By Muazu Abubakar Albarkawa Some affected property owners at the old Sabon Gari Market in Zaria have appealed to the Kaduna Sta...
By Muazu Abubakar Albarkawa
Some affected property owners at the old Sabon Gari Market in Zaria have appealed to the Kaduna State Government to urgently pay compensation for shops demolished during the urban renewal programme initiated by the previous administration under former Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
The appeal was made during a press conference organised by the affected shop owners, where they narrated the hardship and economic losses they have suffered since their properties were taken over by the government.
Speaking during the briefing, one of the affected property owners, Sanusi Ibrahim Iyayi, explained that the demolition of their shops under the Kaduna State Urban Renewal Project left many families without a means of livelihood. He said most of the affected traders and landlords have struggled to cater for their families since the demolition exercise.
Iyayi revealed that their properties at the Sabon Gari Market were acquired in 2016, but the compensation process did not adequately address their losses. He added that although the previous administration approved the revaluation of the properties and compensation payments, many of the affected owners have yet to receive their entitlements.
Similarly, another affected property owner, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim Maigoro, described the situation as painful and devastating, stating that several victims of the demolition exercise have remained without businesses for years. According to him, the prolonged delay in payment has worsened the economic condition of the affected families.
He disclosed that the group had earlier written several letters to government authorities seeking intervention and payment of their compensation. Maigoro explained that approval for payment was reportedly granted through relevant government agencies, including the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, and the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS).
According to him, despite the approval and issuance of a financial release running into hundreds of millions of naira, the payment has not been effected, leaving many beneficiaries in distress.
The affected shop owners therefore appealed to the current Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, to intervene and ensure that the approved compensation is paid, noting that the assistance would help them rebuild their lives and businesses.
They expressed hope that the present administration would consider their appeal in the interest of justice and economic recovery for the affected families.
The property owners also emphasised that the compensation would provide relief to families who lost their sources of income and help restore confidence in government urban renewal initiatives.
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