Kaduna To Demolish Over 1,000 Illegal Buildings

Over one thousand illegal residential buildings illegally erected on the Kaduna Polytechnic land at Gbagyi Villa in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been pencilled down for demolition.

The state governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, who stated this after visiting the community to assess the level of encroachment by the residents, said his administration will not tolerate any form of land speculation or encroachment of public lands by individuals or groups.

He warned citizens of the state to desist from acquiring land belonging to government or be ready to face the consequences.

The Governor condemned the alleged encroachment, maintaining that the buildings must go. He, however, asked those with genuine titles of their land to bring them forward for verification.

Reacting to the governor’s demolition order, Chairman of Gbagyi Villa Community Residents Association, Mr Chris Obodumu, said the land was legally acquired from the natives by the occupants.

He explained that former governor of the state, late Mr. Patrick Yahowa resolved the dispute with the polytechnic, and amicably demarcated the boundary between the two parties in 2011.

He also pleaded with the governor to suspend the demolition pending the outcome of a court case instituted by the residents.

The owners of the houses have been served a notice of eviction through the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) since August 5, 2015.

The agency said it based its action on the state’s 1958 Township Building Rules and Environmental Protection Law of 2010.

Pending when the bulldozers will move in, the residents demand that the demolition order be suspended until the court gives judgment on the matter.