The Kano State government on Monday sealed a gas station located close to a school along Gwarzo Road over safety concerns, as part of a wider crackdown on illegal structures across the state.
The Director-General of the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS), Dr Dalhatu Aliyu Sani, who led an enforcement team, said the facility posed a serious risk to schoolchildren and nearby residents.
“This is very serious. When you talk about a school, there are many children there. Anything can happen, so we have to stop it immediately,” he said.
The action followed the sealing of about 15 illegal structures in different parts of Kano, including areas around Sokoto Road, the Yahaya Gusau axis, NNDC Quarters and Rijiyar Zaki.
According to the KANGIS boss, “These are structures that don’t have the required documents, especially building permits and title documents.”
He added that some of the structures were erected under high-tension power lines, on waterways and in other restricted areas, describing the trend as dangerous and a violation of urban planning laws.
“Some buildings are under the national grid, some are on waterways. There is a lot of encroachment, and this is not acceptable,” he stated.
Dr Sani said the enforcement drive, tagged “Operation Show Your Documents”, is aimed at ensuring that all property owners comply with government regulations.
“The only thing we ask is for people to come and show their documents. If everything is okay, we will unseal the property. We don’t demand money or award penalties,” he said.
He stressed that the exercise is necessary to support ongoing development projects in the state, including road construction and installation of streetlights.
“Kano is growing very fast due to migration and business activities. We need people to follow the rules so we can build a modern city we will all be proud of in the future,” he added.
The committee also revisited an already sealed illegal structure located at Kantin Kwari Market near the fire service area.
