Kwara residents seek Tinubu’s intervention over alleged land-grabbing matters

Over five thousand internally displaced victims of land-grabbing, property demolition and alleged forceful acquisition of properties in some Ilorin communities, Kwara state have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter. 

The people also want the government to compel the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to compensate them with a sum of N160,750,000:00.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the spokesperson of the affected victims, Tope Ajetumobi, said that 976 structures were allegedly demolished in 2018 by the Nigerian Army Engineers in favour of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) rendering at least 5,000 victims homeless without compensation. 

The victims said that the affected area is located at Oke Oyi en route Tanke pipeline road to Babaode Oshin, Ilorin, Kwara state, and covers a distance of 11.83 kilometres with a width of 42.5 metres.

The people also said that the affected structures include residential buildings, commercial structures, religious buildings such as churches and mosques, schools, Recreation Centres and Event halls, Parks, traders, health care providers and security outfit centres. 

According to the people, a series of efforts have been made before now to secure compensation but were allegedly frustrated by the Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari. They are calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene for them to get the compensation. 

The people also insisted that the House Public Petitions Committee had passed a resolution in 2019 that NNPCL should immediately assess the value of the property so damaged and negotiate with the victims, saying that NNPCL declined, turning deaf ears. 

They listed the following as the basis for seeking immediate compensation as stated in the Oil Pipeline Act 2004 and Nigeria Urban and Regional Planning Act 1992:

1. Loss of value of land
2. Loss of buildings/ structures
3. Loss of business
4. Disturbances, death and health damage hazardous living

The displaced victims, who also accused the NNPCL of alleged continued maltreatment and suppression, said, “Only time will tell how the compensation issue would be resolved while the victims keep facing the hardship.”

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