Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has reportedly suspended the Managing Director of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) Arc. Hauwa Hassan Tudun-wada as part of a sweeping effort to address alleged irregularities in the administration of town planning and physical development across the state.
The development comes amid the Kano State Government’s intensified crackdown on illegal structures, unauthorized land-use conversions and violations of urban planning regulations in various parts of Kano metropolis.
According to Governor Yusuf’s media aide, Hon. Nanu Kankarofi, the state government, through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, has constituted a high-powered investigative committee to examine issues relating to town planning violations and the operations of KNUPDA.
The committee is to be chaired by the Director-General of the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS), Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, who also serves as Chairman of the Kano State Special Task Force Committee on Illegal Structures.
Also, Musa Tanko Muhammad, the press secretary to the office of secretary to the state government in a statement made available to journalist confirmed the suspension.
“As part of measures to ensure transparency and facilitate an unhindered investigation, the Governor has directed the Managing Director of KNUPDA and the Authority’s Director of Architecture to step aside for the duration of the investigation,” said Musa Garba.
The reported suspension and constitution of the investigative panel are seen as part of broader reforms aimed at restoring discipline, accountability and transparency in the state’s physical planning sector.
Sources familiar with the development indicated that the committee has been mandated to investigate allegations relating to town planning administration, development control, approval processes, compliance with planning regulations and other matters connected to KNUPDA.
The panel is also expected to review cases involving illegal developments, unauthorized building permits, improper land-use conversions and alleged breaches of established planning procedures.
The move follows growing public concerns over the proliferation of illegal structures across Kano metropolis, including buildings erected on waterways, drainage channels, road setbacks and other restricted areas.
In recent weeks, the Special Task Force Committee on Illegal Structures headed by Dr. Dalhatu Aliyu Sani has embarked on aggressive enforcement operations across the state.
The committee has sealed hundreds of structures, including plazas, garages, factories, construction sites and commercial buildings found to be in violation of planning regulations.
Among recent actions taken by the committee was the sealing of approximately 50 structures along Hotoro Eastern Bypass and UDB Road in Tarauni Local Government Area.
The committee also ordered the stoppage and planned demolition of illegal structures at Kwarin-Gogau within the famous Kantin Kwari Market after discovering that some of the buildings were erected on waterways prone to annual flooding.
Similarly, construction activities around Tal’udu Bridge were halted after authorities discovered that developers had encroached on areas originally reserved for vegetation and environmental beautification.