By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, , has assured residents that his administration will not demolish any building or dispossess property owners without fair and adequate compensation, in a marked departure from the mass demolitions under the immediate past administration of Governor .
Governor Sani made the pledge during the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of compensation cheques to 189 households affected by road projects in Rigasa township on Wednesday.
Highlighting ongoing infrastructure developments, the Governor noted that the Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road, and Asmau Makarfi Spur projects, which were initiated on September 12, 2025, have seen steady progress with drainage systems, hydraulic structures, and earthworks advancing along key sections.
He acknowledged the moral challenge posed by homes, businesses, and essential service infrastructure lying within the designated right-of-way, stressing that his administration had temporarily slowed construction to allow “a thorough, transparent, and equitable assessment of all affected properties and utilities.”
“As a policy, no citizen will suffer unjustly in the name of development,” Governor Sani said. “We will not cloak expediency in the language of ‘overriding public interest.’ Public interest must never eclipse private rights without restitution.”
He emphasized that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, his government’s guiding principle has been justice tempered by compassion and executed with integrity. “Roads, bridges, and public works may define the physical landscape of a state, but fairness and empathy define its moral landscape,” he added.
During the ceremony, the Governor flagged off compensation payments to affected homeowners, enabling them “to relocate, rebuild, or reorganize their lives with dignity.” He clarified that the compensation is not charity but justice fulfilled.
Governor Sani noted that compensation efforts reflect a consistent policy across Kaduna State:
- Approximately 120 households in Mahuta on the Rabah Road project
- 282 households from Magajiya to Albarkawa in Zaria
- 14 households from Audi to Kako
- 86 households linking Dogon Bauchi to Kakiyeyi
- 33 households along the Kabala Costain corridor
In total, about N2.85 billion has been disbursed to affected residents.
The Governor concluded by thanking citizens for their patience and understanding, reaffirming his commitment to equitable development and protecting private property rights while pursuing critical infrastructure projects.
