El-Rufai insists there’s no going back on recovery of plots belonging to public institutions

Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has declared that there was no going back on the recovery of plots of land belonging to public institutions, especially schools and hospitals encroached upon by some people.

The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, on Friday, stated that due process would be followed before action was taken against any form of encroachment.

The state government had earlier given quit notice to those who illegally built houses and offices on plots of land belonging to schools and hospitals in the state.

Over 30 houses illegally built on plots of land belonging to the Alhudahuda College, Zaria were demolished recently by the state government following the expiration of the quit notice.
The action had attracted both condemnation and commendation from members of the public.
Several buildings in some parts of Kaduna had also been marked, purportedly for demolition, raising fears and anxiety among the people.

The governor has however warned against what he described as “the indiscriminate and blanket marking of buildings by government agencies, urging the people not to exercise any fear.

The statement declared that “All cases of encroachment on the lands of public institutions such as schools and hospitals will be handled on a case-by-case basis”.

The statement further clarified that local government councils had no role in the land recovery process beyond gathering and forwarding relevant information to the appropriate agencies.
According to the governor, “Clear directives on the land recovery exercise have been issued” adding government agencies involved in the recovery exercise had been reminded to comply strictly with the instructions.

The statement declared further that Kaduna State Government was determination to recover all plots of land belonging to public institutions in the state which were illegally taken.

“This applies to lands that have been illegally excised, carved-out or alienated in a manner that contradicts the security, orderly environment and expansion prospects of the affected schools, hospitals and other public institutions.

“In restoring the integrity of these lands, the government has taken steps to ensure that the recovery exercise is conducted in a fair and orderly manner that upholds public interest and conduces to social harmony.

“Therefore all agencies involved in the implementation of the land recovery exercise must note and abide by these considerations:
“There will be no marking of buildings or plots, or the delivery of stop-work or recovery notices until proper surveys and assessment of maps have established the boundaries of the affected institutions and the extent of the encroachments they have suffered.

“The Governor’s written approval must be obtained before any action is undertaken to initiate recovery processes based on the surveys and maps showing these encroachments.

“Approvals for necessary action will not be granted except it is evident that the layouts containing the excisions are illegal or irregular, and are clearly inimical to the purpose of the affected institutions in such a manner that cannot be prudently remedied.

“Where the boundaries that have survived encroachment are considered sufficient for the functioning of these public institutions, other actions short of recovery will be taken on the encroached lands.

“Due notice must be taken of the historic nature of the encroachments, and the longevity of some of the buildings and layouts that are a result of encroachment but are longstanding, and do not manifestly impede the safe and smooth running of the affected public institutions.

“There must be no blanket marking of any neighborhood, layout or community just on account of proximity to the historic boundaries of public institutions.
“Clear procedures for establishing the validity of title and development approvals for buildings must be established and respected.

“Local Government Councils are to note that they have no role in the land recovery exercise, beyond gathering and forwarding information to Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA) which is the mandated agency for town planning and enforcement.

“Government directs scrupulous compliance with these instructions in implementing the land recovery exercise” the statement said.