By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Ibrahim Mukhtar Muhammad, the owner of a multi-million Naira property in the New Gandu layout near Zoo Road in Kano, has threatened to take legal action against the Kano State Government after his N20 million property was demolished by the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA).
Muhammad expressed his frustration on Friday, claiming the demolition was carried out without any prior notice. He also accused KNUPDA officials of extortion, alleging that he paid for the design, drawing, and supervision of the construction, only for the building to be demolished shortly before completion.
“This is a place we built with the intention of providing jobs for our youth, but now, it’s all gone,” Muhammad said. He explained that he had applied for permission to construct a temporary structure, which was in progress when the demolition occurred. He was particularly upset that despite months of interaction with KNUPDA, he had not been informed of any issues with his building.
“I have lost N20 million, but the real pain is the psychological trauma. I am devastated by the way I was treated,” he added, stating that he had been deceived by KNUPDA officials who had failed to follow through on promises to meet with him regarding the situation.
In response, Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu Adamu, Managing Director of KNUPDA, explained that the building was situated on an access road and that the property owner had received three notices from the agency, including a 24-hour abatement notice. He emphasized that KNUPDA follows due process before demolishing any structure and stated that Muhammad had not completed the necessary steps to secure final approval for the building.
Adamu also revealed that the agency would begin prosecuting individuals with illegal structures by January 2025 as part of its efforts to enforce building regulations across the state.
