From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has commenced payment of over 269 million Naira compensation to land owners whose land were purchased by the state government for the building of Bauchi State International Airport in 1981 by the Tatari Ali administration and the one purchased by Isa Yuguda administration to expand the airport in 2011.
Director General Bauchi state Geographic Information Service, BAGIES, Honorable Baba Abubakar Suleiman stated this at the commencement of the payment to over 633 people in Bauchi.”
He said the present administration begins payment of over 55 million Naira to over 633 people whose money start from 1000 to 150,000 to ease their sufferings.”
Suleiman said government reach agreement with the land owners to settle their differences out of court and under the agreement of settlement Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar pledged to settle the over 269, million Naira in five installments.
He assured that after the payments of the first installments government will begins payment of second installment followed by other installments as agreed between the state government and the landowners.
Suleiman said some of the land were purchased N30 in 1981 and the state government had increased the amount to a reasonable amount that will be useful to the land owners.
He said initially Governor Mohammed Abubakar intend to pay them their money enblock but he was forced to divide it in to five installments do to the dwindling of resources and appeal to the land owners to continue to cooperate with the government to enable them settle all their entitlements in good time.
Counsel to the land owners Barrister Mukhtar Abubakar said land owners filed a suit in court and the court ordered for out of court settlement between the two parties .
He expressed confidence that the two parties will respect the agreement reach to bring succor to the land owners or their dependents.
Mukhtar said some of the land owners died and their money will be given to their families who inherited their wealth after their demise and they will be first identified by traditional and community leaders as the biological children of the deceased before they will be paid.
He advised them to be orderly while collecting their money and thanked the state government for its effort to put smile on the faces of the land owners after 38 years.
Many of the beneficiaries who spoke to reporters expressed gratitude to the Governor for taking bold decision to pay compensation and urged to pay the remaining money in good time to ease their sufferings for over three decades.
