The federal government has presented the newly reviewed and harmonised land compensation rates to the Bauchi State Government.
The updated framework focuses on compensation for crops and economic trees among others during public land acquisition, reflecting current economic realities and international best practices.
Presenting the document to the Bauchi state government yesterday on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Gaddafi Samuel of the Land Department said the harmonised rates aim to address long-standing challenges in land governance and ensure consistency across the country.
According to him, the 2024 harmonised compensation rate was approved by the National Technical Development Forum (NTDF) on Land Administration after years of consultation and technical review.
He noted that the last official review of land compensation rates was in 2008, and a revision was long overdue.
“The 2024 rates surpass the 2008 figures due to the rising costs of living and economic changes.
“This move will not only improve compensation equity for affected landowners but also standardise land acquisition practices across all states in the federation for streamlining revenue generation,” he added.
Receiving the document on behalf of the state, Bauchi State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Abdullahi Mohammed, expressed appreciation for the updated guidelines.
He commended the federal government for recognising Bauchi’s compensation model as a national reference point.
He explained that his ministry will study the document, engage experts for technical input, and make recommendations to Governor Bala Mohammed for possible adoption.
“We are proud that our existing model for compensation is now part of the national benchmark,” he said.
“Although the Land Use Act does not mandate monetary compensation for land, Governor Bala Mohammed has always ensured that our people are treated fairly and humanely during land acquisitions. This speaks volumes of his leadership,” he noted.
Mohammed also emphasised the state’s commitment to maintaining a transparent, fair, and globally compliant land administration system.
He assured that the harmonised rates would undergo thorough review before being submitted to the governor and subsequently to the State Assembly, if necessary for full implementation.
