The Kaduna State Government has begun the 30 per cent compensation to 1,133 owners of parcels of land acquired for the government’s development projects.

The compensation is an offer of grants (allocation letters) to the land owners, under the Land Swap Compensation Policy along Rigasa-Mando Link road of Western sector development plan of Kaduna State.

Issuing the allocation letters to the beneficiaries on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Director General of Kaduna Geographic Information Service, Dr. Bashir Ibrahim, said the exercise marked the fulfilment of promises made by Governor Uba Sani.

He equally said it was aimed at relieving the plight of the affected landowners.

Mr Ibrahim added that beneficiaries of the policy would continue to enjoy complete waiver of application processing fees of N20, 000 and premium of N500 per square metre (average plot of 450 square meter is N225, 000).

He said, “Previously, the approval list of batch VII was approved under the 30 per cent rate in the same area and today we are flagging-off the distribution of 1, 146 allocations to 1,133 landholders who participated in the exercise for the development of the state. The list of the beneficiaries shall be at the local government secretariat, district head and KADGIS office for further verification.”

The DG said as directed by the governor, KADGIS would remain focused to expedite action until every landholder collected their fair 30 per cent compensation.

He said the service followed due process and also introduced the application of National Identity Numbers and biometric in ensuring that those to be compensated were the actual owners of the lands.

He thanked the traditional, religious, and community that worked for the development of the state.

Also, the Director, Land Administration of KADGIS, Umar Abubakar, said the compensation was hitherto in the form of cash but the government later felt it was better to pay the compensation with land.

According to him, the value of land appreciates over time, while that of cash depreciates and finishes over time.

He said that for every land the government took, it subdivided it into plots and 30 per cent of the land would be given to the owners as compensation.

“The value of the lands given as compensation comes in multiple forms; one may get as much as 10 times the value of his farmland from the 30 per cent,” he said.

The District Head of Rigasa, Umar Idris, thanked the state government for the compensation.

He said it relieved them of accusations of betrayal by their followers, who thought they conspired with the government to seize their lands.

Mr Idris urged KADGIS to ensure that only trusted officials were allowed to handle the distribution of the compensation.

He called on them to look inward in addressing some issues of residents of Tsaunin Kura affected by the government’s projects.

One of the beneficiaries, Ibrahim Salihu, thanked the government for the compensation.

He said it was long overdue, but thankful to the state government for ameliorating their plights.

(NAN)