These structures, which were built around the ancient Kano city wall known as Badala, have been accused by the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, of being illegally allocated for development by his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
While a few of the structures marked for demolition by the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) are still under construction, the majority of them have already been completed. Among the affected properties is a plaza owned by the state government through Kano State Investment and Properties Limited (KISP), while others belong to individuals and local business owners.
The properties in Badala include filling stations, car dealer spots, and one of the largest filling stations in the state, SALBAS OIL. Upon the structures being marked for demolition, owners and occupants have begun the process of removing their belongings, including roofing sheets and doors.
Expressing their discontent, one affected individual, Alhaji Jamilu Lawan, lamented, "This place was sold to us by one of the top people in this government. He was with the past government before they parted ways and here he is, chasing us out of our businesses. We don't know what kind of government this is." Lawan, who owns one of the structures, further explained the adverse impact of the demolition on his car sales business, which provides employment for over 20 people.
The decision to demolish these structures has sparked mixed reactions among the residents of Kano State. While some believe that the demolition exercise is regressive and detrimental to the state's progress, others support the idea. One supporter of the past government, Auwal Tahir, argued, "This is taking us back.
The past government introduced this policy to propel the state forward, especially in terms of revenue generation. Look at Lagos, they depend on these kinds of initiatives to become independent. Among the structures to be demolished, the largest belongs to the state and was built with public funds, yet they are demolishing it."
On the other hand, Abubakar Mai Wada, another resident, highlighted the historical significance of the wall and claimed that it was given out free of charge to individuals close to the previous government. He contended that the demolitions aim to restore the established structure of the state.
The Managing Director of KNUPDA, Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu Adamu has vowed to rectify the situation by restoring all public lands that were "illegally" sold during the previous administration. This includes graveyards, mosques, schools, and the wall fence, which will be demolished and repurposed appropriately.
The Kano State government's determination to demolish these illegally allocated structures reflects its commitment to upholding proper urban planning and development practices. As the demolition process unfolds, the state aims to restore the integrity of public lands and ensure they are utilised for the benefit of the community.