Insecurity: Government Moves Against Direct Land Sale, House Renting In Kano

The Kano State Government, Northwest Nigeria, says sales of land or renting of any property or land to any individual or group would not be allowed without prior due reference to, and clearance by the district head or his accredited representatives.

According to Musa Tanko Muhammad, the Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government, this was part of the government’s effort to safeguard the lives and property of Kano citizens.

Tanko said the directive was a necessary step to help the military sustain operations against ‘bandits’ and other criminal elements in many parts of the country.

He said the measure was in line with the commitment of the Nigerian Government to end insurgency and banditry in some parts of the country.

The government’s sustained onslaught against terrorism, he explained, may force criminal elements to look for safe havens as they flee into other neighbouring states including Kano State.

“Government has directed that no house, property or land should be rented out or sold to any individual or group without prior due reference to and clearance by the District Head or his accredited representative,” Tanko said in a statement.

“This directive is a sequel to the sustained military operations against bandits and other criminal elements in many parts of the country in line with the commitment of the Federal Government to end insurgency and banditry in some parts of the country, thereby compelling these criminal elements to reportedly look for safe havens in other neighbouring states, including Kano State.”

He said “land agents were however strongly advised to comply with the government’s directive,” adding that “non-compliance would be taken as a deliberate and calculated connivance and collaboration with criminal elements to destabilise the prevailing peace and security in the state.”