From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The people of Angwan Ma’aji, a community in Kaduna state, have appealed to the Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Uba Sani to intervene in an alleged illegal confiscation of house and lands by some officials of the Kaduna Geographical Information Service (KADGIS).
The residents of the community, coming under the auspices of Angwan Ma’aji People’s Forum who expressed sadness about what they described as illegal seizures of their land said the act is a violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
The residents explained that sometimes in 2019, the KADGIS in collaboration with the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA) conducted a Systematic Property Registration (SPRP) exercise, while in 2020 a Regularisation Forms were issued to property owners in the community.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the forum, Kabiru Suleh Kuria and Haruna Abubakar, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday, they noted that the conduct of the SPRP was successful and received the approval of the then Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai but, later cancelled, while each property owners were asked to pay the sum of five thousand Naira meant for meagre for the area after issuing Regularisation Forms to property owners.
According to the duo, in November 2021, the residents were shocked to discover that a group of individuals, presenting purported offers claiming ownership of their lands and houses, while several families were evicted and took possession of the property without any legal basis.
Also, in the statement, the residents cited section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, adding the Act recognizes the rights of individuals and communities to the peaceful occupation and use of their land.
It adds: “ The unlawful act of lands/house seizure has caused significant distress and harm to our community, and we seek the intervention of the Governor in addressing the matter promptly.
“ Families have been displaced, businesses disrupted, and livelihood destroyed. This unjust action has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among our people, who now face an uncertain future,” the statement reads”.
The residents therefore called on the state government to conduct an in-depth investigation into the circumstances surrounding the land/house seizure in Angwan Ma’aji, including the identification and apprehension of the individuals responsible for the illegal act.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, a Deputy Director who is also the head of stakeholder engagement of KADGIS, Abdullahi Tukur debunked the allegation of land/house seizure by their officials.
He, however, explained that the affected people have violated the Land Use Act 1978. “By this act, the lands covered by the NC. MISC. 53 were reserved specifically for the expansion of Kaduna Metropolis in the Eastern Sector,” Tukur said.
On the allegation of payment of five thousand Naira to the agency by the property owners in the community, “ we did not instruct any of our officials to collect money on the field, all monies were paid to the account of KADGIS, and if that was done, they should provide evidence of payment,” the Deputy Director stressed.
