Relief for Rimin Zakara as Kano Approves ₦6.8bn Compensation, Unveils Mega Projects
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO – The Kano State Government Weekend, made a major step toward resolving one of the state land conflicts as it approved ₦6.82 billion as compensation for victims of the long-running Rimin Zakara land dispute involving Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Addressing newsmen on the outcome of the 35th Executive Council Meeting, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs said no fewer than 5,015 affected property owners in Rimin Zakara would be compensated under the Ministry of Land and Urban Development.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya explained that the critical intervention by the Kano State Government was a final push to ‘restore justice, calm tensions and rebuild trust between the state and affected communities’.
Waiya further stated the “compensation approval is intended to provide financial relief to victims, address lingering grievances and pave the way for an orderly resolution of the dispute surrounding land allocated for the expansion of Bayero University, Kano.”
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, stressed that the compensation plan reflects Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration’s broader commitment to fairness, rule of law and inclusive development, particularly in resolving legacy disputes inherited from previous administrations.
He maintained that by prioritising compensation, the government aims to demonstrate that development projects must not come at the expense of citizens’ rights and dignity.
Alongside the Rimin Zakara decision, the Executive Council approved additional projects and obligations across education, infrastructure, water, health, security and agriculture, bringing the total value of approvals at the meeting to ₦38.7 billion.
These include road construction and rehabilitation, school upgrades, healthcare facility renovation, water supply projects and security support initiatives.
The Council also approved policy measures to strengthen governance, including the settlement of outstanding payments to contractors, the absorption of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps into the state service, and social interventions targeted at vulnerable populations, including plans to address street begging through coordinated support programmes.