The Kano State Government has declared an end to the nearly five-decade land dispute between Bayero University Kano (BUK) and communities in Rimin Zakara, Rijiyar Zaki and adjoining areas. The Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Mohammed Umar, made the declaration on Monday while delivering his address on the resolution of the dispute. He […]
The Kano State Government has declared an end to the nearly five-decade land dispute between Bayero University Kano (BUK) and communities in Rimin Zakara, Rijiyar Zaki and adjoining areas.
The Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Mohammed Umar, made the declaration on Monday while delivering his address on the resolution of the dispute.
He said the crisis, which dates back to the 1980s, had resulted in prolonged litigation, protests, encroachment, conflicting claims and security challenges, including incidents that led to deaths and injuries.
Umar said the dispute became increasingly complicated due to rapid urbanisation, unauthorised occupation, speculative transactions and activities of land agents who allegedly subdivided and sold portions of land reserved for BUK without lawful authority.
He said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf intervened following renewed confrontations in early 2025 and directed the government to find a “comprehensive, lawful, humane and final solution” to the crisis.
According to him, a high-level committee was subsequently constituted, while extensive consultations were held with BUK, affected communities, claimants, security agencies and other stakeholders.
He said historical records were examined, claims verified and surveys conducted before the recommendations of the committee were considered and approved by the State Executive Council.
Umar said more than 6,000 claims and interests had been identified and processed under the settlement programme.
He added that residential plots had been reserved and allocated to verified beneficiaries under the approved Rimin Zakara/Rijiyar Zaki and Jajira/Garun-Iya schemes, while monetary compensation for eligible claims and structures was being processed.
The commissioner said the settlement had also preserved more than 85 per cent of BUK’s landholding for its present and future academic, research, residential and infrastructural development.
He said the state government had committed billions of naira towards compensation, resettlement, planning, surveying, infrastructure and administration.
Umar also commended BUK for accepting the excision of portions of land originally reserved for its long-term expansion, describing the university’s position as a significant sacrifice towards securing lasting peace.
Why gov’t agreed to compensation
The commissioner explained that the government’s decision to compensate affected persons did not amount to recognising the validity of private land transactions carried out on BUK or government land.
He said many claimants presented private sale agreements and acknowledgements between sellers and buyers, which did not constitute valid statutory or customary titles capable of transferring ownership of university or government land.
Umar said the government nevertheless intervened because many people had purchased the plots in good faith without knowing that the sellers lacked lawful title.
According to him, some of the affected residents invested their life savings, borrowed money or sold assets to acquire the land and construct homes.
He said Governor Yusuf therefore considered the social and economic consequences of strictly enforcing the law without addressing the plight of innocent purchasers.
“It was therefore out of compassion, equity and overriding public interest that His Excellency directed Government to provide a settlement for these innocent citizens,” he said.
He stressed that the compensation programme should not be interpreted as government validating unlawful land transactions.
Gov’t warns against fresh encroachment
Umar said the government would proceed with the clearance of areas lawfully required to be recovered following the commencement of the settlement and compensation programme.
He warned individuals, agents, associations and community representatives against selling, allocating, transferring or constructing on land reserved for BUK or government purposes.
“Where any person deliberately obstructs implementation, re-enters cleared land, commences fresh construction or attempts to sell BUK or Government land, Government will enforce the law firmly and decisively,” he warned.
He said, with effect from August 31, 2026, all land within the finally surveyed and demarcated boundaries reserved for BUK would be protected exclusively for the university’s institutional use and development.
He added that land reserved for government roads, infrastructure, layouts and other public purposes would equally remain protected from further encroachment.
Court judgment backs settlement
The commissioner said the government’s position had also been reinforced by a judgment of the Kano State High Court in Suit No. K/M1638/2026, delivered on August 18, 2026.
He said the court, among other things, declared the acquisition of the affected land at Rimin Zakara Gabas for overriding public interest lawful and valid, restrained unauthorised occupation and development, and directed the government to compensate verified claims.
The court also authorised lawful clearance upon compliance with the compensation requirement and directed the police and other security agencies to assist in enforcing the judgment, he added.
Umar assured genuine beneficiaries whose administrative payments were still being processed that the government would not abandon them.
He, however, stressed that outstanding compensation would not confer any right to continue occupying land already determined under the settlement.
He appealed to BUK, the Rimin Zakara and Rijiyar Zaki communities, traditional and community leaders, beneficiaries, security agencies and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the settlement.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah, today, we are right here seeing to the end of a near five decades crisis,” he said.
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