….Says Nasarawa govt is serious with agriculture
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has warned communities against encroaching on land belonging to the state government, particularly the land set aside for the state’s agricultural development.
Governor Sule handed down the warning when he addressed members of the Ayarkeke community who turned out to protest alleged seizure of land by government, on Thursday.
Emphasizing Nasarawa’s strategic focus on agriculture, the Governor acknowledged that while the land in question legally belongs to the Nasarawa State Government under the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), prolonged underutilization had led communities to settle, farm, and build homes there.
“There has been a lot of news about the Government taking over land belonging to some communities. That is the reason why I decided to come here today. That is the reason why when I saw some of you carrying placards, I stopped in order to read the messages and to address you.
“Nasarawa State Government is very serious about agriculture. We can not allow anything to stop us from our efforts in agriculture. You have seen that this land belongs to the Nasarawa State Government. But the problem is that the government did not utilise the land for a very long time, and some communities have moved in there to start farming and carry out other activities. You have built houses in the area, and you are farming in the area. The government is not interfering,” he stated.
Governor Sule warned that, after leaving the area surrounding the Ayarkeke community with a distance of 2km, where the government designated farmland is located, any community member that ventured into this new area would be dealt with accordingly.
He said his administration would be magnanimous as to allow the community to continue its farming activities even though the land belongs to the state government but that they must not venture into the virgin land being cleared by the government for its farming activities.
Contrary to claims that his administration is forcefully taking over lands belonging to local communities, Governor Sule said the reverse is the case with his administration bending over backward to accommodate people who have encroached on land belonging to the state government.
“I urge you to try to go on the path of peace with Nasarawa State Government. We are bending backward for you people. We are allowing you to continue your farming activities on a land that belongs to the Nasarawa State Government, belonging to NADP. We have allowed you to continue to use the land that we have spent a lot of money to clear, so that we can have peace,” he said.
The Governor however emphasized that, his administration would not accept further encroachment on the new farmland being prepared ahead of the new cropping season.
“We know that you have done a lot of farming activities, and we are not going to interfere with what you have done. We will allow you to carry out your farming activities in that area. From that place all the way to our present location, where there is no single farm belonging to the community, that is the area we are starting our new farm. The areas where you have already cultivated, even though the land belong to the government, we will allow you to continue your farming for now. I am warning you that if you are clearing new site and you decided to move into the area earmarked for the government farm, it means you are looking for trouble,” he added.
He urged local communities to avoid being manipulated by some elites out to make trouble and instead collaborate with the government to ensure stability for development.
The Governor also ruled out compensation for encroachers, noting that the 2km stretch designated for the state farm lacks legal claims.
“There are no economic trees or residences here, so there is no basis for compensation,” he stated.
The visit by Governor Sule signals the administration’s determination to advance agricultural projects vital to the state’s economic agenda, even as it navigates the delicate balance between enforcing land rights and addressing grassroots discontent.
“I beg you to stay out of trouble so we can focus our time and resources on developing Nasarawa State,” he said.
In line with the policy thrust of his administration on inclusive governance, the visit by the Governor equally underscored a dual agenda, asserting the government’s authority over public assets while offering temporary concessions to mitigate hardship.
