The attention of Ahmadu Bello University has been drawn to a statement credited to the Director General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Isma’il Dikko, in which he accused the institution of selling “about 80 hectares” of land belonging to its College of Agriculture and Animal Science at Mando in Kaduna metropolis to individuals.
In a press release signed
the Director Public Affairs Directorate,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Auwalu Umar says the allegation is totally false and unfounded.
“To simply put the record straight, Ahmadu Bello University has never sold its land to anybody, be it individual or corporate organization; and it will NEVER do so”.
“The College has the Ownership Certificate (G.ITEM-No.1060) of the entire land on which it was established, in addition to the Survey Site Plan that shows the entire College boundaries”.
Auwalu Umar explained that the University authorities fenced the entire College many years ago in order to prevent land grabbers from encroaching on its own land. However, recently, KASUPDA, purportedly acting on the directives of the Kaduna State Government, illegally trespassed, and recklessly and irresponsibly demolished the perimeter fence that demarcates its boundaries despite the subsisting court order stopping the government agency from such illegal action.
“The Director General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Isma’il Dikko, indeed lied by accusing the institution of selling its own land to individuals”.
He lamented that KASUPDA failed the simple test of carrying out a proper investigation to avoid embarrassing the State Government, perhaps because of his inordinate greed and ambition by making the spurious allegation that he made”.
“It was a desperate face-saving measure by the Isma’il Dikko having come to terms with the consequences of his action and the crime he committed against the University”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority should know that no amount of blackmail will make ABU to allow its own land to be illegally grabbed for allocation to associates and other unpatriotic individuals”.
Rel/Adamu Yusuf
