Displaced Sokoto people make appeal

The affected persons were block makers and car washers as well as petrol sellers along Kalambaina-Gidan Man Ada road in Wamakko local government area.“We have genuine papers of ownership of the land including letter of approval from the district head of Arkilla who is the traditional head of the area,  Alhaji Muhammad Shehu,”  one of […]

The affected persons were block makers and car washers as well as petrol sellers along Kalambaina-Gidan Man Ada road in Wamakko local government area.
“We have genuine papers of ownership of the land including letter of approval from the district head of Arkilla who is the traditional head of the area,  Alhaji Muhammad Shehu,”  one of the them, Ibrahim Danyabo, a block maker said.
The district head testified that the affected persons had been doing their businesses in the place for over 10 years, many of them with families to look after.
He appealed to Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko who he described as “people’s “Governor” to provide them an alternative site.
Malam Muhammadu Sani fondly called Malam Sani Mai Carwash said he bought his parcel of land 16 years ago and he had over 15 youths working under him.
“Our parcels of land are not illegal. We bought them from their original owners and with the consent of the district head of the area.
“After getting the quit notice, we went to the Special Adviser to Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko in charge of the board who asked us to take a photograph of our land, attach them to our papers and submit them to his office which we did.
“After the papers were sent to the Ministry of Lands and Housing, we were summoned by the ministry and we were told by the commissioner that we didn’t have a genuine case as we didn’t have original certificates. We were then referred to the chairman of Wamakko local government,” Mai Carwash explained.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho told our reporter on phone that the land is owned by the state government, saying those complaining were illegal occupants.
He ruled out any form of compensation to them, because according to him, they do not possess certificates of occupancy.
“We asked them to bring their certificates or any proof that they are the original owners of the land even if it is from a village head but they could not produce any. We know those having original certificates and we’ll compensate them accordingly. But for those not in possession of original certificates, we can’t do anything for them,” Dantsoho said.
The commissioner said the land is meant for the 500 housing units project proposed by the state government.
Also speaking, a Special Adviser to the governor, Sanusi Tukur Faru said the demolition was directed by the ministry.
Those affected still plead with government to compensate them or provide them another place.