Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has reaffirmed that his administration will not demolish any structure or dispossess property owners without fair and adequate compensation.
The governor gave the assurance in Rigasa during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of cheques to 189 households affected by ongoing road construction projects within the township.
He stressed that the state government would not rely on the doctrine of “overriding public interest” to unjustly displace citizens for development purposes, noting that public interest must not override private rights without restitution.
The affected projects include Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road and Asmau Makarfi Spur, whose groundbreaking ceremony was performed on September 12, 2025. According to the governor, substantial progress has been made, including the construction of drainage systems and hydraulic structures, alongside significant earthworks across major sections.
However, he acknowledged that several homes, businesses and critical service infrastructure fall within designated right-of-way corridors, creating what he described as a moral responsibility for the government.
Sani disclosed that construction activities were temporarily slowed to enable a transparent and comprehensive assessment of all affected properties and utilities to ensure equitable compensation.
He reiterated that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, his administration has prioritised justice, compassion and integrity in governance, stating that infrastructure development must be balanced with fairness to citizens.
During the ceremony, cheques were presented to enable displaced residents relocate or rebuild with dignity. The governor emphasised that the payments were not acts of charity but fulfillment of lawful obligation.
He further revealed that compensation had been extended to multiple communities across the state. About 120 households were compensated in Mahuta under the Rabah Road project. In Zaria, 282 households from Magajiya to Albarkawa and 14 households from Audi to Kako received payments. Additionally, 86 households linking Dogon Bauchi to Kakiyeyi and 33 households along the Kabala Costain corridor were compensated.
In total, the state government has disbursed approximately N2.85 billion in compensation to affected residents as part of its infrastructure expansion efforts.
