By Ahmed Gambo, Lafia
The General Manager of the Nasarawa State Water Board, Dr. Ahmad Kana Abubakar, has called on Governor Abdullahi Sule and security agencies in the state to urgently intervene in the alleged encroachment on lands belonging to the board in Akwanga, Keffi, Toto and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.
Speaking with journalists in Lafia, Dr. Kana described the development as unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to undermine government efforts and disrupt the operations of the Water Board.
According to him, despite possessing valid Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for all its lands across the state, individuals and some government officials have continued to encroach on the board’s properties, causing damage to critical water infrastructure.
“We have a listening governor who is always concerned whenever issues affecting the state arise. Several committees have been set up on this matter, and we were invited to meetings with the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe. We were advised to secure Certificates of Occupancy for all our lands, which we did after conducting the necessary surveys,” he said.
“Today, we have valid C of Os for all our lands, yet some individuals and government officials have continued to trespass on these properties. Their actions have become a serious challenge to our operations because of the damage caused to our facilities. We are appealing to Governor Sule to intervene and ensure justice is done.”
Dr. Kana noted that the governor might not have been fully briefed on the extent of the encroachment and appealed to the media to help draw public attention to the issue.
He cited a specific case in Akwanga, where he alleged that a private developer identified as Engr. Mudi used heavy machinery to destroy Water Board infrastructure.
“At the Akwanga Hill near Goddy Filling Station, we have a parcel of land covered by a Certificate of Occupancy. To our surprise, an individual came with graders and bulldozers and destroyed our washout water pipes. Construction is currently ongoing on the site despite our complaints,” he said.
He described the destruction of water pipelines as an attack on critical national assets and disclosed that the matter had been reported to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Water Board boss further alleged that similar incidents had occurred in Keffi, where parts of the board’s land and water facilities had been taken over for commercial development.
“In Keffi, we have a waterworks facility at Anto Bridge, which was originally constructed in 1949 during the era of the Sarduna of Sokoto. We also have a Certificate of Occupancy covering the area, including land opposite Keffi Hotel where our water chamber is located. However, a former chairman of Keffi Local Government reportedly built a shopping complex on the site,” he alleged.
He added that despite being invited by the state government to address the issue, the former council chairman allegedly failed to honour the invitation.
Dr. Kana said similar cases of encroachment had been recorded in Toto and Nasarawa Local Government Areas, alleging the involvement of some traditional rulers and government officials.
He stressed that the Water Board remains a law-abiding institution and urged relevant authorities to take decisive action to protect government assets and prevent further encroachment on lands belonging to the corporation.
