*To spend N29.2m on exercise
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Governor of Kaduna state Mal. Nasir El-rufai has approved the demolition of properties of the embattled Islamic Movement In Nigeria (IMN), the Shiites, Ghagyi villa and some other residential buildings, less than 20 days to exit of his reign.
The reasons advanced by the state for the demolition of the IMN and Ggagyi villa includes the alleged ban placed on the Islamic group, and the encroachment on school landed properties respectively.
Other properties earmarked for demolition across the State are UBE schools, Damau Household Farms, Ali Scorpion House, Oriakpata and Polo Club Stable at Ungwan Doki.
Also approved for demolition are some properties at Architect Namadi Sambo Road, Danbushiya Layout and General Hospital, Kawo earmarked to be ‘visited’ with bulldozers along excavators and loaded.
The approval followed letter titled:
“Request for clearance to carry out pending demolition exercise”,
dated April 20, 2023, by the Director General, Kaduna State Urban Property Development Authority (KADSUPDA), Ismail Umaru Dikko, requesting the urgent release of N29,253,500 for the demolition exercise.
According to the letter which was treated with dispatch, “His Excellency, is invited to kindly consider the above and approve the release of the estimated funds to enable the authority execute these pending tasks”.
“Of the N29,253,500 to be expended on the exercise, N20,253,500 will be used to demolish IMN properties across the State, N2.351m Gbagyi Villa, while Famau Household Farm will take N2.405m.
“Reasons advanced by the Authority for the demolition, are the ban placed on the Islamic group, encroachment on schools’ landed properties, non-compliance on special regularisation programme, dilapidated structural failure, urban renewal and upgrade, encroachments and illegal subdivisions”, it stated.
Recalled that Gbagyi villa was among those earlier earmarked for demolition by the state under the current regime was suspended due to tension generated by owners and occupants of the complex allegedly encroaching on Kaduna polytechnic land at Byepass.
