Dead persons among Kano land recertification defaulters

The Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning has come under scrutiny after publishing a list of property title defaulters that included several deceased individuals. The list, published in a newspaper advertorial signed by the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Alhaji Abdulajjabar M. Umar, featured 100 defaulting property owners from Fagge Local Government […]

The Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning has come under scrutiny after publishing a list of property title defaulters that included several deceased individuals.

The list, published in a newspaper advertorial signed by the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Alhaji Abdulajjabar M. Umar, featured 100 defaulting property owners from Fagge Local Government Area who failed to recertify their land titles within the stipulated timeframe.

The ministry warned that failure to comply with the recertification process could lead to forfeiture of ownership, as stipulated under Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, and gave a new deadline of May 30 for compliance.

Among those named were prominent figures long deceased. They include Alhaji Bala Mai Yafe, listed under file number CON/RES/RC/82/605, who was a revered religious leader in Kano until he died in the early 1990s.

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Also on the list was the late Alhaji Mudi Spikin, a celebrated poet and founding member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU).

Known for his political activism, Spikin died on February 20, 2013, at his Fagge residence. His certificate of occupancy was listed as 10573 Unity Road.

Another prominent name is Alhaji Nababa Badamasi, the founder of Gaskiya Textiles, who passed away in 1989. His property was identified by file number Con/RC/82/360 Unity Road.

The late businessman Alhaji Sule Galadima Garo, father of the current Commissioner for Special Duties, Nasiru Sule Garo, and 2023 APC deputy governorship candidate, Murtala Sule Garo, was also listed. He died in February 2007 and was number 100 on the defaulters’ list.

Similarly, Alhaji Sani Babura, a pioneering figure in Nigeria’s insurance sector who died before the creation of Jigawa State in 1991, was listed under file number Con/RC/82/495 Unity Road.

Other deceased individuals such as Alhaji Muhammadu Gayyama and Umaru Na’abba were also included.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Commissioner Abdulajjabar M. Umar said the recertification deadline had been extended by 60 days, with over 241,000 property owners in six LGAs already completing the process.