By Oby Echeburu
Land owners in Rido community, Kamanzou District, Kujama Local Government Area of Kaduna State are pleading with Governor Nasir el-Rufai to reconsider the money paid them as compensation for their land.
Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) has taken a swath of Rido community for unknown purpose.
Locals say they are forced to part with their land for what they called “peanuts” which cannot enable them acquire alternative land.
Koman Simon whose land measuring 100ft x 100ft located in Tudun Wada, Mararaba Rido said he was paid N67,000 only.
“My complaint is simple. I am not satisfied with the amount paid me as compensation for my begotten…residential land I dreamt of building to settle on with my family for the rest of my life,” Simon stated in his letter of complaint addressed to the Director General of KADGIS.
He added, “I bought this land via the village head, in the sum of N340,000 with agency [fee] exclusive on 15 March, 2016 . you now acquire it in 2018, paying me N67,000…”
Simon prays government to: “Kindly review my [land] valuation and pay me the current value of the land or the cost [I bought the land] N340,000 or pay me exactly what I spent to acquire the land.”
In another option, he asked government to give him another land of equal value to the one taken.
Another resident who did not want his name mentioned told Viewpoint Housing News that payments were made without consideration for location of the land even though some plots were located in strategic places.
“A hectare is acquired for N700,000,” he noted.
Rido community is sandwitched by the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company and the eastern bypass.
It was observed that the Kaduna state government is planning to construct a road through the acquired land.
The project covers design and construction of 20.142km double coatsurface dressed road.