Kano Assembly sets up committee to probe encroachment on agricultural lands

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.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Ahmad Ibrahim, representing Karaye Constituency.

Presenting the motion, Ibrahim expressed concern over what he described as increasing attempts by individuals to illegally occupy lands belonging to the two state-owned agricultural agencies. He attributed the development to rapid urban expansion and the rising commercial value of land.

The lawmaker recalled that KNARDA properties in Kakara Village, Gezawa Local Government Area, were allegedly targeted by encroachers last year but were saved through the intervention of the agency and the Ministry of Agriculture.

He further alleged that similar attempts had been made on KNARDA facilities in Kadawa and Garun Mallam Local Government Areas, with suspects currently under police investigation.

According to Ibrahim, some of the individuals laying claim to the lands were reportedly from outside Kano State and alleged that the Federal Government had allocated the properties to them, despite the lands belonging to the Kano State Government since the Native Authority era, before Nigeria’s independence.

He urged the state government to direct KNARDA and KASCO to identify all cases of encroachment and submit comprehensive reports.

He also called for the demolition of illegal structures on the affected lands, adequate funding to enable the agencies to secure their assets, and the immediate renovation and full operationalisation of KNARDA headquarters and its zonal and local government offices.

Seconding the motion, the member representing Takai Constituency, Hon. Musa Ali Kachako, said the agencies were established by law with clearly defined mandates and property boundaries. He stressed that the lands allocated to them are public assets that must be protected from illegal occupation.

Kachako attributed the increasing encroachment to rising land values and called for a comprehensive oversight exercise to determine the extent of the encroachment, identify illegal occupants and resolve ownership disputes where they exist between the state and Federal Government.

He also advocated collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders to safeguard the affected properties.

Other lawmakers, including the member representing Doguwa Constituency, Hon. Salisu Ibrahim, supported the motion and called for decisive measures to protect government agricultural assets.

Following deliberations, the Assembly approved the establishment of the seven-member committee, to be chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

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 of 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.