No building will be demolished without compensation — Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani has assured residents that his administration will not demolish any structure or dispossess property owners without providing fair and adequate compensation.

The governor made the pledge during the flag-off of cheque distribution to 189 households affected by the Rigasa township road project, held in Rigasa on Wednesday.

Sani stressed that his government would not rely on the concept of “overriding public interest” to displace citizens in the execution of development projects, insisting that private rights must be respected and protected.

He recalled that the groundbreaking ceremony for several road projects — including Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road and the Asmau Makarfi Spur — was conducted on September 12, 2025, noting that work had progressed with the construction of drainage systems, hydraulic structures and significant earthworks along key sections.

However, the governor explained that the government encountered a moral challenge after discovering that homes, businesses and essential infrastructure were located within the designated right-of-way. He said construction was temporarily slowed to allow for a transparent and equitable assessment of affected properties and utilities.

According to him, the policy of his administration is that no citizen should suffer unjustly in the name of development.

“Public interest must never eclipse private rights without restitution,” the governor said, adding that governance under his leadership is anchored on justice, compassion and integrity.

Sani noted that the distribution of compensation cheques was meant to help affected homeowners relocate, rebuild and reorganise their lives with dignity, emphasising that the payments represent justice rather than charity.

He said the compensation initiative reflects a broader policy across Kaduna State, citing previous payments to about 120 households in Mahuta under the Rabah Road project, 282 households between Magajiya and Albarkawa in Zaria, as well as other communities including Audi, Kako, Dogon Bauchi, Kakiyeyi and the Kabala Costain corridor.

The governor disclosed that, in total, his administration has disbursed roughly N2.85 billion as compensation to affected residents across various infrastructure projects.