The Kano State House of Assembly KNHA, has constituted a seven-member special committee to investigate the alleged encroachment on landed properties belonging to the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) and the Kano Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO) across various local government areas of the state.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Ahmad Ibrahim, representing Karaye Constituency, during plenary.
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Presenting the motion, Hon. Ibrahim expressed concern over what he described as increasing attempts by individuals to illegally occupy lands belonging to the two state-owned agricultural agencies, attributing the development to rapid urban expansion and the rising commercial value of land.
He recalled that properties belonging to KNARDA in Kakara Village, Gezawa Local Government Area, were allegedly targeted by encroachers last year but were saved through the timely intervention of the agency and the Ministry of Agriculture.
He also alleged that similar attempts were made on KNARDA facilities in Kadawa and Garun Mallam Local Government Areas, with suspects currently under police investigation.
The lawmaker further alleged that some of those involved in the encroachment claims were from outside Kano State and were reportedly asserting that the Federal Government had allocated the lands to them, despite the properties belonging to the Kano State Government since the Native Authority era before Nigeria’s independence.
Hon. Ibrahim urged the House to call on the state government to direct KNARDA and KASCO to identify all cases of encroachment and submit comprehensive reports.
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He also called for the demolition of all illegal structures erected on the affected lands, the establishment of a special investigative committee, adequate funding for the agencies to secure their assets, and the immediate renovation and full operationalisation of KNARDA headquarters as well as its zonal and local government offices.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Takai Constituency, Hon. Musa Ali Kachako, noted that the agencies were established by law and possess clearly defined mandates and property boundaries. He stressed that lands allocated to the agencies are public assets that must be protected from illegal occupation.
Kachako attributed the rising cases of encroachment to increasing land values and urged the Assembly to conduct a comprehensive oversight exercise across the state to determine the extent of the encroachment, identify illegal occupants, and clarify ownership where there are disputes between the state and federal governments.
He also advocated collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and relevant stakeholders to safeguard the affected properties.
Other lawmakers, including the member representing Doguwa Constituency, Hon. Salisu Ibrahim, also contributed to the debate, expressing support for the motion and calling for decisive action to preserve government agricultural assets.
Following deliberations, the House approved the establishment of a seven-member special committee headed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.
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Other members include the Deputy Majority Leader and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture, Lands and Physical Planning, Housing, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Environment. The secretary of the House Committee on Agriculture will serve as Secretary to the committee.
The committee has been given one month to investigate the alleged encroachment on KNARDA and KASCO lands across the state and submit its report to the House for further legislative action.