Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina state on Monday warned of consequences for encroachments on the state lands, insisting that all lands were vested on governments, according to the land use Act of 1978.
His warning came against the disclosure by the state Commissioner for Lands and Physical Development, Dr. Faisal Kaita that the state capital, katsina is to get a new master plan to reflect its transformation and growth.
Governor Radda gave the warning in katsina at a meeting he held with various stakeholders on land matters in the state, including traditional rulers and opinion leaders in katsina and Daura emirates; Chairmen of the 34 Local Government councils in the state as well as top officials in the state Ministry of Lands and Physical Development.
The Governor told those at the meeting “All lands are vested on governments in line with land use act, 1978. We are having this interaction for all stakeholders to remind them of the importance of this Act and the consequences of encroaching on government lands. All issues pertaining to lands must and should be handled by the state Ministry of Lands and Physical development. We are elected to serve the people and not to destroy them. That is why the government is reminding you of the boundaries on land issues. The lands are vested on governments and each tier of government be it state or local should know its boundaries.”
The Governor advised the council chairmen to always give consideration for access roads when approval is to be given for construction of structures, adding that construction must be backed with necessary approval from the state government through the Ministry of lands and Physical development.
The state Commissioner for Lands and Physical Development also revealed that the state capital, Katsina will soon get a new master plan “within the next six to eight months”.
According to him, the new master plan will replace the current one in use which he said was prepared by the British and had been due for a replacement since 2000 or thereabout.
He said “The British Master Plan that we are using in the state capital, katsina has expired since on or before 2000. It is over 25 years now that the British Master plan has expired. A new Master plan for the city should be ready within the next six or eight months.
The Commissioner explained that the new master plan would take care of the expansion transformation being experienced in the state capital and would further open up the state for further developments.’
The new master-plan would give room for the development and expansion being anticipated for the state capital as we are expecting the state capital to witness a quadruple growth from its current 250 sq./ km to close to 1,000 sq./kilometer in the next 25 years.’
He added that the Monday meeting also enabled Governor Radda to prepare the stakeholders for the transformation being expected for the state capital.