El-Rufai names ex-minister, legislators among illegal occupants of public land

KADUNA State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has released the names of those who benefited from illegal allocation of public land to individuals.

Top on the list of illegal occupants who were allegedly allocated land by former governments in the state were a former Minister of State who got plots of land measuring 504m2; two former Speakers of Kaduna State House of Assembly; a member of the House of Representatives, and other prominent personalities in the state.

According to a statement issued by the media aide to the governor, Mallam Samuel Aruwan, the land were allocated to the beneficiaries between 1999 to 2015 during the regime of a former military administrator, as well as under the governments of past civilian administrators.

However, 20 of the beneficiaries who had developed their land got compensation between N1 million to N72 million, totalling over N378 million.

Aruwan said, “In the interest of transparency, the government considers it prudent to publish the names of the individuals that were allocated plots of land within Rimi College by previous administrations. The government is aware that some of the 38 beneficiaries of the allocations took no steps to develop their plots because they had reservations about building on school property. Government hopes that our elite would subscribe to a consensus that preserves and respects the integrity of social assets like schools and hospitals.

“At its meeting of 16th November 2015, the Executive Council of Kaduna State Government approved the payment of N378,357,752.00 as compensation for the first 19 properties whose valuation processes have been concluded. More compensation payments will be considered as other properties are valued. In addition, the titleholders will be given replacement plots of land.”