Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has appealed to the Kano State government to exercise restraint in the ongoing demolition of “illegal” structures in the state.
The institute stressed the need for Governor Abba Yusuf to give a human face to the exercise. Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, the institute’s President, Nathaniel Atebije, maintained that there is no short cut to sustainable development outside physical planning.
Recall that the state government recently directed immediate demolition of all properties encroaching on public schools, marketplaces, mosque premises, graveyards and other public places sold to individuals by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Atebije said that no matter how lofty the state government’s efforts at bringing sanity to the city may be, it was important that such actions are carried out after detailed studies.
He stated: “There was a time when we planned for people; now we plan and execute the plan with the people, more so, because we are practising democracy. As at the last count, it was revealed that properties worth N126 billion have been destroyed in an ailing national economy. We call on the state government to exercise some restraint in carrying out the demolition exercise.”
