Katsina Compensates Landowners with N3.1bn for Government Projects

The Katsina State Government has paid out a total of ₦3,173,933,922 in compensation to individuals impacted by land acquisitions for development projects across the state.

Furthermore, Governor Dikko Radda’s administration has invested ₦859,505,690 to establish the Katsina State Geographic Information Service, equipping it with all necessary tools and infrastructure to ensure effective operations.

“This administration has paid compensation totalling N3,173,933,922 to people affected by land takeovers to facilitate projects including road construction, the building and expansion of schools, hospitals, markets, and other infrastructure,” said the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe, during the 5th edition of the monthly press briefing held on Tuesday in Katsina.

He further stated that ₦2 billion has been earmarked in the 2025 budget for compensation tied to ongoing development projects.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to land reform, the Deputy Governor noted, “The government’s huge investment in KATGIS also includes the development of proprietary software and the procurement of hardware. We have also secured highly protected documents from the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company for the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).”

Jobe stressed the importance of the digital shift in land administration, saying, “The establishment of KATGIS is necessary to move away from the tedious manual process of land registration and documentation, which is prone to manipulation and fraud, to a transparent and efficient, technology-driven system that reduces conflict between landowners and enhances revenue generation.”

Regarding development control, the Deputy Governor disclosed that the government had allocated ₦725 million for the acquisition of heavy machinery and logistics, which includes payloaders, excavators, load-bed trucks, tippers, Hilux vehicles, and motorbikes.

He stated that these resources are intended to support the monitoring and enforcement of building regulations across the state. He further emphasized that the rapid population growth poses substantial challenges, necessitating early intervention to promote sustainable urban development.

“The government has made substantial investments in preparation for the expected expansion of our cities. This includes the modernisation of land administration systems, preparation of city master plans, and the acquisition of heavy-duty equipment to support development control,” he said.

In an effort to reestablish master planning as a benchmark for urban development, the state has allocated N315,375,000 towards the review of master plans for Katsina, Funtua, and Daura, covering the period from 2025 to 2040.

“These master plans, along with four others—Dutsin-Ma, Malumfashi, Mani, and Kankiya—were originally prepared by British firm Max Lock in the early 1970s and became obsolete 25 years ago. The government has finalised arrangements to begin the review of the remaining four this year, and further plans are in place to prepare master plans for other cities from 2026 onward,” Jobe added.