FG moves to resolve compensation claims holding up Zaria railway extension
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Nigeria's Ministry of Transportation says it will meet residents whose properties were affected by the Zaria railway extension, after compensation disputes were identified among the factors delaying the line from Jadji Station towards the Kano-Abuja corridor.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, has disclosed plans to engage residents whose properties and interests were affected by the railway extension in Zaria, according to a statement issued by the ministry's Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations.
Adebiyi spoke during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau's palace in Zaria. He said compensation-related issues were among the factors delaying the extension of the railway line from Jadji Station towards the Kano-Abuja rail corridor.
The ministry said it would review the complaints of affected residents together with the relevant records, with a view to reaching an acceptable resolution. The Permanent Secretary said he would personally meet the affected residents the following week to examine their grievances and determine the appropriate steps for resolving the outstanding claims.
Adebiyi acknowledged that some of the disputes were linked to the existing statutory framework governing compensation, adding that the ministry would examine the issues within its mandate. He thanked the Emir for receiving the delegation and said continued cooperation with traditional institutions and host communities would remain critical to delivering railway projects.
The Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Bamalli, welcomed the federal government's intervention on the compensation question and appealed for the proposed railway extension to be named after his grandfather in recognition of his contribution to the establishment of rail transportation in the area. The monarch also welcomed the return of train services to Zaria, describing it as a major development that had revived an important link between the city and the railway system.
The planned meeting with affected residents is expected to give the ministry an opportunity to review outstanding claims and chart a way forward for the extension, which cuts through communities whose land and property the corridor will affect.