Senator Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State, has stated that his administration will neither demolish any buildings or take away any property from any citizen without providing just and sufficient compensation.
Additionally, the governor promised that his administration would not use the “overriding public interest” theory as a justification to force property owners to give up their land when public projects were being carried out.
At the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of compensation checks to 189 houses impacted by the ongoing road projects in the Rigasa township, Governor Sani made this promise.
He recalled that on September 12, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Makera Road, Lokoja Road, Ado Gwaram Road, and the Asmau Makarfi Spur. He said that earthworks had advanced along crucial sections and that drainage systems and hydraulic structures had been finished, indicating that construction had advanced steadily.
But he clarified that when it was discovered that residences, commercial establishments, and vital service infrastructure were located within the projects’ allotted right-of-way, the government was faced with a moral conundrum.
The Governor responded by ordering a temporary halt in construction to enable a comprehensive, open, and fair evaluation of all impacted properties and utilities.
He emphasized that his government had decided that no one would be unfairly harmed in the name of progress.
We shall not use the phrase “overriding public interest” to cover up expediency. “Private rights must never be subordinated to the public interest without compensation,” he said.
He claims that since taking office on May 29, 2023, his guiding philosophy has been that integrity, compassion, and justice must be the cornerstones of governance.
“A state’s physical landscape may be defined by its roads, bridges, and public works, but its moral landscape is defined by justice and empathy,” he continued.
The issuance of checks, according to Governor Sani, is a fulfillment of justice rather than a charitable act. The compensation will allow the recipients to rebuild, relocate, or restructure their life in a dignified manner. He revealed that the compensation process is in line with his administration’s statewide policy.
The governor disclosed that around 120 homes in Mahuta, 282 households from Magajiya to Albarkawa in Zaria, and 14 households from Audi to Kako have received compensation as a result of the Rabah Road project.
He added that 33 houses along the Kabala Costain corridor and 86 households from Dogon Bauchi to Kakiyeyi have also been compensated.
The governor stated, “We have paid out approximately N2.85 billion in compensation overall.”
Reiterating his administration’s dedication to striking a balance between infrastructure development and respect for people’ rights, he thanked the impacted residents for their understanding and patience.
