The Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, has directed the Director-General of the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS), Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, to take over the affairs of the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) as Acting Managing Director following the suspension of the agency’s substantive Managing Director, Arc. Hauwa Hassan Tudun-Wada.
The directive marks a major development in Kano State’s ongoing efforts to reform the town planning and physical development sector and address concerns over alleged irregularities in the administration of urban planning regulations.
The decision comes shortly after the suspension of Arc. Hauwa Hassan Tudun-Wada and the constitution of an investigative committee to probe alleged town planning violations and matters relating to the operations of KNUPDA.
According to information made public by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s media aide, Hon. Nanu Kankarofi, the investigative committee is chaired by Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, whose appointment as Acting Managing Director is expected to ensure continuity in the agency’s operations while investigations are ongoing.
The latest directive places Dr. Dalhatu at the center of Kano State’s urban planning reforms, with responsibility for overseeing both the investigative process and the day-to-day administration of KNUPDA.
The suspension of Arc. Hauwa Hassan Tudun-Wada is understood to be connected to the government’s determination to investigate issues surrounding town planning administration, development approvals, physical planning compliance and other regulatory matters within the state.
Sources indicated that the investigative committee is expected to review allegations relating to planning violations, land-use management, development control and the enforcement of urban planning regulations.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to guide future reforms within the state’s physical planning sector.
Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani currently serves as Director-General of KANGIS and Chairman of the Kano State Special Task Force Committee on Illegal Structures.
Under his leadership, the committee has embarked on an aggressive enforcement campaign across Kano metropolis, sealing hundreds of illegal structures and halting unauthorized developments.
In recent weeks, the committee has ordered the stoppage and planned demolition of illegal structures erected on waterways at Kwarin Gogau within the famous Kantin Kwari Market in Kano metropolis.
The task force also halted construction activities around Tal’udu Bridge after discovering encroachment on land reserved for environmental beautification and vegetation cover.
Similarly, more than 50 illegal structures comprising plazas, garages, commercial buildings and construction sites were recently sealed along Hotoro Eastern Bypass and UDB Road corridors in Tarauni Local Government Area.
GLOBAL TRACKER learned that currently the DG is in KNUPDA for formal introduction and taking over the leadership of the agency.