The Lessons From Kaduna

Earlier this week, someone shared a video of an elderly man, believed to be in his mid 70s, dancing and grinning with unrestrained joy after receiving payment from the Kaduna State Government. The video posted in one of the many WhatsApp groups I belong to showed the man calling out names of people he owed money to and promising to settle his debts immediately.

His gratitude was unmistakable. It was one of those rare moments when relief spoke louder than words. My initial instinct, however, was one of scepticism. We now live in an age of artificial intelligence, where nearly anything can be fabricated.

Before reaching a conclusion, I made a few calls to verify the authenticity or otherwise of the video. I was told it was genuine. A brief explanation detailing the backstory behind the viral dance video has it that the elderly man was among those compensated by the Kaduna State Government after their properties were acquired for public projects.

The manner in which he wallowed in the dance as well as the excitement that was clearly written all over his face instantly reminded me of a report published by LEADERSHIP about ten months ago. The newspaper reported that landowners and farmers in Kogi State affected by the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project lamented their failure to receive compensation for their land and other assets.

Conversely, the said report exposes the adverse situation Nigerians due for compensation after being stripped of the right to their land face in other states. A government that seizes private property and converts them into public projects under the guise of eminent domain or compulsory acquisition without paying compensation would definitely spark a drastic conflict of interest.

It is even more pathetic in our clime, where the gap between the rich and the poor has continued to grow wider, with ownership of land being kept outside the reach of poor and vulnerable citizens.

For AKK, it’s a long wait

According to the LEADERSHIP report on AKK, the affected individuals accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of failing to fulfil its promise to compensate them for properties acquired for the project.

The AKK Gas Pipeline Project, conceived around 2017, was officially inaugurated in July 2020 during a groundbreaking ceremony in Geregu Community, Ajaokuta Local Government Area, attended by former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, years after the ceremony, many of those whose livelihoods were disrupted continue to wait endlessly for compensation.

For the record, the AKK Gas Pipeline Project is among Nigeria’s most strategic infrastructure initiatives. It comprises a 40-inch, 614-kilometre pipeline that runs from Ajaokuta in Kogi State through the Federal Capital Territory, Niger State, and Kaduna State before reaching Kano. The project also features a 24-inch spur line supplying the Abuja Terminal Gas Station, along with several gas and valve stations.

Although the project is crucial to Nigeria’s energy future, failure to compensate those whose farmland and properties were seized has, for many affected families, turned what should have been a symbol of national progress into a painful reminder of injustice.

Compensation is justice

In most jurisdictions, laws permitting compulsory land acquisition for public use also mandate fair compensation as a legal duty. That embodies justice in its purest form. The government cannot demand sacrifice from citizens while neglecting its own responsibilities to them.

Indeed, one of the most contentious aspects of compulsory land acquisition worldwide is compensation. The prevailing view is that compensation should not merely replace what was lost but, wherever possible, leave affected persons in a better position than before.

This principle is reinforced by the World Bank’s Policy on Involuntary Resettlement, which states that “Displaced persons should be assisted in their efforts to improve their livelihoods and standards of living or at least restore them, in real terms, to pre-displacement levels.”

While many victims of the AKK project are still waiting for compensation from the NNPCL and, by extension, the Federal Government, a man in his 70s in Kaduna is expressing a different sentiment through joyful dance after receiving compensation for his acquired property. In one phrase, that’s different strokes for different folks.

That perhaps explains why, while many Nigerians continue to criticise the NNPCL over delayed compensation on the ambitious AKK project, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is earning praise for choosing a different path, one that balances justice with development.

Governor Sani’s example

Recently, at Rigasa Ward in Igabi Local Government Area, Governor Sani handed out cheques worth N2 billion as compensation to over 1,000 individuals whose properties were affected by the comprehensive flood and gully erosion control project, which stretches to Tudun Wada in Kaduna South Local Government Area.

The governor made it clear that his administration would never demolish any building or structure without first compensating its owners. More importantly, he demonstrated this commitment by ensuring that affected residents received their payments before the project began.

The flood control project aims to address perennial flooding that has devastated lives and destroyed property in the area for over four decades. With a cost surpassing N34 billion, it is arguably one of the largest flood control initiatives in Northern Nigeria.

That was not an isolated gesture. The Kaduna State Government also issued compensation cheques to 122 households affected by the 15-kilometre Ring Road Corridor project from Danbushiya Junction to Danhono II within the Millennium City axis of Kaduna metropolis.

Residents say that prompt payment of compensation has become a key aspect of Governor Sani’s administration since he took office. It is reported that the government has paid over N5 billion so far to individuals, communities, and business owners whose properties were affected by various development projects.

As Governor Sani himself explained: “Before constructing any road or embarking on any project, we always pay compensation before even starting. We don’t want to destroy people’s livelihoods in a bid to bring development to them.”

It must be noted that the compensation was not an act of charity but an act of justice, aiming to assist affected households in rebuilding, relocating, reorganising, and resuming their lives with dignity and confidence.

Genuine development

There is no denying that genuine development is not just measured by the number of roads built, bridges erected, or buildings commissioned. If it cannot safeguard communities, restore dignity, and secure the future of the people, then it is anything but development.

Governor Sani’s swift payment of compensation demonstrates he understands that development without justice leaves resentment, while development with justice fosters trust. For development to be truly meaningful, it must combine progress with fairness and ensure that those who bear its immediate costs are not abandoned.

By swiftly compensating citizens whose properties are acquired for public projects, Governor Uba Sani demonstrates that government has not only a legal obligation but also a moral duty to balance public interest with the rights, welfare, and dignity of its people. That is a lesson for current and future leaders.

Ultimately, the most rational, lawful, and humane approach for any government when undertaking compulsory acquisition is to conduct a transparent and credible assessment of affected properties, provide fair compensation without unnecessary delay, and ensure that those displaced by development are not made poorer by the very progress intended to improve society.

North’s Security Trust Fund Must Work

Yesterday, the Northern Governors’ Forum took another step toward tackling insecurity in the region by inaugurating the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF). The Trust Fund, which demonstrates the collective resolve of Northern governors to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities threatening peace, livelihoods and development across the area, is among the governors’ most significant initiatives.

However, plans alone will not lead to change unless backed by diligent implementation. The Governors must commit themselves to ensuring this succeeds by fulfilling their financial obligations. The Board is responsible for overseeing the proper management of the funds. The North is in chaos. The NNSTF must succeed so that improvements can be made. The security crisis in Northern Nigeria requires decisive measures.