Katsina Times | Sunday, 14 September 2025
Some residents of Kofar Sauri in Katsina have raised concerns over the compensation paid for houses, shops, and mosques affected by the ongoing Kofar Sauri–Kofar Soro road construction.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, a day after the Ministry of Lands and Survey distributed cheques, community representative Umar Sanda Mashi said:
“We welcome the project because it will bring development to our area. But the compensation offered does not match the value of the properties to be demolished. What we received cannot even buy new land, let alone rebuild homes, shops, or mosques. We appeal to the government to review this matter.”
Other community leaders, including Sagir Suleman, Mannir Musa Kankia, Alhaji Buhari, Malama Rabi Muntari, and Umar Danda, also expressed dissatisfaction, stressing that the payments failed to reflect the realities faced by displaced families and business owners.
“We are not against government projects,” said Malama Rabi Muntari, “but compensation must be fair and just, especially when it involves people’s homes and places of worship.”
According to the group, many families remain uncertain about relocation, traders fear losing their livelihoods, and several mosques have been marked for demolition. They called on Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda to urgently intervene and ensure equitable settlement to sustain public trust in the government’s development agenda.
Reports show that on Saturday, 13 September, the Ministry disbursed ₦1.565 billion to 376 affected persons. Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita, disclosed that under Governor Radda’s administration, more than ₦7.6 billion had already been spent on compensation to over 5,000 people across the state in similar projects.
He added that the governor had directed that all affected persons must be paid according to the true value of their properties to enable proper resettlement.
The Kofar Sauri–Kofar Soro dual carriageway is among 12 major roads being expanded under the Renew Katsina Project, designed to ease traffic congestion and open new business corridors within the state capital. However, compensation disputes remain a major sticking point between residents and the government.
