that the plot allotted to him at the place was not on the old city wall.

‘’Yes I was allotted plot of land at the place in question but mine was outside the old city wall. I am entitled to be allotted land just like any Kano person and a Nigerian, ‘’Muhuyi said.

Also, on the allegation of double standard, KNUPDA Managing Director, Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu told SOLACEBASE that the statement was not true.

Yakubu said some of the structures along the old city walls that people think were exempted is not so, as the process of vetting the files of each allotees have to be carried out.

‘’You see there is a process we normally follow before buildings are marked for demolition. So with this, we have to look at the documentation and ensure that we are right with the marking.’’

‘’Some of the lands were even allotted by the military regime and some are already outside the old city walls not on the walls.’’