In a move that could only be traced to the political impasse between Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and President Goodluck Jonathan, the Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA) has ordered the demolition of a federal housing estate situated in Dutse, the state capital.
It was leant that residents of the estate woke up on Monday to find a bulldozer stationed and ready to commence demolition of the over 17 years housing estate belonging to the Federal Ministry of Works.
Although staff of the Federal Ministry of Works were given a notice of less than two weeks to vacate the housing estate located on Sani Abacha Road in the centre of the capital city, some of the occupants claimed that demolition of their houses lacked due process.
Some of the federal civil servants, who pleaded anonymity, decried the state government’s action and described it as ‘unfair’, adding that the buildings belong to the Federal Ministry of Works and were given to them on owner-occupier basis.
Another occupant, who also pleaded anonymity, said he had lived in his house for more than 13 years noting that “the state government was not fair to us for unlawfully taken over the property with a notice of less than 48 hours.”
He called on the Federal Government to intervene to ensure that they retained their houses, stressing that “it is the Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA) that unilaterally decided to convert our estate to an amusement park. They are not fair to us,” he said.
In his reaction, the state Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Muhammed Barde justified the state government’s action saying the land which was given to the Federal Ministry of Works in Dutse, was retrieved as a result of the ministry’s failure to use the land for the agreed purpose for which it was acquired.
He also explained that the land was revoked because the Federal Government acquired the land under agreement with the state government for the past 17 years but failed to use it based on the agreement made.
“We have revoked the title, it is not accruable and it is just an institutional title”, he stressed.
The property, according to the commissioner, will be converted to an amusement park that would be useful to members of the public, saying the project had been captured in the 2014 budget of the state government.
To the Jigawa state Gov Sule Lamido, you are nothing but just a coward..
You just displayed a babaric act so far, what has the FG project in Jigawa state got to do with your difference with the President.. If you display this how would you lead the Nation Nigeria? Stupid man,, you are the biggest and greatest fool ever on earth.. We are looking for ways to develop this country instead of you to contribute to that you want to destroy… Coward like you
It just shows the quality you all are made of and yet talk about impunity when that is what you are already. Keep it up the Nation are watching you and your leadership qualities. Its so clear now that you all G7 and Bareje led group knows more about the state of insecurity,poor infrastructure,Education etc as you play politics with it. God will expose you all and put you to shame.
Lamido I’m highly disappointed in you. I used to respect you somuch before but you disgrace me by not using your common sense to do the right thing. What does your purposeless and meaningless G7 agenda has to do with demolishing innocent peoples houses? And do you think GEJ will feel anything? You are domolishing Federal Govt.Houses in Dutse Jigawa state while he is busy building Fed.Govt. Houses in Bayelsa. Why can’t you look for a another land and build your so called Amusement park? But is that what people of Jigawa state need? And you want to contest for President in 2015?? You better think well.