From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alhaji Muhammad Danji Juli, Surveyor General of the state, Alhaji Faruku Shehu Umaru and others have inspected the 623 hectares of land proposed for the new GRA ahead of compensation for farm owners.
Juli, alongside Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, TPL Abubakar Ahmed, were at the virgin land, located in Birnin Kebbi area, to assess the farmlands that would be taken over by the state government.
While speaking with newsmen, Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alhaji Muhammad Danji Juli, disclosed that the proposed new GRA, which would have a new airport road, has been approved by the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris.
Breaking down the segments of the new GRA, Juli said, “The new GRA has 623 hectares, 2002 residential plots, 383 commercial plots, 100 office accommodations, recreational facilities, major infrastructure facilities, and preparation of C-of- O will be done by the KEBGIS.”
Juli,who appealed to the land owners to cooperate with the staffs of the Ministry who will start documentation, assessment of their lands, disclosed that all the processes of C-of-O will be completed within three weeks with the KENGIS.
“Therefore,the Staff of the Ministry will be coming for the assessment of the farmlands affected by the projects. I want to urge the landowners to cooperate with them, because this project is for the development of our state. The Governor love this state and that is why he is working hard to provide alot of developmental projects across the state”.
In his remark ,the Permanent Secretary,Dr. Abubakar Ahmed , explained that,the state government would provided all the basic amenities including water, security, road network on the land,while beneficiaries of the land allocations would pay some charges.
According to him, “the honourable Commissioner has given us the directive to start assessment of the land to serve as a strong signal to the farm owners that government is serious about taking over the farmlands from them for developmental project.
“This assessment would lead us to the claimants being compensated for their farmlands taken over by the government. So,after this assessment,Kebbi State Government,under the leadership of Governor Nasir Idris would approved the compensation for the claimants. That is the ensemce of this inspection”.
The Chairman House Committee on Land Uses and Allocations,Hon. Kabiru Usman told the newsmen that the house would support the administration of Governor Nasir Idris to ensure that the new GRA project see the light of the day.