Kaduna governor vows fair compensation for property owners amid road projects
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has pledged that his administration will not demolish structures or dispossess citizens of their property without fair and adequate compensation.
He also said the government would not invoke the doctrine of “overriding public interest” to justify displacing property owners.
The governor made the declaration in Rigasa during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of compensation cheques to 189 households affected by the ongoing township road projects, including Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road, and the Asmau Makarfi Spur.
Construction on the roads had progressed steadily, with drainage systems and hydraulic structures completed and earthworks advancing. However, homes, businesses, and essential service infrastructure were found within the designated right-of-way, prompting a temporary slowdown to allow for transparent and equitable assessment of affected properties, Sani said.
“Roads, bridges, and public works may define the physical landscape of a state, but it is fairness and empathy that define its moral landscape,” the governor added.
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Sani said his administration has prioritized governance anchored in justice, compassion, and integrity. He described the compensation exercise as a fulfilment of justice rather than charity, enabling beneficiaries to relocate, rebuild, or reorganize their lives with dignity.
The governor disclosed that about 120 households in Mahuta under the Rabah Road project have been compensated, along with 282 households from Magajiya to Albarkawa in Zaria, 14 households from Audi to Kako, 86 households linking Dogon Bauchi to Kakiyeyi, and 33 households along the Kabala Costain corridor. In total, approximately N2.85 billion has been disbursed.
Sani thanked residents for their patience and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to balancing infrastructural development with respect for citizens’ rights.
