Kwara compensates 2,000 land owners, farmers

The Kwara State government has paid compensation to more than 2,000 traditional land owners and farmers whose property were acquired for public use in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state.

The state Director-General, Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab, disclosed this in Ilorin yesterday while presenting cheques to beneficiaries in 19 communities in the area.

He said the land was acquired by the military government for the establishment of the Lafiagi Sugar Company.

He said the company later became moribund and was sold by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to BUA International Limited, a subsidiary of BUA Group.

Abdulwahab said BUA could not access the property due to agitation by traditional land owners who insisted on being compensated because the land was not originally paid for.

He added that the land acquired was 5,529 hectares, adding that compensation was being paid by BUA and BPE through the state government.

Abdulwahab said the state government thought it wise to mediate because of the company’s potential benefits to the state.

He said the expected benefits include employment opportunities for youths and enhanced social and economic activities in the area.

``It will bring collaborative effort

about between the company and the state government. So, by and large, it will open up more economic prospects for the people of Kwara State,’’ he said.

Abdulwahab assured that all the concerns of the people would be addressed when the company begins operation.

He urged the communities and individuals to make judicious use of their payments and cooperate with the company in the interest of the development of the area and the state.( NAN)