By Sabiu Abdullahi
Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has assured residents that his administration will not demolish any structure or dispossess citizens of their properties without paying fair and adequate compensation.
He also pledged that the state government would not rely on the excuse of “overriding public interest” to remove property owners in the course of executing development projects.
The governor made this known during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of compensation cheques to 189 households affected by the Rigasa township road project. The event took place in Rigasa on Wednesday.
Uba Sani recalled that the groundbreaking for the Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road, and Asmau Makarfi Spur projects was carried out on 12 September 2025. He explained that work has moved forward steadily. According to him, “drainage systems and hydraulic structures were constructed. Earthworks advanced appreciably along key sections.”
He noted, however, that the government encountered a moral concern because residential buildings, businesses, and key service facilities were located within the project’s right-of-way.
The governor stated that he directed that “construction be temporarily slowed to allow for a thorough, transparent, and equitable assessment of all affected properties and utilities.”
He added that his administration has “resolved that no citizen would be made to suffer unjustly in the name of development.”
Reaffirming his stance, he said, “we will not cloak expediency in the language of ‘Overriding Public Interest.’ Public interest must never eclipse private rights without restitution.”
The governor stressed that fairness has guided his leadership since he assumed office. He said, “Since 29th May 2023, when we took the oath of office, our guiding principle has been clear: governance must be anchored in justice, tempered by compassion, and executed with integrity.
“Roads, bridges, and public works may define the physical landscape of a state, but it is fairness and empathy that define its moral landscape.”
During the event, cheques were presented to affected homeowners to enable them “to relocate, rebuild, or reorganize their lives with dignity.”
He expressed appreciation for their patience and cooperation. He emphasized that “this is not charity; it is justice fulfilled.”
Uba Sani further explained that the exercise reflects a consistent policy across the state. He disclosed that “across Kaduna State, we have compensated approximately 120 households in Mahuta on the Rabah Road project.”
He added that the government had also paid compensation to “282 households from Magajiya to Albarkawa in Zaria; 14 households from Audi to Kako.”
The governor continued that 86 households along the Dogon Bauchi to Kakiyeyi link and 33 households on the Kabala Costain corridor had received payments. He concluded that “in total, we have disbursed about N2.85 billion in compensation.”
