Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has expressed worries over the ongoing demolition of buildings and structures in Kano State in the last two weeks.
The pioneer housing advocacy organisation in Africa therefore urged Governor Abba Yusuf to refrain from demolition of buildings and structures in the state.
The governor had pulled down structures worth N126 billion in the last two weeks.
The secretary to the Kano State government, Abdullahi Baffa, had declared that the administration would reclaim all government properties within and outside Kano that the former administration sold.
But, the executive director of HDAN, Festus Adebayo said the demolition exercise has become a sort of distraction because of the negative flakes it is drawing to the governor.
Adebayo who stated this in a statement he personally signed, said rather than attract legal issues, the governor should face governance by doing more in addressing the challenges confronting the people.
The statement reads in part: “Housing Development Advocacy Network, the pioneer housing advocacy organization in Africa is worried over the incessant report demolition of residential and commercial centres in the commercial city of Kano. And has called on the governor to face governance and desist on embarking on continuous demolition of houses in the state.
“With the ongoing demolition, there is no way the governor will not be distracted by many legal cases that will come up from the demolition. To us, this is an economic waste and we are appealing to the governor to face the business of governance squarely.”
HDAN boss also said that what is needed in a country with housing deficit is leadership that will proffer solutions by assisting the citizens to get affordable housing.
“As of today, the country is facing a lot of housing deficits and therefore what we need now is a governor that will proffer solutions to the housing shortage. A governor that will assist the citizens to get affordable housing and that should be the priority of the governor of Kano.
“We therefore appeal to the governor to let the sleeping dog lie and therefore face the business of governance and if there is any other demolition, he should please follow the rules, follow the due process to avoid unnecessary damages that may come up on the stage in the nearest future,” he said.
