…Urges Govs. to end arbitrary land seizures
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has praised Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, for what it described as a humane and constitutional approach to compensating residents affected by government land acquisitions, urging other state governors to adopt similar practices.
In an issued statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the civil rights group said Governor Sani’s handling of compensation for citizens displaced by the 15-kilometre Kaduna Ring Road project had set a new benchmark for balancing infrastructure development with the protection of citizens’ property rights.
HURIWA commended the governor’s position that “public interest can never become a justification for injustice,” saying the principle should guide all governors in exercising powers under the Land Use Act.
The group noted that although state governments are empowered to acquire land for overriding public interest, such powers should never be exercised arbitrarily or in ways that leave citizens impoverished through the loss of homes, businesses or ancestral lands without prompt and adequate compensation.
According to HURIWA, compulsory land acquisition has remained one of Nigeria’s most contentious governance issues, with reports of inadequate or delayed compensation emerging over the years from several states, including Lagos, Anambra and Kaduna under previous administrations.
The association said it was encouraged that the Kaduna State Government slowed aspects of the Ring Road project to allow transparent assessment of affected properties before compensation was paid, describing the move as evidence of fairness and accountability. It also lauded Governor Sani’s assurance that no resident would lose property without fair compensation, noting that 122 affected households had already received compensation cheques, while more than ₦3 billion had been paid to people impacted by various infrastructure projects across the state.
HURIWA called on governors across the country to institutionalise transparent compensation mechanisms, engage communities before compulsory land acquisition and ensure prompt, adequate and equitable compensation in line with constitutional provisions and the principles of natural justice.
The group maintained that governments earn greater public trust when development projects are implemented with fairness, empathy and respect for the rule of law, adding that Governor Sani’s approach offers a practical model for pursuing infrastructure development without undermining the fundamental rights of citizens.
