Land Owners Demand Compensation For 637 Plots Acquired by Kebbi Govt

 

By Samaila Bayo

The land owners on where Kebbi State Government is constructing it's 'Affordable Housing Estate Project' in Birnin Kebbi cried out over non compensation for the acquisition of their 637 plots of land by the immediate past administration.

The land owners of the Housing Estate at Dr. Amina Girls College Area, Birnin Kebbi while addressing journalists said the immediate past administration of former governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu during the housing units laying foundation program in the year 2022 promised that the rightful owners of the land would be well compensated but they have been waiting for more than four years without any compensation.

The chairman of the land owners, Alh. Faruku Alhassan and it's secretary Bello Usman Dantani while responding to journalists questions said the 637 plots of land are owned by widows, orphans, They called on Governor Nasir Idris to immediately compensate them because the plots belonging to the poor and vulnerable citizens in the state.

"We are surprised that the housing estate wss later handed over to the present administration of Idris without compensating the owners that lost their lands since year 2022", they said. 

They added that they have made several attempt to resolve this issue by meeting with the state Ministry of Lands and Housing and Urban Development to discuss with Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Directors and other staff over this issue of compensation but till today no compensation was made.

The land owners chairman said they had anticipated that, the current administration will wipe their tears after awaiting compensation for their lands.

"We had written several letters to the Governor, Speaker of Kebbi House of Assembly and other stakeholders in the State to sympathize with us but despite, they the need to compensate us for the lands. Each plot owner has a certified allocation letter signed by the Kebbi State Ministry for Land", he said.

When contacted, a top official of the State's Ministry for Lands and Housing said the site has been identified for compensation but they are awaiting government approval.