Uba Sani: Kaduna Govt Will Not Demolish Property Without Fair Compensation

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has assured residents that his administration will not demolish or take over any property for public projects without fair and adequate compensation, stressing that development must never come at the expense of justice or human dignity.

The governor gave the assurance on Saturday after presenting compensation cheques to households affected by the ongoing 15-kilometre Ring Road project stretching from Danbushiya Junction to Danhono 2 in the Millennium City area of the state.

He said the decision reflects his administration’s commitment to balancing infrastructure development with the rights and welfare of citizens whose homes or businesses fall within designated project corridors.

According to him, “public interest can never become a justification for injustice,” adding that meaningful development must be pursued with fairness, compassion and respect for affected communities.

Governor Sani explained that during the execution of the Ring Road project, it became clear that several residential structures and properties were located within the approved right-of-way, creating what he described as both an engineering and moral challenge for the government.

He said rather than proceed with immediate displacement, the government deliberately slowed construction in some sections to allow for a proper assessment of affected properties and to ensure a transparent compensation process.

“At that point, we confronted not merely an engineering challenge but a moral obligation. The question before us was how to balance the public interest with the rights and dignity of individual citizens,” the governor said.

He added that the state government had now begun the formal payment of compensation to 122 affected households, describing the process as a necessary step to help families rebuild and relocate with dignity.

To the affected residents, he expressed appreciation for their patience and cooperation throughout the relocation process, acknowledging the emotional and financial burden often associated with displacement.

“I recognise that change often comes with disruption and uncertainty. I understand the emotional and practical burden that relocation or adjustment may impose on families,” he said.

Governor Sani emphasised that the compensation payments should not be seen as charity, but as restitution for property affected by government development projects, ensuring that no citizen is unfairly disadvantaged in the name of progress.

He also highlighted earlier compensation exercises carried out by his administration across various parts of the state, including Rigasa, Mahuta, Zaria and other communities affected by infrastructure development projects.

According to him, the government has so far paid more than ₦3 billion in compensation to affected households since the beginning of his administration.

“Across Kaduna State, we have ensured compensation for affected citizens in multiple projects and we will continue to ensure that our processes remain transparent, verifiable, equitable and timely,” he said.

The governor reaffirmed that his development agenda is anchored on justice, compassion and integrity, insisting that no meaningful progress can be achieved if citizens are left worse off as a result of government projects.

“Progress loses its moral purpose if it leaves citizens behind,” he said, adding that fairness and empathy will remain central to all state-led infrastructure initiatives.