By Hadiza Yusuf

A special taskforce set up by the Kano State Government to tackle illegal structures has sealed no fewer than 14 buildings across different parts of the metropolis over violations of building regulations.

The exercise was carried out on Monday by the committee led by Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, who is also the Director-General of the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS).

Speaking during the operation, Sani said the committee, made up of 11 members, was recently inaugurated to enforce compliance with building laws and regulations across the state.

“This is a new committee to deal with illegal structures and buildings that do not follow the law. Today, we sealed about 14 buildings across Kano metropolis,” he said.

He explained that the affected properties were located in areas such as Gandu Industrial Layout, Dangi along Zoo Road in Kano Municipal, Ahmadu Bello Way, Hadeija Road, Sokoto Road in Tarauni Local Government Area, and Yusuf Road in Nasarawa LGA.

According to him, the enforcement affected different types of structures, including plazas, hotels, commercial buildings, cafes and residential houses.

“We seized two plazas, closed down some ongoing hotels, stopped ongoing constructions and sealed several commercial and residential buildings,” he added.

Sani said the action followed inspections which revealed that many of the buildings did not comply with approved standards.

He noted that while some property owners had building permits, many had expired documents, while others failed to convert their approvals from residential to commercial use.

“In some cases, what was approved is not what was built. There are clear contraventions of building laws,” he said.

He stressed that the exercise was aimed at protecting lives and ensuring order in urban development.

“If we do not follow the laws, a lot of things can happen, including building collapse. We need to ensure integrity tests for structures for the safety of the people,” he said.

The taskforce chairman also pointed out that zoning regulations were being violated in many cases, with buildings erected in areas not designated for such purposes.

“You will see places meant for residential use turned into commercial centres, or buildings constructed higher than allowed, even overlooking other people’s homes,” he said.

He warned that having financial resources does not give anyone the right to ignore building regulations.

“Because you have money does not mean you can build whatever you want. Kano wants its people to follow the law and proper procedures,” he added.

Sani said property owners whose buildings were sealed would be required to present relevant documents, including approval certificates and valid building permits, before any further action is taken.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to continuing the enforcement exercise to ensure compliance and prevent future violations.

“We are doing this for the good of the people. We want everyone to follow the right process so that Kano can develop in a safe and orderly manner,” he said.

He warned that the taskforce is ready and will go round the metropolis to ensure illegal structures are stopped and sealed.