By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
The Kano State government has expressed its satisfaction in resolving the prolonged land dispute between Bayero University kano and Rimin Zakara Community in Ungogo Local government area.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf stated this while he flagging off the distribution of land certificates and payment of compensation to affected people of the area at the coronation Hall.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf represented by the state Commissioner projects monitoring Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji said Kano State government has successfully committed and earmarked millions of Naira to compensate the affected people in the area while BUK make significant sacrifice by concealing of land for the future generation.
According to the Governor, thousand of claims and complaints has been captured with the settlement process, while 85% of land reserved for BUK.
“I wished to expressed my appreciation on behalf of the government and people of Kano State to the Vice Chancellor, governing board and entire Bayero University community for this development.” The Governor added
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for land and physical planning Alhaji Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar said the event marks the end of one of the most difficult and prolonged land disputes in the history of Kano State.For more than four decades, the land dispute involving Bayero University Kano, Rimin Zakara, Rijiyar Zaki and adjoining communities generated litigation, protests, encroachments, conflicting claims, security challenges and, regrettably, incidents that resulted in loss of lives and injuries.
He said the Kano State Government is declaring clearly and unequivocally that the BUK–Rimin Zakara crisis is over.
“The dispute dates back to the acquisition of land by the Government in the 1980s for the establishment and future development of the permanent site of Bayero University Kano.Over time, questions relating to compensation, ancestral interests and the boundaries of the University land remained unresolved,” The Commissioner said.
According to the Commissioner the situation became increasingly complicated by rapid urbanization, unauthorised occupation, speculative transactions and the activities of land agents who purported to subdivide and sell portions of land reserved for Bayero University Kano without lawful authority, adding that the situation deteriorated further following unfortunate confrontations in early 2025, making it clear that the matter had become more than a simple land dispute. It had become a serious issue of justice, public security, institutional development, community stability and the future expansion of Bayero University Kano.
“It was against this background that Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, intervened and directed that a comprehensive, lawful, humane and final solution be found.A High-Level Committee was constituted. Extensive consultations were undertaken with Bayero University Kano, affected communities, claimants, security agencies and other stakeholders. Historical records were examined, claims were verified, surveys were conducted and the competing interests were carefully assessed,” He added.
Alhaji Abduljabbar Muhammad Umar further said the recommendations of the Committee were subsequently considered and approved by the Kano State Executive Council.The principle guiding Governor throughout this process was straightforward:To protect Bayero University Kano, compensate genuine victims of the historical situation, restore peace and bring the dispute permanently to an end.More than 6,000 claims and interests were identified and processed under the settlement programme.
He noted that Residential plots were reserved and allocated to verified beneficiaries across the approved Rimin Zakara/Rijiyar Zaki and Jajira/Garun-Iya schemes, while monetary compensation for eligible claims and structures is being processed.
“At the same time, the settlement preserved more than 85 per cent of Bayero University Kano’s landholding for its present and future academic, research, residential and infrastructural development.This settlement therefore required sacrifice from all sides,” The commissioner added.
He also said the Kano State Government has committed billions of Naira in compensation, resettlement, planning, surveying, infrastructure and administration.Bayero University Kano has equally made a significant sacrifice by accepting the excision of portions of land originally reserved for its long-term expansion in order to secure lasting peace.
“On behalf of His Excellency, I wish to express our profound appreciation for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout this process.They demonstrated exceptional institutional responsibility by supporting a settlement that protects the University while also preventing thousands of families from falling into severe hardship,” Alhaji Abduljabbar said.
The Commissioner pointed out that during the verification exercise, the documents presented by many claimants were essentially private sale agreements and acknowledgements between sellers and purchasers.These documents did not amount to valid statutory or customary titles capable of transferring ownership of Bayero University Kano or Government land.Therefore, Government did not agree to this settlement because those private agreements created valid legal title.Government intervened because thousands of people had bought the land for value and in good faith, without knowing that the persons selling to them lacked lawful title.Many purchasers invested their life savings.
The commissioner noted that the compensation and resettlement programme should therefore never be interpreted as Government validating unlawful land transactions.It is an extraordinary humanitarian intervention by Government to protect innocent citizens who purchased land without knowledge of the defects surrounding those transactions.
“Having commenced implementation of the settlement and compensation programme, the Government will now proceed with the clearance of areas lawfully required to be recovered.Government therefore expects the maximum cooperation of all concerned. 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 said.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor Bayero University, kano Professor Haruna Musa commended the Kano State government for the role played in resolving the prolonged dispute.
The Vice Chancellor represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Professor Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni said the issue is now between Kano state government and Bayero University,Kano which make it clear that, long dispute can be resolve through Dialogue.
The Vice Chancellor also highlights some of outstanding requests to the Kano State government which includes Demacarion of University Boundaries, Re certificate of Certificate of Occupancy C of O.
Other goodwill massages and appreciation during the event came from Ungogo Local government chairman Alhaji Tijjani Anwar and the community leader Alhaji Baba Habu to the Kano State government for resolving the prolonged crisis in the area