Multi-billion Naira Facility: Alleged land owners demand compensation from NCS

Owners of a quarry company – Nino Corporation Ltd, have raised alarm over an alleged illegal and forceful possession of their land by the authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

They alleged that land at the border community between Karu Local Government in Nasarawa State and Karahi area within Abuja Municipal Council Area of Abuja, where NCS built its multi-billion naira new facility belong to them.

The company which said it has been ordered to vacate its own property is asking for adequate compensation and time from the NCS in order to relocate to another site decried that its request has neither been granted nor has it been invited for negotiation.

The company owners stated that following the recent inspection tour of the project by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the company of the Acting Comptroller-General of NCS, Haliru Nababa, it was revealed that the Correctional Service authorities did not show any evidence to the company to prove that they are the owners of the land where the multi-billion naira facility is being built.

“The land is a solid mineral area under the exclusive list of the federal government and Nino Corporation Ltd was lawfully allocated the place by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development, said the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, of Nino Corporation Ltd, Mr Nino Abohai.

He recalled that NCS management was initially backed by the Federal Capital Territory Development Administration (FCTA) over the issue.

Subsequently, the Development Control Department of FCTA visited the site and pasted a vacation notice to Nino Corporation Ltd, an order which the company contested and supported its argument with Section 1 of the Land Use Act of 1978, Sections 44 (3) of the 1999 Construction and Section 1 of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

According to Abohai, the land which is located in Nasarawa State is a solid mineral area which is solely under the purview of the Federal Government.

“The company’s position is further supported by documents from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development. The quarry company, after satisfying all necessary regulatory processes, duly got the approval and allocation of the plot beside a massive rock by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Mineral Development.

“The FCTA authorities later affirmed the position of the company after going through necessary documents but NCS has allegedly not responded positively to the compensation request to enable the company to relocate to another site.”

Nino’s boss noted that the quarry site which blasts and grinds rocks is now in the middle of the NCS facility, cautioning that it is unsafe for any residential and official accommodation.

He also lamented that the operation and fortunes of the company have been crippled as a result of the trespass.

“This company was doing very well and we had about 70 employees and a big market. These have been adversely affected”, Nino’s boss said.