Residents of Kawara and surrounding communities on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi have called on Governor Nasir Idris to intervene in an alleged attempt by a senior official of the Kebbi State Ministry of Lands to divert an ongoing federal road project for personal land acquisition.
Spokesperson of the community, Bello Muhammad Kawara, raised the alarm while addressing journalists on Friday, claiming that the official had directed the contractor handling the project to alter the original road alignment to create access to plots of land targeted for illegal takeover.
He said the road, which begins from the Sani Abacha Bypass in Birnin Kebbi, passes through nine villages, Kawara, Kardi, Gwazon Fulani, Gwazon Zabarma, Unguwar Maifada, Bango Fulani, and Randali, and holds significant economic and agricultural value for the local population.
“This road is a federal government project, and we are fortunate it was awarded. But we are now being threatened with displacement because a top official is using his position to manipulate the route,” he said.
The communities alleged that the alteration is already causing tension and could result in loss of ancestral farmlands and homes.
“Consequently, we are appealing to Governor Nasir Idris to urgently wade into the matter and protect us from this injustice and the hardship it may bring,” Kawara added.
Attempts to get a reaction from the Ministry of Lands were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
