Gombe approves N2.4b compensations for project

THE Gombe State government has approved the release of N2.4 billion in compensation for three projects in the metropolis.

State Governor, Mohammed Yahaya, said the projects being sited near the Bauchi Motor Park in Gombe metropolis comprise an ultra- modern Secretariat, High Court and the State House of Assembly complexes.

The State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Umar Zubairu, who announced the compensation payments, disclosed that the government will facilitate the various payments to property owners, adding that on completion, the projects will be known as the State’s Three Arms Zone ( STAZ).

He noted that since users of the Bauchi Motor Park have been relocated to the Ibrahim Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, the state government would use the land to construct three separate new buildings.

Besides the relocation of the motor park, he disclosed that seven properties would be pulled down to make way for the project.

The commissioner said: “We engaged estate surveyors and valuers to value the properties and their report was submitted, deliberated upon and approved for compensation.”

He stated that the open market value of compensations is N2.4 billion, which is higher than the underestimated value of N1.6 billion.

Consequently, he said the government decided to pay the compensations using the open market value for the affected property owners.

Zubairu noted that the property owners would have the opportunity to repossess the property to be demolished in another location without suffering any financial loss.