The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has condemned what it described as the arbitrary seizure of private property by some state governments under the guise of the Land Use Act, while commending Uba Sani for adopting what it called a humane and rights-based approach to land acquisition in Kaduna State.
The advocacy group said Governor Sani’s handling of compensation for residents affected by the 15-kilometre Kaduna Ring Road project demonstrates that governments can pursue infrastructure development without trampling on the constitutional rights and economic well-being of citizens.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA praised the governor’s declaration that “public interest can never become a justification for injustice” and that development should not impose hardship without fairness and compassion.
According to the group, these principles should serve as the minimum standard for how governors exercise the extensive powers granted under the Land Use Act.
HURIWA stressed that although state governments have the legal authority to acquire land for overriding public interest, such powers must not be exercised arbitrarily or in ways that deprive citizens of their homes, businesses and ancestral lands without prompt, fair and adequate compensation.
The group argued that public interest and the constitutional right to own property are not mutually exclusive, insisting that responsible governance requires a careful balance between development objectives and the protection of citizens’ rights.
It noted that compulsory land acquisition has remained one of the most controversial aspects of governance in Nigeria, with reports from several states alleging that thousands of residents have lost their landed properties without adequate compensation or humane treatment.
According to HURIWA, such complaints have been reported in states including Lagos, Anambra and even Kaduna under the previous administration, leaving many affected families with significant financial and emotional losses.
The organisation, however, described Governor Sani’s decision to slow aspects of the Kaduna Ring Road project to allow transparent valuation of affected properties before compensation as a demonstration of fairness, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
HURIWA also welcomed the governor’s assurance that no resident of Kaduna State would lose property to government projects without receiving fair and adequate compensation.
The rights group noted that the distribution of compensation cheques to 122 affected households and the payment of more than N3 billion to residents affected by various infrastructure projects reflected a governance approach anchored on justice rather than expediency.
It urged governors across the country to institutionalise transparent compensation mechanisms, engage affected communities before acquiring land for public projects and ensure that all affected property owners receive prompt and equitable compensation in line with the Constitution and principles of natural justice.
According to HURIWA, governments are more likely to earn public confidence and legitimacy when infrastructure projects are implemented with fairness, empathy and respect for the rule of law, adding that sustainable development can only succeed when citizens are treated as partners in progress rather than victims of development.
