Niger vows to arrest land grabbers, encroachers
… Says “we have compensated original inhabitants fully”
Niger State Government has warned land grabbers and illegal occupants of all its properties to desist from illegality or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
While addressing Journalists on the status of the Minna Town Plan (MTP) 54 Industrial Layout on Thursday, Commisoner of Lands and Housing Barrister Moukhtar Ibrahim Nasale said Government has made full compensation to inhabitants of the lands since 1986.
It should be noted that the area covering a total land of 144.72 hectares, has been subject of litigation and some members of the Community had claimed that they were not compensated, after which the lower court in its judgement ruled against the Ministry.
However, the Government while saying it has records of payments made to the original inhabitants of the land since 1986, said it has appealed the judgement and Intruders will be arrested for contempt of Court.
The Commissioner warned that the manner at which the purported claimants are going about the process of reclaiming their rights has the tendency to create chaos and disaffection, adding that “it could set a bad precedence for other Government related land acquisition process”.
Nasale said “based on our desire to ensure that justice is done to all parties in the case and also in order to protect the interest of Government towards Industrialization and the allottees, the Ministry of Lands and Housing approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking for the setting aside of the lower Court’s judgement.
“The layout was designed as far back as 1984 and compensation was fully paid. As at today, we have an active appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. Anybody found selling or transacting any business or constructing on the entire expanse of the land set aside for the industrial Layout would be liable to being arrested for contempt of Court.”
The Commisoner while calling on claimants to desist from anything that would affect the peace of the people and maintain the status quo, appealed to allottees to be patient and await the judgement of the Court of Appeal.