An enraged development ensured yesterday between the Nigerian Air Force and aviation workers over land dispute in Kano.
The aviation workers have accused the military whom they both share close boarder of trespassing into their piece of land near the Air Force Base along airport road in Kano.
However, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force Base, Air Commodore Edward Gatwet, dismissed the claim, insisting that the military has a documental evidence to prove ownership of the property.
The aviation workers on Saturday filled out in peaceful protest against the military purported invasion of the property, raised alarm over the deployment of armed men of the Air Force to the controversial land ostensibly to intimidate the harmless civilian residents.
The aggrieved workers were drawn from staff of Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).
The aviation workers were seen in their numbers flying placards with various inscription just as they chant solidarity songs against the military’s action.
A representative of the leadership of the aviation workers, Mr. Obadeki Muhammad Mustapha, told journalists that the contentious property was acquired by Federal Airport Authority, about 45 years ago.
Mustapha, secretary to the security committee of the Aviation Quarters, said despite the obvious reality of its ownership, worried that the Air Force would mobilize their contractor to develop the portion of land allegedly proposed for recreational centre.
“This land is date about 45 years since when FAAN acquired it for future development. The management and workers are therefore surprised with the sudden encroachment of the piece of land by the Nigerian Air Force.
“Right now, the personnel of the Nigeria Air Force have started developing the land for recreational ground on personal interest and also ready to intimidate any civilian by stationing their men with full arms at the place. This is not acceptable”, Mustapha said.
Also, Chairman Aviation Quarters Welfare Association, Zakariyyau Dauda, lamented that the situation land invasion got worsen when the military attempted to barricade the aviation residential quarters land along airport road on Friday.
“We were surprised yesterday when the Air Force personnel started construction on our land and even blocked our entrance gate claiming the land belonged to them. One of our colleagues was even harassed in the presence of his children and wife when coming back home, moved to deny access to their quarters.
“We were here before the Air Force; the residential quarters have been here for over 50 years. That was before the Air Force came here. Incidentally, the airport accommodated the air force by being magnanimous to give part of its land to the airforce. I have never seen where a tenant now claimed to be the landlord”, Dauda lamented.
Air Commodore Gatwet said the military would rather prefer amicable resolution with the aviation authority instead of returning the media war embarked by the civilian neighbors.
“For a long time, the Nigerian Air Force have seen a lot of agencies coming to make claims to Air Force land in Kano. But we don’t want to be high-handed on these issues but rather make sure the issues are settle amicably.
We would advise whoever is making claims to our land to simply come forward with their documents and we would also present ours before the authority and thereafter we would see who truly own the land. We already have our documents on this land long before now”, Air Commodore Gatwet noted.
