BY: SANI MAGAJI GARKO, KANO
More than 500 people have so far approached the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning for validation of their claims to disputed lands in Rimin Zakara, Ungogo Local Government Area, but only about 80 have proceeded to the second stage of verification at the Department of State Services (DSS).
The development has raised questions over the status of some of the claims being presented in connection with the longstanding land dispute involving residents of Rimin Zakara and Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The Kano State Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar Garko, disclosed the figures while briefing journalists in Kano on Saturday.
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He explained that the state government deliberately divided the validation and screening exercise into two stages to prevent a recurrence of past land racketeering, fraudulent claims and other irregularities associated with land transactions in the area.
According to him, the first stage requires claimants to visit the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning for validation of their documents and ownership claims, the claimants are then required to proceed to the DSS for the second stage of screening and verification, including biometric identification and thumbprinting, before they can be considered for compensation.
The commissioner said the arrangement was designed to ensure that compensation is paid only to bona fide owners whose ownership claims and identities have been properly established.
He said the government was determined to prevent fraudulent claims, impersonation, multiple claims and other irregularities that could result in public funds being paid to people who were not genuine owners of the affected lands.
The sharp difference between the number of people who visited the Ministry of Land and those who have so far reached the DSS stage has consequently become one of the major issues surrounding the compensation exercise.
The government’s two-stage process is intended to address such concerns before compensation payments are made.
At the Ministry of Land, claimants are expected to present relevant documents supporting their ownership claims for validation, while the second stage at the DSS involves further identity and ownership verification, including biometric/thumbprint capture.
The process is aimed at establishing that the person making a claim is the genuine individual entitled to receive compensation.
The exercise is particularly important given the complicated history of land ownership in Rimin Zakara and the area has been associated with competing ownership claims involving residents and Bayero University Kano, while allegations of illegal land sales and land grabbing have previously generated disputes and counterclaims over the ownership of portions of the land.
The Kano State Government has in recent months intensified its campaign against land grabbing and illegal land transactions, with the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning repeatedly warning members of the public to verify land documents before purchasing properties.
The Rimin Zakara compensation exercise therefore comes against the backdrop of the administration’s broader efforts to reform land administration and resolve longstanding disputes.
Speaking on the exercise, Malam Abubakar, chairman of the residents seeking payment of their compensation, commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Commissioner Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar Garko for what he described as their foresight in developing strategic methods for screening the claimants.
He particularly praised the government for introducing a structured verification process aimed at distinguishing genuine landowners from questionable claims.
Malam Abubakar also commended the government for setting aside substantial funds for payment of compensation to legitimate owners, describing the initiative as an important step towards addressing the concerns of affected residents.
He expressed confidence that the verification exercise would ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive their entitlements while preventing fraudulent claims from undermining the process.
He urged affected residents to cooperate with the authorities by presenting genuine documents and completing all stages of the verification exercise.
The chairman said the residents appreciated the state government’s efforts to find a lasting solution to the longstanding dispute and ensure that legitimate landowners were not denied their rights.
On his part, the Chairman of the Plots and Foundation Housing Agents Association, Muhammad Kabir Ilyasu, commended the Kano State Government for its support to housing agents operating in the state.
Ilyasu said the government’s efforts to modernise land administration and strengthen verification would ultimately benefit genuine property owners, housing agents and members of the public seeking to acquire land.
He assured the state government of the association’s support for its ongoing campaign against land racketeering and illegal land transactions.
The association chairman said housing agents had an important role to play in ensuring that members of the public obtained genuine documents and avoided transactions involving disputed or illegally acquired land.
He pledged that the association would cooperate with the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning and other relevant authorities in the government’s efforts to sanitise the property sector.