Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, is set to continue its highly-controversial demolition exercise, with the next target being a multi-million naira plaza constructed by the previous administration along BUK Road.
This action is a part of the government’s ongoing effort to have structures that it views as being illegal removed from public lands.
The demolition spree has sparked widespread controversy for the new administration, with critics labeling it as an attack on the former Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
In response, the state government has defended its actions, stating that it is reclaiming valuable properties misappropriated during the Ganduje administration.
In recent weeks, the state government has already demolished several properties. On Friday, June 3rd, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf personally led an operation where heavy bulldozers razed a property consisting of 90 shops located on Race Course by Filin-Saukuwa in the Nassarawa Local Government Area.
Witnesses reported that the bulldozers commenced their work around 2:00 am, catching many residents unaware. The Governor was accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, and his officers, who provided support during the exercise.
The demolition exercise continued on Saturday, June 4th, when Governor Yusuf, along with his Deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and other party members, oversaw the demolition of structures in the Hajj camp area and the former Daula Hotel. The hotel had been leased out under a Public Private Partnership agreement for a shopping mall and plaza, among other purposes.
In the early hours of Wednesday, June 14th, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf sustained the tempo of the demolition exercise by ordering the collapse of the Golden Jubilee monument roundabout, located near the entrance to the Government House. The Governor personally supervised the demolition, which took place under tight security. The roundabout, previously remodelled and renovated at a cost of N160 million in 2017 by the immediate past administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, holds historical significance.
Furthermore, on Sunday, June 11th, the Governor directed the demolition of shops constructed near the fence of Sani Abacha Stadium at Kofar Mata, as well as buildings near GGSS Dukawuya and Goron Dutse.
The ongoing demolition exercise has stirred public debate and drawn attention to the actions of the new administration in Kano State. Critics argue that the demolitions are politically motivated, targeting structures associated with the past Ganduje government. However, the state government maintains that its actions are necessary to recover misappropriated properties and ensure compliance with land-use regulations.
Speaking to Channels TV, Secretary to the State Government, Dr Baffa Bichi in defence of the exercise, accused the Ganduje of land-grabbing and allocating properties to friends and family. He claimed that the state had recovered properties worth trillions of naira.
“Somebody was claiming that N129 billion worth of structures were demolished.
“We recovered property (land) worth trillions of naira belonging to Kano State that the previous administration misappropriated to themselves and their families. The Eid ground alone is worth trillions of naira. It’s priceless.”