Kano authorities shut down a petrol station situated near a school on Gwarzo Road on Monday. Officials cited serious safety risks to students and residents living in the vicinity.
Dr Dalhatu Aliyu Sani heads the Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS). He led the enforcement team that carried out the closure.
"This is very serious. When you talk about a school, there are many children there.
Anything can happen, so we have to stop it immediately," he told reporters at the scene.
The operation forms part of a state-wide push against unauthorised structures. About 15 illegal buildings have already been sealed across various locations.
Affected areas include Sokoto Road, Yahaya Gusau axis, NNDC Quarters and Rijiyar Zaki. Many lacked proper building permits and title deeds, according to Sani.
Some structures were built dangerously close to power lines and waterways. Others occupied restricted areas entirely, he noted.
"Some buildings are under the national grid, some are on waterways. There is a lot of encroachment, and this is not acceptable," Sani stated.
Government officials named the initiative "Operation Show Your Documents". Its purpose is to enforce compliance with urban planning regulations statewide.
Sani explained the approach to property owners straightforwardly. "The only thing we ask is for people to come and show their documents.
If everything is okay, we will unseal the property. We don't demand money or award penalties," he said.
Officials say the crackdown supports broader state development initiatives. Road construction projects and streetlight installations depend on proper urban organisation.
Migration and commercial activity have transformed Kano rapidly in recent years. "We need people to follow the rules so we can build a modern city we will all be proud of in the future," Sani added.
Enforcement teams also inspected a previously sealed structure at Kantin Kwari Market. It sits near the fire service headquarters.
