The Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) has said that in its effort to sanitise the city from unplanned structures, has uncovered over 60 new layouts under construction, allegedly posing a security threat

This was just as the agency added that to further its inspection and control against the illegal layouts, the state government also set up designated courts to try those in the illegal layouts business with a harsh punishment of six months imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Making this assertion on Wednesday, while unavailing the committee saddled with the responsibility of uncovering the illegal layouts across the state, the Managing Director, KNUPDA, Ibrahim Yakubu Adamu, stated that out of the 60 illegal layouts uncovered, owners of 40 have responded to the committee’s invitation while others refused to honour the invitation.

According to him,” Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has given us full powers to operate and ensure that we sanitise the state from the rampant unplanned building of layouts and anybody found wanting of the law will surely be punished

He stated, however, that the government has reactivated an existing law from 2011, which gives it full powers to arrest and prosecute anybody who abuses state-building planning.

Adamu then disclosed that to complement the stoppage of the illegal layouts across the state, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the building of two new layouts that will be fully channelled with all the necessary infrastructural development needs

The office warned that it “would not hesitate to fully apply the enforcement laws to anybody who refuses to comply with the directives against illegal layout businesses, and don’t forget that the punishment is 3-6 months imprisonment without the option of a fine.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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